On May 20, Niu Shuanwen, a member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy general manager of China Petrochemical Corporation, led a delegation to the Sinopec Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, hereinafter referred to as the E&P Research Institute, for a special research visit. The visit focused on key areas including laboratory construction, breakthroughs in critical core technologies, and informatization, aiming to help research institutions better support the high-quality development of Sinopec’s upstream business.

Notably, Zhang Qingsheng, former executive director and Party secretary of Sinopec Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau Co., Ltd., has recently taken up a new post as general manager of the group’s Oilfield Exploration and Production Department, and attended the research visit in his new capacity. Wu Baizhi, deputy chief engineer of China Petrochemical Corporation and chairman of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation, and Guan Xiaodong, deputy general manager of the Science and Technology Department, also participated in the visit.

During the visit, Niu Shuanwen inspected the E&P Research Institute’s laboratories, processing and interpretation computer rooms, and information monitoring center. He gained a detailed understanding of the operation of large-scale instruments and equipment, the development of exploration and production data resources, and the application of supercomputing capacity. He also listened to a special report by the institute on technological innovation, reform and development, and its development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Niu fully recognized the institute’s achievements in recent years, while putting forward five clear requirements for its next-stage development.

Niu emphasized that the E&P Research Institute should establish and practice a sound view of performance, anchor itself in the core mission of supporting and safeguarding national energy security through technological innovation, and focus on stabilizing oil output, increasing gas production, and reducing costs. It should serve as a source of original technologies and a high-end think tank, while promoting the large-scale application of technological achievements.

In terms of reform, the institute must firmly break away from the “high-level egalitarianism” model, improve performance evaluation and incentive mechanisms, revitalize data assets, transform its R&D paradigm, and optimize resource allocation with a market-oriented approach.

In business transformation, it should adhere to the integration of technological innovation and industry, shift from “product supply” to “solution supply,” break down barriers between departments and professional disciplines, and enhance its ability to create value.

On talent development, the institute should intensify efforts to introduce and cultivate high-end talent, give full play to the guiding role of leading experts, and accelerate the formation of a structured research talent pipeline.

In addition, it should build systematic technology and management brands through the creation of specialized and innovative capabilities, truly empowering the group’s high-quality upstream development.

Yun Lu, Party secretary and deputy president of the E&P Research Institute, delivered a work report on behalf of the institute’s leadership team. Institute leaders Hu Zongquan, Sun Jianfang, Zhao Peirong, and Wang Wei attended the meeting.

The research visit sent several key signals.

First, “breaking away from high-level egalitarianism” means that research institutions are likely to face more market-oriented incentive and constraint mechanisms.

Second, the shift from “products” to “solutions” requires the research institute to move closer to actual oilfield production needs and strengthen integrated collaboration capabilities.

Third, data assets and supercomputing capacity have been elevated to a new level of importance, indicating that oil and gas exploration and production are accelerating into a digital and intelligent development track.

Fourth, the development of specialized and innovative brands requires the E&P Research Institute to build distinctive technical advantages and recognition in specific segments.

Overall, the research visit clarified a more focused, market-oriented, and collaborative reform direction for the E&P Research Institute. The next key step will be to translate these five requirements into concrete and executable actions.

Zhang Qingsheng’s Resume

Zhang Qingsheng, formerly of Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, previously served as executive director and Party secretary of Sinopec Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau Co., Ltd., representative of Zhongyuan Oilfield Company, deputy to the National People’s Congress, and professor-level senior engineer. He holds a doctoral degree and is a member of the Communist Party of China.

Birth and Education: Zhang is male, of Han ethnicity, and a CPC member. In January 2008, he received a doctorate in engineering in oil and gas field development from China University of Petroleum, Beijing. He has long been engaged in petroleum exploration and production as well as gas production engineering. In 2011, he was appointed as a Sinopec expert in gas production engineering for sour gas field development.

He has led or participated in more than 20 major national and Sinopec research projects, won 15 science and technology progress awards at bureau level or above, published nine papers in core journals, and participated in the writing of four monographs. He has received honors including “Meritorious Contributor to the Construction of Sinopec’s Sichuan-to-East China Gas Transmission Project Command Center” and “Outstanding Project in Sinopec’s 11th Five-Year Oil and Gas Field Exploration and Development Program.” As a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, he has put forward proposals and suggestions on issues including energy transition, the green hydrogen industrial chain, coalbed methane policy, and stable production at mature oilfields.