CNOOC Limited Sold Interest in Indonesian ONWJ PSC

HONG KONG, Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- CNOOC Limited has announced that its subsidiary, CNOOC Southeast Asia Limited, sold CNOOC ONWJ Ltd. to EMP International (BVI) Limited ('EMPI') for consideration of approximately US$212 million. CNOOC ONWJ Ltd. holds a 36.7205% working interest in Offshore Northwest Java Production Sharing Contract (the 'ONWJ PSC') in Indonesia.

The Operator of the ONWJ PSC is PT Pertamina Hulu Energi ONWJ. As at the end of 2010, the Company's share of net proved reserves in ONWJ PSC was 22.26 million barrels of oil equivalent ('BOE'), and the daily average production of oil and gas from ONWJ PSC for the first nine months of 2011 was approximately 62,000 BOE while the net entitlement to the Company was approximately 14,000 BOE per day.

Mr. Li Fanrong, Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented, 'The sale of CNOOC ONWJ Ltd. is consistent with the Company's value-driven M&A strategy, which rebalances and optimizes the Company's portfolio from three perspectives: resources, return and risk. '

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Notes to Editors

More information about the Company is available at www.cnoocltd.com

This press release includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected future events, business prospectus or financial results. The words 'believe', 'intend', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'project', 'estimate', 'plan', 'predict' and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes reasonable under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the Company's expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance and financial conditions to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the exploration or development activities, the capital expenditure requirements, the business strategy, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industries, the foreign operations, environmental liabilities and compliance requirements, and economic and political conditions in the People's Republic of China. For a description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see the documents the Company has filed from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including 2010 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 29, 2011.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the actual results or developments anticipated will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Jiang Yongzhi

Joint Company Secretary and General Manager of Investor Relations Department

CNOOC Limited

Tel: +86-10-8452-1731

Fax: +86-10-8452-1441

E-mail: jiangyzh2@cnooc.com.cn

Ms. Ding Jianchun

Manager, Media / Public Relations

CNOOC Limited

Tel: +86-10-8452-2973

Fax: +86-10-8452-1441

E-mail: dingjch@cnooc.com.cn

Ms. Angela Hui

Ketchum Newscan Public Relations Ltd

Tel: +852-3141-8091

Fax: +852-2510-8199

E-mail: Angela.hui@knprhk.com

CNOOC Limited