SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM 6-K ---------- REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For May 13, 2005 CNOOC Limited (Translation of registrant's name into English) -------------------------------------------------------- 65th Floor Bank of China Tower One Garden Road Central, Hong Kong (Address of principal executive offices) -------------------------------------------------------- (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F) Form 20-F X Form 40-F --------- ---------- (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.) Yes No X --------- ---------- (If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A.) Company Press Release --------------------- CNOOC Ltd. Starts Oil Production In LD 4-2 Ahead of Schedule (Hong Kong, May 12, 2005) - CNOOC Limited (the "Company" or "CNOOC Ltd."; NYSE "CEO", SEHK "883") announced today that Luda (LD) 4-2, a new field in Bohai Bay, had come on stream ahead of schedule. The field is producing at a volume of 5,600 barrels of oil per day from seven wells. LD 4-2, together with LD10-1 and LD 5-2, is located in central Liaodong Bay of Bohai Bay in about 100 feet of water depth. They are adjacent to the producing field Suizhong 36-1. The development of LD 4-2 consists of a wellhead platform, a subsea pipeline and two cables. The peak gross production capacity is designed at 5,000 barrels of oil per day in 2006. Mr. Yang hua, CFO and Senior Vice President of the Company commented, "LD4-2's development and operation plan has been optimized together with other LD fields, making it more attractive commercially. This is the second successful early startup this year, and more projects will be on stream later." CNOOC Ltd is the operator and owns 100 percent interest in the project. Ends Notes to Editors: CNOOC LIMITED - BACKGROUND CNOOC Limited (the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group", "the Company" or "CNOOC") - Incorporated in Hong Kong in August 1999, CNOOC Limited was listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (code: CEO) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("HKSE") (code: 0883) on 27 and 28 February 2001, respectively. The Company was admitted as a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index in July 2001. The Group is China's largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas and one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world. The Company mainly engages in offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development, production and sales. The Company has four major oil production areas offshore China which are Bohai Bay, Western South China Sea, Eastern South China Sea and East China Sea. It is the largest offshore oil producer in Indonesia. The Group also has certain upstream assets in regions such as Australia. As at 31 December 2004, the Company owned net proved reserves of approximately 2.2 billion 1 barrels-of-oil equivalent and its annual daily average net production was 382,513 barrels-of-oil equivalent per day. The Group has 2,524 employees. CNOOC LIMITED - Relationship with its parent company, CNOOC CNOOC Limited, incorporated in Hong Kong, is a 70.64% held subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation ("CNOOC"). CNOOC Limited is the sole vehicle through which CNOOC carries out oil and gas exploration, development, production and selling activities offshore China and internationally. CNOOC, the parent company, is involved in the administrative, research and services functions for the People's Republic of China's offshore petroleum industry as well as other mid- or down-stream petroleum projects. *** *** *** This press release contains statements that are not historical facts, including statements about beliefs and expectations of the directors of CNOOC Limited (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the directors of the Company undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the PRC economic, political and social conditions as well as government policies. *** *** *** For further enquiries, please contact: Mr. Xiao Zongwei Director of Investor Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-1646 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: xiaozw@cnooc.com.cn Ms. Sharon Fung Ketchum Newscan Public Relations Ltd Tel: +852-3141-8082 Fax: +852-2510-8199 E-mail: Sharon.Fung@knprhk.com 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 6-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. CNOOC Limited By: /s/ Cao Yunshi ------------------------- Name: Cao Yunshi Title: Company Secretary Dated: May 13, 2005