Topic Editors

School of Economics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Yibin 644000, China
Dr. Kun Zhang
School of Geoscience and Technology, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, China

Global Unconventional Shale Oil and Gas: Geological Mechanisms, Technological Innovations, and Economic–Environmental Sustainability Assessment

Abstract submission deadline
31 August 2027
Manuscript submission deadline
30 November 2027
Viewed by
403

Topic Information

Dear Colleague,

In recent years, the success of shale oil and gas production in North America has not only cemented the United States’ position as a leader in the global energy landscape but also driven significant advances in geological theory and the development of technologies for shale resources. In China, Cambrian–Ordovician–Silurian marine shales—characterized by high total organic carbon (TOC) and extensive pore–fracture networks—have been used in commercial-scale production. Meanwhile, in Asia, countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are rapidly advancing unconventional hydrocarbon exploration and pilot projects. This topic brings together the latest insights into the geological mechanisms and technological innovations underpinning shale oil and gas—such as multi-scale pore–fracture characterization, integrated sedimentary–structural–diagenetic modeling, and AI-driven sweet-spot prediction and production optimization—while also incorporating economic evaluation and environmental sustainability to promote efficient, safe, and low-carbon unconventional hydrocarbon development. This topic invites the submission of original research and review articles that integrate geological mechanisms, engineering technologies, and economic–environmental sustainability assessments into a unified, interdisciplinary framework. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: Global resource appraisal and development management; Fault–fracture networks and their impact on reservoir continuity and productivity; Organic matter enrichment processes and diagenetic evolution; Stratigraphic architecture and facies characterization; Multi-scale pore–fracture network quantification; CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) strategies in unconventional plays; Full life-cycle economic cost–benefit analysis and low-carbon pathway assessment; Hydraulic fracturing design and real-time monitoring; Digital oilfield technologies and closed-loop production control; Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance evaluation frameworks; Dependence on mineral resource extraction and challenges in the green-energy transition.

Dr. Hu Li
Dr. Kun Zhang
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • shale oil and gas
  • geological mechanisms
  • pore–fracture network
  • hydraulic fracturing
  • carbon capture, utilization, and storage
  • economic–environmental sustainability
  • environmental, social, and governance

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Energies
energies
3.2 7.3 2008 16.2 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Geosciences
geosciences
2.1 5.1 2011 23.4 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Processes
processes
2.8 5.5 2013 16 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 19.3 Days CHF 2400 Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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16 pages, 2260 KiB  
Article
From Shale to Value: Dual Oxidative Route for Kukersite Conversion
by Kristiina Kaldas, Kati Muldma, Aia Simm, Birgit Mets, Tiina Kontson, Estelle Silm, Mariliis Kimm, Villem Ödner Koern, Jaan Mihkel Uustalu and Margus Lopp
Processes 2025, 13(8), 2421; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13082421 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 277
Abstract
The increasing need for sustainable valorization of fossil-based and waste-derived materials has gained interest in converting complex organic matrices such as kerogen into valuable chemicals. This study explores a two-step oxidative strategy to decompose and valorize kerogen-rich oil shale, aiming to develop a [...] Read more.
The increasing need for sustainable valorization of fossil-based and waste-derived materials has gained interest in converting complex organic matrices such as kerogen into valuable chemicals. This study explores a two-step oxidative strategy to decompose and valorize kerogen-rich oil shale, aiming to develop a locally based source of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (DCAs). The method combines air oxidation with subsequent nitric acid treatment to enable selective breakdown of the organic structure under milder conditions. Air oxidation was conducted at 165–175 °C using 1% KOH as an alkaline promoter and 40 bar oxygen pressure (or alternatively 185 °C at 30 bar), targeting 30–40% carbon conversion. The resulting material was then subjected to nitric acid oxidation using an 8% HNO3 solution. This approach yielded up to 23% DCAs, with pre-oxidation allowing a twofold reduction in acid dosage while maintaining efficiency. However, two-step oxidation was still accompanied by substantial degradation of the structure, resulting in elevated CO2 formation, highlighting the need to balance conversion and carbon retention. The process offers a possible route for transforming solid fossil residues into useful chemical precursors and supports the advancement of regionally sourced, sustainable DCA production from unconventional raw materials. Full article
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