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 December 14, 2004



                                 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
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(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
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(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 Announces Signing of Gas Sales Agreement in Indonesia

(Hong Kong, December 14, 2004) - CNOOC Limited (together with its
subsidiaries, the "Company", NYSE: CEO, SEHK: 883) today announces that CNOOC
SES Ltd., its subsidiary, and other contractors of the Offshore Southeast
Sumatra Production Sharing Contract (the "Offshore Southeast Sumatra PSC")
executed the Gas Sales Agreement with P.T. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero)
("PLN"), the national electric power company of Indonesia, on December 12,
2004.

Under the terms of the agreement, natural gas of 80 billion BTU per day from
the Offshore Southeast Sumatra PSC area will be supplied to PLN during a
period from 2006 to 2018. The natural gas will be produced mainly from gas
fields of the Zelda area and Banuwati area and will be transported to the
Cilegon Power Plant of PLN in West Java through subsea pipelines.

This is the first gas supply project under the Offshore Southeast Sumatra PSC
and it will contribute to the effective use of gas reserves in Indonesia.

The company is the operator of the Offshore Southeast Sumatra PSC with a 65.3%
interest.

Ends

Notes to Editor

CNOOC LIMITED - Corporate Information

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. It is
also one of the largest independent crude oil and gas exploration and
production companies in the world.

As of December 31, 2003, CNOOC Limited's net proved reserves were 2.1 billion
barrels-of-oil-equivalent (BOE). Its daily production for the first half ended
June 30, 2004 was 365,771 BOE (unaudited).

CNOOC Limited is currently engaged in exploration, development and production
in four major areas offshore China, which cover Bohai Bay, Western South China
Sea, Eastern South China Sea and East China Sea. It is also one of the largest
offshore crude oil producers in Indonesia.


The Company has about 2,447 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



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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



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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 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: December 14, 2004