Advances of self-assembly behaviors in polymer systems for improved oil recovery (IOR) in unconventional reservoirs
Li Z. Zhou B. Lu Y. Yang H. Jiang H. Kang W. Xing Y. Gui X.
November 2025Elsevier B.V.
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
2025#345
Traditional polymer systems including polymer and polymer gels face efficiency limitations in harsh unconventional reservoirs (low-permeability, high-temperature, high-salinity, serious-heterogenous, etc.) due to insufficient bulk/interfacial self-assembly capability. In recent decades, several self-assembly strengthening methods have been introduced into polymer systems to endow them bespoke functionalities and responsiveness suitable for different conditions. This review comprehensively analyzes advances in self-assembly-strengthened polymer systems for improved oil recovery (IOR), including molecular structure, synthesis methods and functional monomers from intrinsic principles and extrinsic functions and focusing on supramolecular interactions (hydrophobic association, host-guest inclusion, electrostatic forces), functional structures, and nanohybrid strategies. We detail how these approaches enhance bulk viscosity, interfacial activity, and conformance control in self-assembly polymer/gel systems while improving temperature/salinity resistance. And the practical efficacy is demonstrated through field validations in China, UAE, and Indonesia. Finally, the challenges and prospects for the self-assembly strengthening techniques for IOR in unconventional reservoirs are involved and systematically addressed. The deep understanding and precise regulation of self-assembly behaviors can open the way toward adaptive and evolutive polymer-based IOR technologies, a further step toward the cost-effective production of unconventional oil/gas resources.
Gel , Improved oil recovery , Polymer , Self-assembly , Supramolecular interaction , Unconventional reservoirs
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State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Resources Green Exploitation, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China
Exploration and Development Research Institute of Petrochina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xian, 710018, China
School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
School of Energy, Oil and Gas Industry, Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
Xinjiang Keli New Technology Development Co., Ltd, Karamay, 834000, China
State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Resources Green Exploitation
Exploration and Development Research Institute of Petrochina Changqing Oilfield Company
School of Petroleum Engineering
School of Energy
Xinjiang Keli New Technology Development Co.
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