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Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and...
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Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and Enhanced Recovery

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 6080

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guanzheng Zhuang

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Guest Editor
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: drilling fluids; fracturing fluid; clay minerals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qiang Li

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Petroleum College, China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, Karamay 834000, China
Interests: petroleum engineering; oilfield chemistry; clay-based hybrid material

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Clay minerals are widely distributed in oil and gas sedimentary basins and play a pivotal role in the generation and extraction of hydrocarbons. They not only affect the formation and migration of hydrocarbons, but also have an impact on subsequent exploration, extraction, and enhanced oil recovery. The interaction between clay minerals and organic matter significantly affects the thermal maturity and quality of generated hydrocarbons, and the adsorption characteristics of clay minerals will also alter the migration path of underground oil and gas. In the drilling process, the identification and analysis of clay minerals are crucial for accurately describing reservoir properties. Problems such as clay swelling, particle migration, and clay–fluid interaction pose major challenges to wellbore stability and enhanced oil recovery, thus placing higher demands on drilling technology and extraction theory. Therefore, in-depth research on the role of clay minerals in oil and gas formation, migration, exploitation, and enhanced oil recovery will help to better understand their key role in the petroleum industry. In particular, clay minerals, as a material with special physical and chemical properties, are extensively employed in the preparation of drilling fluids. The development of clay minerals and clay-based composite materials will contribute to the availability of high-performance drilling fluids for more complex and demanding formations.

This Special Issue aims to explore the critical interactions between clay minerals and hydrocarbon systems and to expand the applications of clay minerals in the petroleum industry. It will cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Clay mineralogy in source rocks: The role of clay minerals in the formation, accumulation, and thermal maturation of organic matter in source rocks.
  • Petroleum geology and mineralogy: Relationship of clay mineral content and distribution to hydrocarbon reservoir properties.
  • Enhanced oil recovery: The impact of clay minerals on enhanced oil recovery techniques.
  • Applications in drilling fluids: The effects of clay minerals on drilling fluid properties and the use of clay-based composites in drilling fluids.
  • Environmental considerations: The role of clay minerals in mitigating the environmental impacts during oil and gas production, including their use in pollution control and soil remediation.

We look forward to your valuable contributions and to submitting your research that will serve as a key reference for researchers and professionals engaged in the study and application of clay minerals in oil and gas generation, exploration, and enhanced recovery.

Dr. Guanzheng Zhuang
Dr. Qiang Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clay mineral
  • petroleum and natural gas engineering
  • drilling fluids
  • surface interaction
  • colloidal chemistry
  • enhanced oil recovery

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6763 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Mechanism of Drilling Losses in the Zhengning Oilfield in the Ordos Basin
by Tuan Gu, Shugang Yang, Yunfeng Xiao, Linpeng Zhang, Fangquan Peng, Xu Su, Tao Fan, Haiyang Wang and Desheng Zhou
Minerals 2025, 15(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010085 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 616
Abstract
Frequent wellbore loss incidents in the Mesozoic reservoirs of the Zhengning oilfield in the Ordos Basin, China, have severely impacted the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs in the basin. This study analyzed the mineral composition, microstructure, natural fracture distribution, and hydration–dispersion [...] Read more.
Frequent wellbore loss incidents in the Mesozoic reservoirs of the Zhengning oilfield in the Ordos Basin, China, have severely impacted the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs in the basin. This study analyzed the mineral composition, microstructure, natural fracture distribution, and hydration–dispersion characteristics of rocks in the loss-prone intervals of the Mesozoic reservoirs using a laboratory experimental system. The effects of natural fractures and drilling fluid immersion on the mechanical properties and failure behavior of the rocks were investigated, and the wellbore loss mechanisms in the Mesozoic reservoirs of the Zhengning oilfield were comprehensively analyzed. Experimental results show that the reservoir rocks in the loss-prone intervals are widely distributed, with natural fractures having a width of 0.2–0.3 mm, and the clay mineral content is generally above 40%. When the relative content of illite/smectite interstratification exceeds 80%, the rock exhibits strong hydration–dispersion behavior, with a thermal recovery rate of less than 85%. Drilling fluid immersion causes the rock mass to become unstable. The presence of natural fractures and the hydration–dispersion effect significantly weaken the strength of the surrounding rock mass, leading to enhanced rock plasticity. During drilling, the expansion and interconnection of natural fractures, combined with the hydration–dispersion effect, are the main causes of wellbore loss incidents. Our study clarifies the mechanisms underlying wellbore loss incidents in the Zhengning oilfield and provides reliable experimental evidence for preventing such incidents in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and Enhanced Recovery)
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13 pages, 3557 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Performance Evaluation of Small-Molecule Ammonium as a Shale Hydration Inhibitor
by Quande Wang, Huifeng He, Yarui Zhao, Jing Rui, Ruichen Jiang, Michal Slaný, Gang Chen and Xuefan Gu
Minerals 2024, 14(11), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14111117 - 3 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1145
Abstract
In this paper, small-molecule quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized by N-alkylation to inhibit hydration swelling and hydration dispersion. The prepared small-molecule quaternary ammonium salt was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), particle size analysis and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), [...] Read more.
In this paper, small-molecule quaternary ammonium salts were synthesized by N-alkylation to inhibit hydration swelling and hydration dispersion. The prepared small-molecule quaternary ammonium salt was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), particle size analysis and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and its performance as an inhibitor in clay was evaluated by an anti-swelling test and a linear swelling test. The results show that small-molecule quaternary ammonium salt (TEE-2) synthesized by triethanolamine and epichlorohydrin in ethanol with a molar ratio of 1:1.5 can successfully inhibit the hydration swelling and dispersion of clay. The anti-swelling rate of TEE-2 was 84.94%, the linear swelling rate was 36.42%, and the linear swelling rate of 0.5% TEE-2 was only 29.34%. The hydration swelling of clay in 0.5% TEE-2 solution was significantly inhibited. The hydration inhibition mechanism of the small-molecule quaternary ammonium salt inhibitor 0.5% TEE-2 was analyzed by FTIR, SEM and TGA. It was considered that 0.5% TEE-2 has strong hydration inhibition, which was realized by infiltration and adsorption on the clay surface. Small-molecule quaternary ammonium salts were beneficial for maintaining wellbore stability and reducing the risk of wellbore instability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and Enhanced Recovery)
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Review

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24 pages, 6690 KiB  
Review
Advanced Trends in Shale Mechanical Inhibitors for Enhanced Wellbore Stability in Water-Based Drilling Fluids
by Erxin Ai, Qi Li, Zhikun Liu, Bo Zhang, Liupeng Wang and Chengyun Ma
Minerals 2024, 14(12), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14121197 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1753
Abstract
Wellbore instability, particularly in shale formations, presents a great challenge to modern drilling operations. Although conventional chemical inhibitors are frequently employed in water-based drilling fluids, they may not always function in highly reactive or naturally fractured shale formations. In recent years, mechanical inhibitors [...] Read more.
Wellbore instability, particularly in shale formations, presents a great challenge to modern drilling operations. Although conventional chemical inhibitors are frequently employed in water-based drilling fluids, they may not always function in highly reactive or naturally fractured shale formations. In recent years, mechanical inhibitors have attracted attention as a complementary solution to chemical methods. These inhibitors, which include carbon-based, silicon-based, metal-based, and mineral-based particle materials, provide structural support to the wellbore by physically plugging fractures and sealing microfractures. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the mineral types associated with shale wellbore instability as well as a critical analysis of the mechanisms, categories, and effectiveness of mechanical inhibitors in enhancing wellbore stability. The development challenges and prospects of mechanical inhibitors in water-based drilling fluids are also discussed. This review emphasizes the potential of mechanical inhibitors in reducing fluid invasion, preventing wellbore collapse, and improving overall drilling efficiency, which will help facilitate the development and large-scale application of mechanical inhibitors in drilling fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and Enhanced Recovery)
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16 pages, 2871 KiB  
Review
Application of Nanofibrous Clay Minerals in Water-Based Drilling Fluids: Principles, Methods, and Challenges
by Guanzheng Zhuang, Jiajun Zhang, Jinrong Chen, Qian Liu, Wenxiao Fan and Qiang Li
Minerals 2024, 14(8), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14080842 - 21 Aug 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1528
Abstract
Nanofibrous clay minerals, specifically palygorskite (Pal) and sepiolite (Sep), have been becoming a new generation of rheological additives for drilling fluid systems due to their unique nanostructure, high performance, environmentally benign nature, and cost-effectiveness. These nanoclay minerals exhibit excellent colloidal and rheological properties [...] Read more.
Nanofibrous clay minerals, specifically palygorskite (Pal) and sepiolite (Sep), have been becoming a new generation of rheological additives for drilling fluid systems due to their unique nanostructure, high performance, environmentally benign nature, and cost-effectiveness. These nanoclay minerals exhibit excellent colloidal and rheological properties in aqueous systems, even in saline and high-temperature environments. Although Pal and Sep have been employed as auxiliary rheological additives in a few cases to enhance the salt resistance of conventional water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs), these two clay minerals have not yet been used on a large scale due to a lack of understanding of their structures and properties, as well as the control of their performance. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the clay mineralogy, colloidal chemistry, rheological behaviors, and filtration properties of nanofibrous clay minerals in WBDFs, with critical comments. It also discusses the challenges and prospects for further research. This review provides new insights into fundamental and applied studies of nanofibrous clay minerals and helps promote the large-scale application of nanofibrous clay products in drilling fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals: Roles in Oil and Gas Generation, Drilling, and Enhanced Recovery)
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