SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549


                                 -----------
                                   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 13, 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.)



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           CNOOC Limited Announces Successful Appraisal in Indonesia

(Hong Kong, December 13th, 2002) - CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 883;
NYSE: CEO) announced today the successful completion of KE 40-2, an appraisal
well on KE 40 discovery in Madura Block in Indonesia.

KE 40-2 was drilled to a total depth of 7225 feet and encountered 174 feet of
gas pay in the Kujung I carbonate build-up and 28 feet of oil pay in the
Kujung III limestones. During drill stem tests, pay zones in the Kujung III
limestones flowed 1430 barrels of oil and 6.86 million cubic feet of gas per
day on 64/64" choke.

The Company has a 25 % working interest in the Block operated by Kodeco Energy
Company, Ltd.

End

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

Ms Anne Lui/ Ms. Zelda Yung/Ms. Maggie Chan
Ketchum Newscan Public Relations
Tel: 852-3141-8016/ 852-3141-8028/3141-8063
Fax: 852-2510-8199



E-mail:  anne.lui@knprhk.com
         Zelda.yung@knprhk.com
         maggie.chan@knprhk.com



                                  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: December 13, 2002