This paper introduces the construction of national key discipline in China University of Petroleum in the past ten years on the basic subjects, directions, characteristics and development trend of researches, especially the performances and progresses based on technological innovation. Practices have proved that, the discipline of "mineral prospecting and explora- tion" in China University of Petroleum has made innovative achievements in the fields of petroleum geology and exploration : i. e. , building up the platform that can undertake the national key scientific missions, forming scientific research teams dedi- cated to solve geological problems, training high level experienced researchers, and improving the university academic influ- ence internationally thanks to the prominent characteristics on petroleum exploration and the development centering on the in- herence. It has become an important base of technological innovation, researcher training and academic exchanges in China's petroleum geological theory and exploration techniques.