Abstract: Surface logging is an oil and gas exploration technology and petroleum engineering technology, whose progress is relatively slow despite its self-evident significance. In particular, the development directions for surface logging and how to develop it are plaguing the science and technology management personnel and technology researchers. Hence, an analysis of the progress of online surface drilling-fluid logging was made in terms of oil content and performance for the surface logging technology developed by Sinopec during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. The progress of surface logging with rock samples was investigated from the aspects of online detection of elements, three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), confocal laser, and acoustic logging of cuttings.The advances made in logging evaluation methods were analyzed from the perspectives of the identification and assessment of oil content in the mixed sources of drilling fluids, identification and evaluation of oil and gas data on shale in different occurrence states, calculation and application of multiple formation parameters based on elements, and carbon isotopes of gas in different occurrence states. On this basis, the requirements of "deep, high, many, non, low, thin, micro, new" posed by complex geological and engineering conditions for the timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and economy of surface logging were discussed. Finally, it was proposed that the basic research on surface logging should be deepened in terms of spectrum decomposition and decoupling, data recovery, multiple fusion, general models, etc. Breakthroughs should be made in acquisition modes from the aspects of standardization, automation, online, integration and intelligence, and interpretation and evaluation methods should be innovated by the potential tapping of a single technology, the fusion of multiple technologies, the introduction of artificial intelligence, and the support of emerging fields. It is believed that the proposed research directions are of guiding significance for boosting Sinopec’s surface logging technology and high quality development of the surface logging industry.