Abstract: In recent years, the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council of China have attached great importance to the reform of the administrative approval system, according to which the Ministry of Natural Resources has continuously promoted the reform of the approval and registration system for oil and gas mining rights. The approval and registration system for oil and gas mining rights since 1998 are reviewed. After investigation and research, the reform process of the approval and registration system for oil and gas mining rights is divided into three stages according to the characteristics of reform in various periods. The achievements of the reform and practice of the approval and registration system for oil and gas mining rights are summarized: (1) The vitality of oil and gas upstream markets has been stimulated by promoting the transformation of government functions; (2) The business environment has been improved by streamlining approval procedures; (3) The efficiency of the approval registration system has been improved by introducing “internet+”; (4) The exploration and development of oil and gas resources have been promoted by perfecting the system. In view of the current new situation, the reform of the approval and registration system for oil and gas mining rights still faces new challenges. Finally, some suggestions are proposed: (1) Further transform government functions to promote the alignment of goals between companies and government; (2) Transform management concepts to promote whole lifecycle management mode; (3) Continue to improve the approval mode of “internet+” to achieve the interoperability; (4) Optimize and improve mining rights management system to promote the increase of oil and gas reserves and production.