The International Field Exploration and Development Conference 2025 (IFEDC), jointly organised by Xi'an Shiyou University, China University of Petroleum (Beijing) and other institutions, commenced in grand style at the Beijing Junhe Howard Johnson Conference Center from 24 to 26 September. Under the theme "Human Intelligence, Scientific Innovation: Driving a New Chapter in Energy," the conference brought together nearly a thousand academicians, experts, scholars, and industry representatives from the global oil and gas industry. Participants collectively explored new pathways and futures for the intelligent, green, and efficient development of the oil and gas industry within the context of deep integration between artificial intelligence and technological innovation.

The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by Vice PresidentChong Yuhong of our university. During the ceremony, Vice President Li Jingye of China University of Petroleum (Beijing) delivered a welcome address on behalf of the organising institution.Vice-Chancellor Listated:“The global energy landscape is currently undergoing profound transformation. The rapid advancement of digital economyand smart technologies has injected new vitality and opportunities into the traditional energy sector.”Frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things are progressively being applied across the entire chain of oil and gas exploration, development, production, and management. This not only significantly enhances the precision of resource exploration and development efficiency but also provides powerful impetus for the low-carbon transformation and sustainable development of the energy sector. China University of Petroleum (Beijing) looks forward to collaborating with our institution through this international conference platform. By pooling global expertise, sharing cutting-edge achievements, and deepening international cooperation, we shall jointly advance the energy sector towards intelligent and green development.

Zhang Mu, Deputy Secretary ofour school CPCCommittee,delivered remarks on behalf of the conference's organising institutions. He reviewed the remarkable fifteen-year development journey of IFEDC since its inception in 2011, noting that the conference has matured into a highly recognised premium academic exchange platform within the industry. Deputy Secretaryof CPCZhang Mu emphasized that at this critical juncture where global energy transformation converges with technological advancement, Xi'an Shiyou University—as the only multidisciplinary institution in Northwest China with a distinct focus on petroleum and petrochemical education—remains committed to its energy-centric mission, driven by scientific and technological innovation. The university is actively building a high-level framework for scientific research and talent development, with leading disciplines such as oil and natural gas engineering continuing to provide vital momentum for the industry's innovative growth. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all partner institutions and participating experts for their long-standing support, and looked forward to this conference as a platform to pool global insights, strengthen industry-academia-research-application collaboration, and contribute wisdom and efforts toward ensuring national energy security and advancing the green and low-carbon energy transition.

During the thematic forum session, panel experts noted that amid the current global energy transition, China is advancing on multiple fronts through technological innovation. In the traditional oil and gas sector, the nation has successfully stabilised its natural gas import dependency by prioritising substantial domestic production increases. Through intelligent and automated upgrades in equipment and technology, China is now advancing into deep, ultra-deep, and unconventional resources, ensuring energy security remains firmly within its own hands. Concurrently, immense emphasis is placed on geothermal resources – a clean energy source with vast potential. Its development requires breakthroughs in advanced technologies that shift from "water extraction" to "heat extraction without water withdrawal." Geothermal energy is poised to make greater contributions towards the dual carbon goals in heating, cooling, and power generation sectors, urgently requiring synergistic collaboration with oil and gas industry technologies and expertise. Furthermore, deepening international cooperation—such as leveraging complementary strengths between China and Russia to jointly advance resource development from raw material supply towards high-value-added, green and low-carbon technologies—is key to integrating resources and seizing future opportunities. This clearly outlines China's energy pathway:achieving green transformation while ensuring stable supply, and driving high-quality development through scientific and technological innovation.

During the keynote address session, distinguished experts including Academician Li Yang, Academician Mikhail Guzev, and Professor Lv Weifeng shared cutting-edge technological advancements and future outlooks in fields such as CCUS, enhanced oil recovery, nanoscale rock physics, and intelligent drilling. Their presentations elicited enthusiastic responses from attendees. Professor Zhou Desheng and Dean Huang Hai ofthe College of Petroleum Engineering ofXi'an Shiyou University respectively chaired the thematic forums and keynote sessions, demonstrating the university's formidable capabilities in organising international academic conferences and spearheading scholarly exchanges.

The successful convening of this conference has significantly elevated Xi'an Shiyou University's academic profile and recognition within the global oil and gas sector, demonstrating the university's active role in supporting national energy strategies and enhancing international exchange and cooperation. Moving forward, Xi'an Shiyou University will continue to join hands with partners worldwide and collectively contribute to high-quality development in the energy industry.