So far, there is no exact definition of international oil cooperation in the world. However, what people usually refer to as international oil cooperation should be oil economic cooperation activities between different sovereign countries and different business entities in the oil industry, as well as the coordination of international oil policies. Including establishing good bilateral relations with importing and exporting countries, signing bilateral or multilateral energy cooperation agreements, mutual trade, joint exploration and development, establishing production or import alliances to maintain market stability (such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency), and jointly establishing strategic oil reserves.

After decades of development, international oil cooperation has gradually formed a relatively standardized cooperation model. Generally speaking, there are the following types of international oil cooperation:

First, international oil credit cooperation. Including foreign government credit, international financial organization credit, export credit, commercial bank credit, mixed credit, absorbing foreign deposits, issuing international bonds and international lease credit.

The second is international oil investment cooperation. Mainly refers to the direct investment in the field of oil production, including a country's investment in introducing oil from other countries and investment in oil from other countries. Its specific ways include franchise system, joint operation, product sharing and so on.

The third is international oil service cooperation. It mainly includes international petroleum engineering contracting, labor import and export and international consultation.

Fourth, international cooperation in petroleum science and technology. Including paid transfer and free transfer. Paid transfer mainly refers to international oil technology transfer. The method adopted is the trade of petroleum equipment or related equipment and hardware with the nature of technology transfer, and the licensing trade of patents, know-how or trademarks. Free transfer generally takes the form of petroleum science and technology exchange, which includes the exchange of petroleum science and technology information, resources and instrument samples, holding special seminars, exchanging experts and imparting expert technology, joint research, design and experimental research, and establishing joint scientific research institutions.

Fifth, international oil information and management cooperation. International petroleum information cooperation mainly refers to the exchange and exchange of international petroleum economic information. The specific ways of international oil management cooperation include inviting foreign management consulting institutions and management experts to give lectures, oil management consulting, cooperative operation, exchange of management experience and information, and holding international oil management seminars.

Sixth, international oil economic assistance. Mainly funds, materials and technical assistance.

Seventh, international petroleum economic policy coordination and cooperation. Including the coordination of the International Petroleum Economic Organization of the United Nations system, the coordination of heads of government meetings and mutual visits, and the coordination of the International Petroleum Industry Organization and other relevant international energy economic organizations.