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 November 1, 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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The Parent of CNOOC Limited Starts Joint Venture with Shell

(Hong Kong, November 1, 2002) - CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 883; NYSE:
CEO) announced today that its parent company has commenced the building of a
world-class petrochemical plant with Royal Dutch/Shell in China.

"The four billion USD plus petrochemical plant joint venture that CNOOC, our
parent company, is building with Royal Dutch/Shell is a world-class endeavor,"
commented Mr. Mark Qiu, CFO of the Company. "CNOOC Limited, however intends to
remain in the E&P business."

Notes to Editors:

CNOOC LIMITED - BACKGROUND

Incorporated in Hong Kong in August 1999, the Company is the dominant producer
of crude oil and natural gas offshore China. The Company 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.

The Company 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 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, 852-3141-8063
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,
                                             General Counsel and
                                             Senior Vice President

Dated: November 1, 2002