On April 11, CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation) made an announcement that China has embarked on its first-ever offshore carbon injection and gas enhancement technology demonstration application project. Dubbed the Dongfang 1-1 Gas Field Carbon Dioxide Capture, Sequestration, and Utilization Project, it has been set in motion in Hainan province. Once fully operational, this project is anticipated to sequester more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide annually within subsurface strata.

The carbon injection and gas enhancement technology, also recognized as CO₂-enhanced natural gas recovery technology, operates in the following manner: it first captures and purifies the carbon dioxide produced during the natural gas extraction process. Subsequently, this purified carbon dioxide is pressurized and re-injected into gas-bearing formations. This innovative process serves a dual purpose. Not only does it achieve the goal of carbon sequestration, but it also harnesses the CO₂ as a driving agent to facilitate the extraction of natural gas that would otherwise be difficult to recover.