Open Access

REVIEW

A Research Progress of CO₂-Responsive Plugging Channeling Gels

by Yang Xiong^1,2, Jianxin Liu^1,2,*, Xianhao Yi², Bangyan Xiao², Dan Wu², Biao Wu², Chunyu Gao²

1 Key Laboratory of Drilling and Production Engineering for Oil and Gas, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China
2 School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China

* Corresponding Author: Jianxin Liu. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Integrated Geology-Engineering Simulation and Optimizationfor Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs)

Energy Engineering 2024, 121(7), 1759-1780. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2024.048536

Received 11 December 2023; Accepted 30 January 2024; Issue published 11 June 2024

Abstract

In the heterogeneous reservoirs, CO₂ flooding easily leads to CO₂ gas channeling, which can seriously affect sweeping efficiency and reduce oil recovery. After thoroughly investigating the advantages and shortcomings of various CO₂ plugging technologies, this paper focuses on the feasibility of improving conventional water-alternating gas (WAG) through CO₂-responsive gel materials. Based on the different chemical reaction mechanisms between the unique chemical structure and CO₂, changes in the material’s physical and chemical properties can respond to CO₂. The feasibility of utilizing these property changes for CO₂-responsive plugging is explored. Various CO₂-responsive gels and gel nanoparticles have been extensively researched in different fields, such as energy, medicine, and biology. This paper surveys the molecular structures, chemical compositions, response mechanisms, and changes of these CO₂-responsive gels, aiming to draw insights into the carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO₂-EOR) field. Finally, the key issues and future development direction of CO₂-responsive plugging gels were analyzed.

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Keywords

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