Project Title:High-Safety, Low-Temperature Tolerant Electrochemical Energy Storage Technology for Oil  and Gas Industry

Participating Enterprise: Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development Company Limited, China National  Petroleum Corporation

Award Received:Technological Invention Award - Silver Award

Achievement Level: International Advanced Level

Project Number: ECF-2025-SET-1014

Main Participants: Wang Xiaoqi, Jin Xu, Bai Shengchi, Yang Rui, Wen Wen, Zhang Qian, Liu Xiaodan, Yu Huide, Liu Di, Li Yiheng

Expert Review Comments:

International advanced level.This project addresses the oil and gas industry's demand for high-power, cryogenic-resistant, and long-life energy storage solutions in extreme environments. It systematically develops four electrochemical energy storage technology routes—lithium titanate, sodium-ion, aqueous-based ion, and lithium iron phosphate—establishing a comprehensive chain system spanning materials, cells, equipment, and applications. The project achieves breakthroughs in overcoming low-temperature performance and safety bottlenecks, developing highly secure, long-life distributed energy storage equipment. Demonstrated at oil and gas field wellsites, it exhibits outstanding stability and energy efficiency. These achievements provide critical technological support for integrating “zero-carbon wellsites” with new energy sources, demonstrating significant innovative leadership and broad application prospects.

Main Innovations:

In the oil and gas industry, addressing the demand for high-power, low-temperature tolerant, long-life, and  high-safety electrochemical energy storage around oilfield well sites, research efforts have been focused on  four electrochemical energy storage technology routes: lithium titanate-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries,  aqueous-ion batteries, and lithium iron phosphate-ion batteries. Systematic R&D has been achieved,  spanning from materials to cells, equipment, and practical application. Concurrently, smart microgrid  control hardware and software were developed, and a new energy consumption model for "zero-carbon  well sites" was explored. These efforts have laid a technical foundation for fundamental research,  equipment manufacturing, and large-scale demonstration applications of electrochemical energy storage in  the oil and gas industry. They contribute to the cost-effective development of new energy in oilfields and  the clean replacement of energy consumption in oilfield operations, thereby supporting the integrated  development of oil and gas exploration and new energy.

Main Uses and Technical Principles:

This project tackles the high electricity costs of oilfield equipment such as pumping units and wellhead  heaters by developing specialized electrochemical energy storage technology that offers high power, lowtemperature performance, long cycle life, and enhanced safety. Internationally advanced materials were  successfully developed, including low-temperature tolerant LTO, long-cycle zinc-ion batteries, low-cost  sodium-ion batteries, and long-life LFP. Pilot-scale production of key materials was completed, enabling  the development of battery cells, modular units, and system integration, along with grid-connected/off-grid  microgrid control hardware and software. Multi-hundred-kWh-level energy storage systems employing  these technologies have been deployed in oilfield applications, demonstrating effective performance,  renewable energy integration, and carbon reduction capabilities. The project provides a practical storage  solution supporting the transition to clean energy in China’s oilfields.

Technical Applications:

This project marks the world's first demonstration of a 100-megawatt-hour aqueous zinc-ion battery energy storage system in an oilfield, alongside CNPC's inaugural 100-megawatt-hour lithium titanate and sodium-ion battery storage demonstrations. The technology represents a domestic leader and international advanced level, with the following demonstration applications:

(1) The 100-MWh lithium titanate electrochemical energy storage system and aqueous zinc-ion battery energy storage system have been in continuous stable operation at Jilin Oilfield for nearly a year. They have significantly increased green electricity consumption rates and effectively utilized peak-valley electricity price differentials to reduce power costs, achieving 282 tons of green oil production and 4.5 tons of carbon reduction.

(2) The 100-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate energy storage system and smart microgrid hardware/software have operated continuously and stably for nearly a year at Qinghai Oilfield. Production costs at the test well site decreased by 15%, with 100% green electricity production. This achieved 1,303 tons of green oil production and reduced carbon emissions by 264.84 tons.

(3) The megawatt-hour sodium-ion battery energy storage system has operated continuously and safely for over 523 days since commissioning at Yumen Oilfield. With a comprehensive energy storage efficiency of approximately 95.78%, it has achieved green oil production of 418.4 tons and reduced carbon emissions by 20.38 tons.

The relevant technology can be directly applied to major oilfields within the domestic and international oil and gas industry. Simultaneously, this technology can be further extended to energy storage applications on the power generation side, grid side, and consumer side, presenting broad market prospects.