ROC Oil has submitted an incremental development plan for the next stage of the Zhao Dong project offshore China.

The aim is to maximize oil recovery from the fields between 2018 and 2023. This will require an extension of the production-sharing contract.

ROC adds that its team in China has made progress on exploration block 09/05 in offshore Bohai Bay. A 162-sq km (62.5-sq mi) ocean bottom cable seismic survey has been completed ahead of schedule.

Results will be used to refine drilling location(s) for at least one exploration well during 2H 2014.

Offshore Malaysia, the company and its partners submitted a field development for the Bentara oil field in December 2013. Following approval, they plan to start final field testing and move into production, using the existing pre-development facilities.