SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                   FORM 6-K
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                       REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                     PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                              For August 19, 2002



                                 CNOOC Limited

                (Translation of registrant's name into English)
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                                  65th Floor
                              Bank of China Tower
                                One Garden Road
                              Central, Hong Kong
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

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(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
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              CNOOC's Successful Gas Appraisal In South China Sea

(Hong Kong, August 19, 2002) - CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 883; NYSE:
CEO) announced today that a successful appraisal well, YCH13-4-2, will add gas
reserves in Western South China Sea.

YCH13-4-2, drilled on the YCH13-4 discovery, is located about 27km north of
YCH13-1 gas field. The well produced about 20 million cubic feet of gas per
day on 16 mm choke during drill stem tests.

The Company owns 100% of the discovery.

*** *** ***

Notes to Editors: CNOOC LIMITED - BACKGROUND Incorporated in Hong Kong in
August 1999, CNOOC Limited (SEHK: 883; NYSE: CEO) is the dominant producer of
crude oil and natural gas offshore China. CNOOC Limited is also one of the
largest independent crude oil and gas exploration and production companies in
the world. As of December 31, 2001, its net proved reserves were 1.8 billion
barrels-of-oil equivalents and its net production totaled 261,379 BOE per day.

CNOOC Limited has interests in 45 crude oil and gas properties in four major
producing areas: Bohai Bay, Western South China Sea, Eastern South China Sea
and East China Sea. The Company is a major oil and gas company in China with
slightly over 1,000 employees. The Company has become the largest offshore
producer in Indonesia after the acquisition of Indonesian assets.

*** *** ***

This press release contains statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about beliefs and expectations of the directors of CNOOC
Ltd. (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, of the PRC's economic,
political and social conditions as well as government policies.

*** *** ***

For further enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Xiao Zongwei
CNOOC Limited
Tel: +86 10 8452 1646





Fax: +86 10 8452 1441
E-mail: xiaozw@cnooc.com.cn
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Ms Anne Lui / Mr. Henry Chua
Ketchum Newscan Public Relations
Tel: 852-3141-8016/ 852-3141-8082
Fax: 852-2510-8199
E-mail:  anne.lui@knprhk.com
         -------------------
         henry.chua@knprhk.com
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                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be issued on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                 CNOOC Limited


                                 By:  /s/ Cao Yunshi
                                    ---------------------
                                      Name: Cao Yunshi
                                      Title:  Company Secretary

Dated:  August 19, 2002