Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI)

What Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) does

Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI), legally Viện Dầu khí Việt Nam, is a state-owned scientific research institute founded on May 22, 1978 and wholly owned by Petrovietnam (Tập đoàn Công nghiệp – Năng lượng Quốc gia Việt Nam). It functions as Petrovietnam's core science and technology unit, providing research, consulting, and technical services across the full petroleum and energy value chain — exploration evaluation, reservoir simulation, drilling, refining process optimization, corrosion control, HSE assessment, and energy economics — with a staff of approximately 217 employees based at its Hanoi headquarters and Ho Chi Minh City southern branch.

VPI's technology stack combines domain specialization with emerging digital capabilities. Core platforms include VPInsights, an AI-powered knowledge management system built on LLMs and Generative AI that synthesizes 60+ years of Vietnam petroleum industry expertise with global data, and VPI Office, an internal document management system. The institute has also developed seven registered commercialized products (sacrificial aluminum anodes, nano graphene, carbon nanotubes, bio-oil, engine lubricants, oil demulsifiers, and oil dispersants), maintains an ISO/IEC 27001:2013-certified Petroleum Activity Map, and publishes the Petroleum Journal. New energy research covers hydrogen technology, fuel cells, CCUS, and digital twin / simulation solutions for power systems.

VPI's revenue model is anchored in professional services: research contracts and consulting for Petrovietnam subsidiaries (PVPower, PV Oil, PVChem), government-assigned assignments from the Ministry of Industry and Trade on national energy reserve strategy, paid training programs through its CPTI subsidiary, and a growing portfolio of commercialized petroleum products. Distribution is direct-institutional with no competitive sales motion, and pricing is not publicly disclosed but handled through negotiated multi-year contracts. Strategic positioning is reinforced by international technology partnerships with Siemens (digital transformation), AVL (hydrogen), and JICA (energy reserve strategy).

Name

Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI)

Legal name

Viện Dầu khí Việt Nam (Vietnam Petroleum Institute)

Website

https://vpi.pvn.vn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) is the state-owned core research and technology unit of Petrovietnam, providing petroleum and energy R&D, consulting, training, and commercialized products across the full oil and gas value chain for Petrovietnam subsidiaries and Vietnamese government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanoi

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research and Consulting Services: VPI provides specialized research, consulting, and technical services to Petrovietnam and government agencies. Services span exploration evaluation, reservoir modeling, refinery technology, HSE assessment, and strategic planning.
2. Training Services: VPI generates revenue through professional training programs delivered through CPTI (Center for Training and Petroleum Information) to Petrovietnam subsidiaries and external organizations in petroleum and energy sectors.
3. Commercialized Products: VPI commercializes research outcomes including sacrificial anodes, nano materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes), bio-oil, lubricants, and specialized chemicals for petroleum applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

VPI is the core scientific and technological research unit of Petrovietnam, providing research, consulting, and technical services across the entire petroleum and energy value chain, including exploration evaluation, reservoir simulation, drilling technology, refinery process optimization, HSE assessment, corrosion control, and energy economics. It also delivers specialized training programs, develops AI-powered knowledge platforms (VPInsights), and commercializes proprietary products such as sacrificial anodes, nano materials, bio-oil, and specialty chemicals.

Product overview

VPI operates as a research institute under Petrovietnam offering a diverse portfolio spanning scientific research services, commercialized products, and digital solutions. Core offerings include VPInsights (AI-powered knowledge management), VPI Office (document management software), and specialized petroleum consulting services. Commercialized products include sacrificial anodes, nano materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes), bio-oil, engine lubricants, and chemical products. The institute also publishes the Petroleum Journal and provides training services across the petroleum and energy value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research and Consulting Services Scientific research, technology development, and expert consulting services covering petroleum exploration, extraction, processing, HSE, corrosion control, energy economics, and strategic planning, delivered to Petrovietnam subsidiaries, government ministries, and international development partners.
• Training Services (CPTI) Professional training programs delivered through the Center for Training and Petroleum Information (CPTI) to technical staff and engineers in power plants, refineries, and petroleum operations, including specialized courses on hydraulic control systems, pneumatic control systems, and other technical domains.
• Vietnam Petroleum Insights (VPInsights) AI-powered knowledge management and sharing system that provides natural language query capabilities for petroleum data, built on Large Language Models (LLM) and Generative AI to synthesize knowledge from 60+ years of Vietnam's petroleum industry expertise combined with global petroleum data.
• VPI Office Document management and office automation software covering personnel management, task assignment, payment requests, and asset registration, deployed for internal operations management.
• Petroleum Activity Map Interactive digital mapping system for petroleum blocks, contracts, and facilities in Vietnamese territory, certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 for information security management.
• Petroleum Journal (Tạp chí Dầu khí) Scientific journal publishing petroleum research, industry insights, and technical articles for the petroleum and energy research community.
• Energy and Petroleum Market Newsletter Market intelligence publication covering energy and petroleum market analysis for industry professionals and decision-makers.
• Sacrificial Aluminum Alloy Anode (Anode hy sinh hợp kim nhôm) Cathodic protection product made of aluminum alloy for corrosion prevention in petroleum infrastructure and pipelines, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Nano Graphene Material (TIOP-GNM 02) Advanced nano graphene material for specialized petroleum and industrial applications, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Carbon Nanotube Material (TIOP-CNT35) Carbon nanotube material for specialized industrial and petroleum applications, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Biomass Pyrolysis Oil (VPI BIO-OIL 02) Bio-oil product derived from biomass pyrolysis for energy applications, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Engine Oil (TIOP-EO2050G) Engine lubricant product designed for petroleum industry applications, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Oil Demulsifier Chemical (VPI-HUD) Chemical demulsifier product used in crude oil processing operations, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• Oil Dispersant (CPT-CPSE) Chemical dispersant product for oil spill response and environmental management, sold as a commercialized patented product.
• FCC Catalyst Waste Bricks Construction material produced from spent FCC (Fluid Catalytic Cracking) catalyst waste generated by petroleum refining operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• VPI provides consulting and research support for Petrovietnam's operational optimization and strategic development across petroleum exploration, extraction, and processing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• PVPGB (Petroleum Power Generation Branch)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2026VPI's Center for Training and Petroleum Information (CPTI) collaborated with PVPGB to organize professional training courses on hydraulic control systems and pneumatic control systems in thermal power plants. The training program from July 21-24, 2026 had 33 participants from PVPGB, Thai Binh 2 Thermal Power Plant, and Song Hong 1 Thermal Power Plant. VPI develops training programs based on actual enterprise needs, focusing on practical application effectiveness.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade (Bộ Công Thương)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2026The Ministry of Industry and Trade collaborated with VPI to conduct field surveys and research on large-scale fuel storage systems in Khanh Hoa province. This activity supports the implementation of the task Researching and Drafting National Energy Reserve Strategy to 2030 with vision to 2045. The delegation surveyed facilities managed by Military Petroleum Company Region 3 (MIPECORP) and VPT (Van Phong Fuel bonded warehouse under Petrolimex with 505,000 m³ total capacity).
• SiemenscoreTechnology or Integration · 7 July 2026VPI and Siemens signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 7, 2026 for cooperation in research, development, and deployment of digital solutions including digital twin, industrial digitalization, smart operations, asset performance management, data analysis, and digital transformation in energy, petroleum, and industrial sectors. The partnership combines Siemens's advanced technology platforms with VPI's deep industry knowledge and practical experience in Vietnam's energy sector.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026VPI and JICA held a working meeting on June 26, 2026 to exchange experiences in building crude oil reserve strategy. JICA shared Japan's experience maintaining approximately 250 days of oil reserves through 15 facilities nationwide, combining state reserves, private enterprise reserves, and international cooperation mechanisms. VPI is researching the National Energy Reserve Strategy covering petroleum, coal, and new energy sources, with Japan's model identified as an effective reference for Vietnam.
• NSMO (National Power System Operations Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026VPI and NSMO signed a cooperation agreement on June 24, 2026 to research, develop, and apply technology solutions for improving electricity system operation and electricity market efficiency. The collaboration focuses on developing digital models, digital twins, data analysis tools, simulation, forecasting, and optimization systems for power grid operations. VPI will lead technology development in partnership with technology partners.
• AVL List GmbHmajorTechnology or Integration · 11 May 2026VPI met with AVL List GmbH (Austria) on May 11, 2026 to discuss hydrogen technology cooperation. AVL, led by Gernot Grasser (Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Australia), presented capabilities in dynamics simulation, energy system simulation, and technology integration. Both parties discussed potential cooperation in building advanced hydrogen laboratories, applying simulation software, evaluating technology performance, optimizing operations, and providing technical consulting for energy transition projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Halliburton: Major oilfield services and technology provider with significant R&D in drilling, reservoir, and digital solutions. Comparable to VPI on the upstream technology and services side.
• Baker Hughes: Energy technology and industrial services company with research capabilities across oil & gas, renewables, and digital. Overlaps with VPI's petroleum technology and energy-transition research.
• Rystad Energy: Independent energy research and consulting firm offering analysis, databases, and advisory across oil & gas and renewables. Comparable to VPI's commercialized market intelligence publications and consulting work, but globally commercial.
• Schlumberger (SLB): World's largest oilfield services company with substantial in-house R&D, digital, and reservoir simulation capabilities. Overlaps with VPI's exploration, drilling, and digital twin capabilities but operates commercially at global scale.
• S&P Global Commodity Insights: Global energy market intelligence and research provider (formerly Platts). Comparable to VPI's market intelligence publications and policy-adjacent research, but commercial and global.
• Wood Mackenzie: Global energy research and consulting firm covering upstream, midstream, downstream, and energy transition. Comparable to VPI's research and consulting services for petroleum and energy, but as a private commercial firm rather than state institute.

Direct peers

• SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing: Core petroleum R&D arm of Sinopec, China's largest oil refiner. Comparable as a national oil company research institute focused on refining, petrochemicals, and increasingly new energy research.
• IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN): France's national petroleum and energy research institute, historically serving the French petroleum industry with R&D across exploration, refining, and energy transition. Closest structural analog to VPI as a national oil-company-affiliated research institute transitioning toward new energy.
• Saudi Aramco EXPEC Advanced Research Center: Aramco's upstream R&D arm, providing scientific research and technology development for a national oil company. Comparable in mission (oil-major affiliated research) though at much larger scale.
• CENPES (Petrobras Research and Development Center): Petrobras' central R&D center in Brazil, operating as a national oil company research institute across upstream, refining, biofuels, and energy transition. Directly comparable mandate to VPI's role within Petrovietnam.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vietnam-petroleum-institute-vpi-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI)