On January 6, 2025, the Hubei Province Science and Technology Innovation Conference in Wuhan announced the 2024 Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Awards winners. The project led by ICARE Chinese Dean Professor Luo Xiaobing, titled "Design Methods and Engineering Applications for High-Temperature Downhole Thermal Management Systems," received the First-Class Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress. As China faces growing demand for oil and gas resources amid the depletion of shallow reserves, the project addresses challenges in deep-sea, high-temperature downhole exploration. Over more than a decade of research, the team developed an integrated thermal management system for insulation, heat storage, and enhanced heat exchange in extreme environments. They also proposed innovative design methods, invented critical technologies, and created a series of advanced equipment for high-temperature downhole thermal management.

 
The project has yielded 40 invention patents, two software copyrights, and 58 academic papers. The developed technologies have been widely applied in China's maritime sectors, significantly enhancing temperature resistance and operational efficiency. These advancements represent a leap from technological dependency to global leadership, safeguarding national energy security.