Abstract: Daqing exploration management lays emphasis on the management of exploration planning programs and the management of exploration projects. This paper reviews the history of exploration planning and exploration project management of the oilfield, and summarizes the successful experience of exploration planning and project management. Daqing Oilfield always takes planning decisions as the maximum benefit from oil and gas exploration and at the same time the source of greatest risk, focusing on the three links, i.e. target determination, program organization, and effectiveness evaluation. Based on the review and summary, the exploration planning assumption of the “12th Five-Year Plan” and the six inspirations to improve planning programs management are proposed. The management of exploration projects enables the exploration planning programs to be implemented effectively. The “three changes” of the early stage of project management improves the efficiency remarkably, enhances the projects, and increases resource reserves rapidly. As a result, exploration is upgraded greatly. Entity project management makes the mechanism of exploration project management more perfect and be qualified for market economy development. Furthermore, the exploration benefit is highlighted and plays an important role in the whole progress of project management. It is indicated that the implementation of advanced exploration project management is not only the requirement of scientific exploration, but serves as an important guarantee for the fulfillment of scientific exploration.

Key words: exploration planning, exploration project management, scientific exploration, exploration benefit