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Advances in Evaluation, Development, Simulation and Utilization of Geo-Energy Resources...
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Advances in Evaluation, Development, Simulation and Utilization of Geo-Energy Resources and Underground Space

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 1348

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhixue Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: quantitative characterization and geological modeling of complex oil and gas reservoirs; theory and methods of numerical simulation of complex oil and gas reservoirs; theory and simulation of EGS development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the sustainable development of geo-energy resources in the context of the global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals, emphasizing the ​quantitative evaluation of geo-energy resources, ​integrated utilization of underground spaces (e.g., hydrogen storage, compressed air energy storage, CO2 sequestration), and ​optimization of underground gas storage (UGS) systems.

This issue explores advanced technologies such as multi-physics coupling simulations, AI-driven modeling, and their applications in resource assessment, dynamic sealing integrity monitoring for UGS, and synergistic geothermal–UGS development. Interdisciplinary research integrating geoscience, engineering, and data science is encouraged, alongside innovative case studies (e.g., salt cavern gas storage, digital twin systems), to advance the efficient design of subsurface storage systems and the lifecycle management of geo-energy resources.

We would particularly like to highlight theories, methods, and key technologies for the efficient utilization of underground space, including but not limited to the following: underground gas storage (UGS), hydrogen/helium reservoirs in geological formations, strategic oil reserves in salt caverns, and the deep geological disposal of nuclear waste, all requiring interdisciplinary integration of geoscience, energy engineering, and computational analytics to address challenges in sealing integrity, thermal-fluid dynamics, and long-term stability for a sustainable energy transition and hazardous material management.

Dr. Zhixue Sun
Guest Editor

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. Processes 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

  • geo-energy resources
  • quantitative evaluation
  • efficient development
  • underground space utilization
  • underground gas storage (UGS)
  • seepage flow simulation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4271 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on a Coupled Plugging System of Nano-Enhanced Polymer Gel and Bridging Solids for Severe Lost Circulation
by Fuhao Bao and Lei Pu
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2751; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092751 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 365
Abstract
With the advancement of oil and gas exploration and development technologies into deeper and ultra-deep reservoirs, complex geological conditions here render them highly susceptible to severe lost circulation. However, conventional bridging plugging methods struggle with large-sized lost circulation channels, while chemical gel plugging [...] Read more.
With the advancement of oil and gas exploration and development technologies into deeper and ultra-deep reservoirs, complex geological conditions here render them highly susceptible to severe lost circulation. However, conventional bridging plugging methods struggle with large-sized lost circulation channels, while chemical gel plugging faces challenges such as low success rates and insufficient pressure-bearing capacity. To address this, a novel leak plugging method combining bridging and gel plugging is proposed herein. From structural stability and mechanical properties perspectives, the enhancing effect of nanomaterials on the gel system is revealed, and the synergistic mechanism of gel-bridging coupled plugging is elucidated. For the experimental setup, orthogonal experiments determined a base formulation with controllable gelation time: 10 wt% main agent, 2 wt% crosslinking agent, and a 1:3 pH regulator ratio. Introducing 1.0 wt% nanosilica enhanced gel properties, achieving 30 N strength at 120 °C aging. An optimized walnut shell bridging agent constructed the supporting skeleton, yielding a coupled plugging formulation with up to 8 MPa pressure for a 7 mm fracture. Lost circulation volume is controlled at 163 mL, outperforming single plugging methods. Research results demonstrate gel-bridging coupled plugging’s advantages for large fractures, providing new technical insights for severe lost circulation field construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Evaluation, Development, Simulation and Utilization of Geo-Energy Resources and Underground Space)
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12 pages, 4760 KB  
Article
Developmental Characteristics of Post-Rift Faults and Palostress Field Inversion in the Bozhong 19-6 Structural Belt
by Shuchun Yang, Xinran Li, Ke Wang and Guidong Ping
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092726 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 309
Abstract
The faults in the post-rift period have an important controlling effect on the migration and accumulation of oil and gas in the shallow strata of Bohai Bay Basin. Based on the seismic interpretation data of Bozhong 19-6 Structural Belt, this paper analyzes the [...] Read more.
The faults in the post-rift period have an important controlling effect on the migration and accumulation of oil and gas in the shallow strata of Bohai Bay Basin. Based on the seismic interpretation data of Bozhong 19-6 Structural Belt, this paper analyzes the geometric characteristics and growth history of the faults in the post-rift period and inverts the tectonic paleostress that caused the fault activities in the post-rift period. Finally, the developmental characteristics of the faults in the post-rift period are deeply understood from three aspects: fault geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. In the study area, the trend of post-rift faults are mainly east–west, followed by NEE. According to the fault activity, it can be divided into three types: newly formed faults, long-term active faults, and deep-linked faults. The latter two types are faults that existed before and then reactivated during post-rifted period. The inversion result of the Neogene is the strike-slip stress field, showing that the intermediate principal stress axis (σ2) is oriented vertically, the minimum principal stress (σ3) is oriented N170°, the maximum principal stress axis (σ1) is oriented N80°, and σ3/σ1 = 0.24, σ2/σ1 = 0.62. The data used in this inversion method is easily obtained in the oil and gas industry, and the inversion results can provide an important reference for analyzing the regional tectonic evolution and clarifying the fault activity at the key moment of oil and gas accumulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Evaluation, Development, Simulation and Utilization of Geo-Energy Resources and Underground Space)
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24 pages, 17040 KB  
Article
Shear-Induced Degradation and Rheological Behavior of Polymer-Flooding Waste Liquids: Experimental and Numerical Analysis
by Bingyu Sun, Hanxiang Wang, Yanxin Liu, Wei Lv, Yubao Li, Shaohua Ma, Xiaoyu Wang and Han Cao
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2677; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092677 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Polymer flooding is an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique that improves oil extraction by injecting polymer solutions into reservoirs. However, the disposal and treatment of polymer flooding waste liquids (PFWL) present significant challenges due to their high viscosity, complex molecular structure, and environmental [...] Read more.
Polymer flooding is an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique that improves oil extraction by injecting polymer solutions into reservoirs. However, the disposal and treatment of polymer flooding waste liquids (PFWL) present significant challenges due to their high viscosity, complex molecular structure, and environmental impact. This study investigates the shear-induced degradation of polymer solutions, focusing on rheological properties, particle size distribution, and morphological changes under controlled shear conditions. Experimental results show that shear forces significantly reduce the viscosity of polymer solutions, with shear rates of 4285.36 s−1 in the rotating domain and 3505.21 s−1 in the fixed domain. The particle size analysis reveals a significant reduction in average particle size, indicating polymer aggregate breakup. SEM images confirm these morphological changes. Additionally, numerical simulations using a power-law model highlight the correlation between shear rate, wall shear stress, and polymer degradation efficiency. This study suggests that optimizing rotor–stator configurations with high shear forces is essential for efficient polymer degradation, offering insights for designing more effective polymer waste liquid treatment systems in oilfields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Evaluation, Development, Simulation and Utilization of Geo-Energy Resources and Underground Space)
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