A Comprehensive Review on Application and Perspectives of Nanomaterials in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Unconventional petroleum resources are currently a major challenge for exploration and development. The low porosity and low permeability of the reservoirs and the obvious heterogeneity pose great challenges for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Utilizing nanomaterials with distinctive properties in EOR methods presents an effective strategy to overcome the limitations of traditional EOR technologies. This paper examines the properties and classification of commonly used nanomaterials and summarizes the mechanisms by which nanoparticles EOR. It also underscores the significance of numerical simulations in nanoparticle-assisted EOR technology, offering guidance for optimizing schemes and predicting and evaluating the effectiveness of such technology in field applications. The results indicate that selecting appropriate bare or modified nanomaterials and conducting necessary sensitivity analyses are crucial for optimizing EOR. Furthermore, numerical simulations serve as an effective bridge for transitioning nanoparticle-assisted EOR technology from experimental to field applications.