Achievements and Experience of CNPC Overseas Oil and Gas Exploration in Past 30 Years

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-302X.2025.01.001

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past three decades, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has stepped up the pace of “going global”, steadily implemented the independent exploration strategy, continually increased the efforts for exploration and kept a relatively high investment level. As a result, a series of significant breakthroughs and discoveries have been made in Africa,Central Asia, and Americas, which brought rapid reserve growth and laid solid foundation for the “100 million tons overseas equity production” goal. The successful experience of CNPC overseas oil and gas exploration including (1) adherence to acquisition of projects and consolidation of the development basis; (2) adherence to independent exploration and reduction of discovery cost; (3) study of risk areas and enhancement of process supervision; (4) adherence to the benefit-centering principle and guarantee of high-efficiency exploration; (5) optimization of asset portfolio and improvement of returns from investment; (6) creation of the“ four small and four big” model to make decisions scientifically (small operational sites based on large scale logistics; small investment aimed at big discoveries; small teams engaged in large-scale cooperation and small shareholders provided with big revenues). The comprehensive analysis shows that the future areas for China’s oil companies to carry out the “going global” strategy should be focused on the nation’s surrounding areas, the Africa-Middle East region and Americas. They should concentrate their efforts on the oil-enriched basins worldwide and frontier exploration areas, give preference to the areas along the Belt and Road Initiative route and close to the existing projects and continually step up efforts for expansion of global resources to make new contribution for the nation’s energy security.

Key words: overseas oil and gas exploration, independent exploration, China’s surrounding areas, the Africa-Middle East region, Americas, CNPC

摘要： 回顾30年来，中国石油加大“走出去”步伐，稳健推进自主勘探战略，持续加大勘探力度，保持较高投资水平，在非洲、中亚、美洲等合作区取得系列重大突破与重大发现，实现了油气储量快速增长，形成海外油气权益产量当量1×108t规模。中国石油海外油气勘探成功经验：坚持项目获取，夯实发展根基；坚持自主勘探，降低发现成本；探索风险领域，加强过程监管；坚持效益中心，保障高效勘探；优化资产组合，提升投资回报；创新形成以“小前方大后方、小投资大发现、小团队大协同、小股东大收益”为核心的“四小四大”模式，实现科学决策。综合分析认为，未来我国油公司“走出去”重点拓展方向为“一核两环”（中国周边、非洲—中东地区和美洲地区），立足全球富油气盆地和前沿勘探领域，优先考虑“一带一路”沿线及现有项目周边，持续加大全球资源开拓力度，为保障国家能源安全作出新的贡献。

关键词: 海外油气勘探, 自主勘探, 中国周边, 非洲—中东地区, 美洲地区, 中国石油

CLC Number:

TE12
F416.22

He Wenyuan, Li Zhi, Wang Wangquan, Zhang Xingyang, Pang Wenzhu, Li Fuheng, Wang Renchong, Wen Zhixin, Yang Zi, Kang Hailiang, Qu Junya. Achievements and Experience of CNPC Overseas Oil and Gas Exploration in Past 30 Years[J]. Petroleum Science and Technology Forum, 2025, 44(1): 1-8.

何文渊, 李志, 汪望泉, 张兴阳, 庞文珠, 李富恒, 王仁冲, 温志新, 杨紫, 康海亮, 屈珺雅. 中国石油海外油气勘探30 年成效与经验[J]. 石油科技论坛, 2025, 44(1): 1-8.

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