About this Research Topic
Hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, are always in the spotlight of research due to their significant role in our daily lives. These resources have numerous benefits, as they are used in many of the products we rely on. While in the past, only conventional resources were considered economically viable, the discovery of hydrocarbons in unconventional resources such as tight oil and shale has revolutionized the industry. The shale revolution in North America has particularly altered the global energy landscape, highlighting the importance of developing unconventional resources. However, unconventional resources, which contain micro/nanopores, often exhibit poor petrophysical properties that result in low oil and gas recovery. As a result, the effective exploitation of these resources has become a key and urgent issue.
To improve hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources, various technologies have been utilized. Physical simulations, such as electric field, light, microwave, and ultrasonic, have been conducted to enhance oil and gas production by promoting the permeability and porosity of reservoirs. Chemical additives like surfactants, ionic liquids, nanofluids, and oxidation solutions have also been employed to improve oil and gas recovery by altering the surface wettability of rocks. Additionally, CO2 techniques, including CO2 flooding, CO2 puff and huff, and alternate CO2 injection, have been applied to achieve effective oil and gas recovery through the exchange of hydrocarbons. Furthermore, these CO2 technologies can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by sequestering carbon intensity. It is widely accepted that coupling technologies are more effective than using a single technology. Therefore, coupled technologies are showing promising prospects in developing unconventional resources and achieving satisfactory energy return on energy invested(EROI). The main objective of this Research Topic is to gather information on both single and coupled technologies that have brought considerable improvements in the recovery of unconventional resources. By disseminating useful and well-referenced knowledge, we hope to enhance oil and gas recovery in unconventional resources.
The aim of the current research topic is to collect original research articles, case studies, and review papers that focus on technologies to increase oil and gas recovery in unconventional resources. Submissions for publication may include topics such as:
• mechanisms of chemical additives to improve oil and gas recovery
• mechanisms of CO2 utilization to enhance hydrocarbon recovery
• developments and applications of physical technologies in unconventional resources
• coupled technologies that promote hydrocarbon production
• new technologies that have been field-tested to increase oil and gas recovery
• various approaches to produce a higher EROI
• technologies or standards to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity
To improve hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources, various technologies have been utilized. Physical simulations, such as electric field, light, microwave, and ultrasonic, have been conducted to enhance oil and gas production by promoting the permeability and porosity of reservoirs. Chemical additives like surfactants, ionic liquids, nanofluids, and oxidation solutions have also been employed to improve oil and gas recovery by altering the surface wettability of rocks. Additionally, CO2 techniques, including CO2 flooding, CO2 puff and huff, and alternate CO2 injection, have been applied to achieve effective oil and gas recovery through the exchange of hydrocarbons. Furthermore, these CO2 technologies can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by sequestering carbon intensity. It is widely accepted that coupling technologies are more effective than using a single technology. Therefore, coupled technologies are showing promising prospects in developing unconventional resources and achieving satisfactory energy return on energy invested(EROI). The main objective of this Research Topic is to gather information on both single and coupled technologies that have brought considerable improvements in the recovery of unconventional resources. By disseminating useful and well-referenced knowledge, we hope to enhance oil and gas recovery in unconventional resources.
The aim of the current research topic is to collect original research articles, case studies, and review papers that focus on technologies to increase oil and gas recovery in unconventional resources. Submissions for publication may include topics such as:
• mechanisms of chemical additives to improve oil and gas recovery
• mechanisms of CO2 utilization to enhance hydrocarbon recovery
• developments and applications of physical technologies in unconventional resources
• coupled technologies that promote hydrocarbon production
• new technologies that have been field-tested to increase oil and gas recovery
• various approaches to produce a higher EROI
• technologies or standards to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity
Keywords: unconventional resources, chemical method, physical method, oil and gas recovery, coupled technologies
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
