Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage in Unconventional Reservoirs Development
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 255
Special Issue Editors
Interests: theories and methods for enhanced oil/gas recovery and hydrate reservoirs
Interests: theory and technology of reservoir fracturing stimulation (coalbed methane, oil and gas, geothermal); numerical simulation of fracture propagation
Interests: subsurface numerical simulation; enhanced hydrocarbon recovery; underground gas storage; petroleum engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: CO2 sequestration technology in the ocean (theory + experiment + simulation); development of CO2 capture mechanism, process and equipment; utilization of hydrate technology (gas storage, water treatment, gas separation); theory and technology of marine natural gas hydrate extraction
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The transition to a sustainable energy future demands innovative strategies to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring energy security. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has emerged as a critical technological pathway to mitigate climate change. In particular, the development of unconventional reservoirs—such as shale, tight sandstone, and coalbed methane formations—presents a unique and synergistic opportunity for integrating CO2 management with hydrocarbon recovery. These complex geological formations can serve not only as energy resources but also as potential secure repositories for anthropogenic CO2, thereby turning a challenge into an opportunity for the energy sector.
This Special Issue focuses on the advanced research and technological innovations at the intersection of CCUS and unconventional reservoir development. The application of CO2 in these reservoirs, notably for enhanced oil and gas recovery (CO2-EOR/EGR), offers a dual benefit: improving resource extraction efficiency and facilitating permanent geological storage. However, significant scientific and technical challenges remain. These include understanding and optimizing the intricate multiphase flow and phase behavior of CO2 within the complex nanoporous structures, ensuring long-term storage integrity and containment security, and exploring novel concepts such as CO2 sequestration in subsea hydrate-bearing sediments. Addressing these challenges requires multidisciplinary efforts spanning reservoir engineering, geochemistry, rock mechanics, fluid dynamics, and monitoring technologies.
This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality original research and review articles that present cutting-edge advancements, novel methodologies, and comprehensive insights into all aspects of CCUS in unconventional reservoirs. We seek contributions that advance both fundamental knowledge and practical applications in this vital field.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to the following:
- All aspects of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies (e.g., absorption, adsorption, membrane separation, direct air capture) and advanced capture materials.
- CO2-enhanced recovery from unconventional oil and gas reservoirs (shale, tight formations, CBM).
- Mechanisms and capacity assessment for CO2 geological storage in unconventional formations.
- CO2 injection and storage in marine gas hydrate reservoirs for methane recovery and carbon sequestration.
- Phase behavior, fluid dynamics, and transport phenomena of CO2 in nanoporous media.
- CO2–brine–rock interactions and their impact on geomechanics and petrophysical properties.
- Field-scale pilot projects, case studies, and operational lessons learned.
- Advanced monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) techniques for CO2 plumes.
- Risk assessment, lifecycle analysis, and economic modeling of integrated CCUS projects in unconventional settings.
- Novel materials, well completion designs, and injection strategies for optimized CCUS performance.
- Integration of CCUS with other low-carbon energy systems.
Dr. Xiaoqiang Liu
Dr. Jiwei Wang
Dr. Cunqi Jia
Dr. Bingbing Chen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- CCUS
- CO2-enhance oil recovery
- CO2 geological storage
- CO2-brine-rock interactions
- unconventional oil and gas reservoirs
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