A deepwater gas discovery has been confirmed by China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) in the northern part of the South China Sea.

The operator says it found a high volume of gas flows in the Lingshui 17-2 well, with the probe testing at a rate of 56.5 MMcf/d, according to the official Xinhua news agency, quoting CNOOC manager Xie Yuhong.

It is likely to be several years before the find is developed, however, due to a lack of infrastructure in the area. The company is also planning further exploration and appraisal wells in the area to continue building enough recoverable reserves in the area for a potential hub development.

The well was drilled 150 km (94 miles) south of China’s southern Hainan Island, in an approximate water depth of 1,500 m (4,921 ft). According to Yuhong it was the highest daily flow rate of all CNOOC’s gas wells during testing.

Lingshui 17-2 is the first significant deepwater gas discovery made by the semisubmersible rig CNOOC 981, which started operations in May 2012 after being built in just over three years at a cost of US $975 million by China State Shipbuilding Corp.