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

Participating Enterprise: China National Petroleum Corporation Research Institute of Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

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 targets the demand for high-power, low-temperature-resistant, long-life energy storage under extreme environmental conditions in the oil and gas industry. It systematically developed four electrochemical energy storage technology routes—lithium titanate, sodium-ion, aqueous-ion, and lithium iron phosphate—constructing a complete chain from materials and cells to equipment and applications. The project achieved innovative breakthroughs in low-temperature performance and safety, developing high-safety and long-life distributed energy storage equipment that demonstrated excellent stability and efficiency in oilfield well-site applications. The results provide key technological support for the integration of “zero-carbon well sites” and new energy development, with significant innovation leadership and broad prospects for promotion and application.

Main Innovations:

Focusing on the oil and gas industry’s demand for high-power, low-temperature-resistant, long-life, high-safety electrochemical energy storage for oilfield well sites, the project tackled four technological routes: lithium titanate batteries, sodium-ion batteries, aqueous-ion batteries, and lithium iron phosphate batteries. It achieved systematic R&D from materials to cells, equipment, and field applications; developed smart microgrid control hardware and software; and explored new energy utilization models for “zero-carbon well sites.” The project laid a solid foundation in basic research, equipment manufacturing, and large-scale demonstration applications of electrochemical energy storage, empowering clean energy substitution in oilfield power use and promoting the integrated development of oil and gas exploration with new energy.

Main Uses and Technical Principles:

This project addresses the urgent need for green energy substitution and industrial upgrading caused by the high electricity costs of high-energy-consumption loads such as pumping units and wellhead heaters. It developed high-power, low-temperature-resistant, long-life, high-safety electrochemical energy storage technologies tailored to the oilfield context. Key advancements include internationally advanced low-temperature and high-rate lithium titanate materials, long-cycle zinc-ion battery materials, low-cost sodium-ion battery materials, and long-life lithium iron phosphate materials. Pilot-scale production, cell manufacturing, module and system integration, and on/off-grid microgrid control software and hardware were completed.

The project successfully integrated 100 kWh-level lithium titanate, sodium-ion, zinc-ion, and lithium iron phosphate energy storage systems into oilfield energy substitution scenarios, achieving demonstration applications that validated system applicability, green power consumption, and carbon reduction capabilities. These results provide practical energy storage solutions for clean energy substitution in China’s oilfields.

Technical Applications:

The project achieved the world’s first 100 kWh-level aqueous zinc-ion battery energy storage demonstration in oil and gas fields, as well as CNPC’s first 100 kWh-level lithium titanate and sodium-ion battery energy storage demonstrations. The overall technology level is domestically leading and internationally advanced. Demonstration applications are as follows:

(1) The 100 kWh lithium titanate electrochemical energy storage system and the aqueous zinc-ion battery energy storage system were applied and commissioned in Jilin Oilfield. After nearly one year of continuous operation, both systems maintained stable performance, significantly improving green power utilization and effectively reducing electricity costs through peak-valley tariff optimization. In total, they enabled 282 tons of green oil production and 4.5 tons of carbon reduction.

(2) The 100 kWh lithium iron phosphate energy storage system, combined with intelligent microgrid hardware and software, has operated continuously and stably for nearly one year in Qinghai Oilfield. The test well site achieved a 15% reduction in production costs, 100% green power utilization, 1,303 tons of green oil production, and 264.84 tons of carbon reduction.

(3) The 100 kWh sodium-ion battery energy storage system has operated safely and continuously for over 523 days in Yumen Oilfield, achieving an overall energy storage efficiency of approximately 95.78%, with 418.4 tons of green oil production and 20.38 tons of carbon reduction.

These related technologies can be directly promoted across major domestic and international oilfields in the oil and gas industry. Furthermore, they can also be extended to energy storage applications on the power generation side, grid side, and user side, offering broad market prospects.