Recently,the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), announced the results of its evaluation of journals published in China for funding through “the Project for Enhancing International Impact of China STM (Science, Technology and Medicine)Journals, stageⅡ,2017, Category D”. The independent selection procedure for all journals included initial qualification examinations, in person presentations and application defense, and independent expert reviews. The journal “PETROLEUM”, sponsored by Southwest Petroleum University (SWPU), is among the 20 journals that CAST selected out of 91 candidates that went through the selection procedure.

The project is a joint initiative from CAST, the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China (MOF), the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (MOE),the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). The project comprises the largest funding in China to date, with the widest scope, and having the most profound impact.

Applicantscould be selected for four distinct categories (A, B, C, D). Category D mainly awards new English language STM journals, which either represent preponderant disciplines in which Chinese research is leading or fill a gap indomestic English language STM journals. CAST aims to establishthe scientific and normalized editing and publishing operation mechanisms to improve journals'academic quality and international status, and support these journals to become influential international journals. Journals selected under category D will be granted the CN numberas issued by SAPPRFT, and get financial support to the amount of 500,000 CNY.

“PETROLEUM”（ISSN: 2405-6561, eISSN: 2405-5816, quarterly journal）is an Open Access journal, published by KeAi Communications Co., Ltd (a joint venture between China Science Publishing & Media and Elsevier). SWPU leadership has been fully committed to the journal since its launch in 2015. Professor Jinzhou ZHAO, President of SWPU and Editor in Chief of the journal, personally engages in the refinement of the journal’s features and the development of high quality special issues. The university leadership provides strategic and academic guidance to the editorial board who is responsible for organizing timely high quality publication and operational management in general. The editorial board consists of a team of outstanding experts and scholars, both international and Chinese, including four CAS or CAE academicians, and seven “Changjiang Scholars” and “Distinguished Young Scholars”. The editorial department consists of five full-time editors, all of them have doctorates, and three of them have experience in overseas study. The journal has been indexed in 17 international abstract and citation database, such as EI-Inspec，DOAJ，UPD and so on. To April 2017, the total number of article downloads was 112,700, 65% of which from the United States. Meanwhile, the total citations reached 60 in “Web of Science”, and 237 in “Google Scholar”.

“PETROLEUM” maintains a strong focus on “multidisciplinary crossover, and unconventional oil and gas exploration and development”. The journal has received the great support from its editorial board members and scholars around the world. Authors include Nobel Prize winner professor Malcolm Wilson, and academician of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the founder of discrete element method (CDEM), Peter Cundall, as well as experts from more than 20 countries.The journal also published noticeable special issues, like”Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS)”, organized by Honorary Chief Editor Professor Paitoon. The special issue “Pipeline multiphase flow” organized by Professor Barbara Marchetti will soon be ready for publication.

The editorial staff of “PETROLEUM” will seize the opportunity of being funded by the project under category D, safeguard the accuracy and timeliness of the journal's aims & scope, actively promote academic quality and harness its international status, becoming an important international journal in the near future.