Advances and Innovations in Unconventional Enhanced Oil Recovery
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1663
Special Issue Editor
Interests: petroleum exploration; hydrocarbon reservoirs; enhanced oil recovery; unconventional EOR methods; supercritical fluids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing global demand for energy necessitates innovative and sustainable approaches to hydrocarbon production. As the petroleum industry evolves through technological advancements and a deeper understanding of Earth's geology, the challenge of accessing remaining oil reserves becomes increasingly complex. With conventional and easily accessible petroleum sources depleting, the need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods—both conventional and unconventional—has become more critical than ever.
EOR techniques aim to maximize oil extraction from mature reservoirs, extending their productive life and improving overall recovery rates. Conventional EOR methods, such as thermal recovery, gas injection, and chemical flooding, have been widely employed to increase oil mobility and production. Meanwhile, unconventional EOR strategies continue to emerge, incorporating innovative technologies and new insights into reservoir behavior to optimize recovery in complex geological formations.
The effectiveness of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is closely linked to structural geology, as it offers critical insights into subsurface deformations and reservoir characteristics. A thorough understanding of geological formations is essential for selecting and implementing the most efficient EOR techniques, ensuring both long-term reservoir integrity and environmental sustainability. However, a key challenge lies in addressing complex reservoir heterogeneity, which is often hindered by insufficient communication between geologists and engineers.
This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements and the dynamic interplay between petroleum exploration, structural geology, and enhanced oil recovery. By bridging these disciplines, we aim to foster innovative solutions that address the challenges of modern hydrocarbon exploration and recovery, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient practices.
We invite researchers and industry professionals to contribute their expertise and insights, driving progress in this critical field.
Key topics of unconventional EOR techniques include the following: Electromagnetic heating, plasma pulse technology, nanotechnology-enhanced EOR, wettability alteration methods, foam-assisted gas injection, and enzyme-based EOR.
Dr. Pavel Spirov
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- electromagnetic heating
- supercritical carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery
- plasma pulse technology
- nanotechnology-enhanced enhanced oil recovery
- wettability alteration methods
- foam-assisted gas injection
- microbial enhanced oil recovery
- enzyme-based enhanced oil recovery
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