Research status and prospects of nano-foam fracturing fluids in unconventional reservoirs

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-6535.2025.03.001

Abstract

Abstract: Foam fracturing fluids, with benefits like low water content, easy flowback, strong sand-carrying capacity, and less reservoir damage, are a key technology for unconventional oil & gas reservoir development. However, foam decay greatly affects the stimulation by fracturing.With nano-technology progress, adding nanoparticles to boost foam fracturing fluid properties has become a research hotspot. This paper introduces the research progress of nanoparticle impacts on stability, sand-carrying capacity, fluid loss reduction, and damage reduction of foam fracturing fluids. It also points out future research directions, which mainly involve using machine learning algorithms and statistical models to holistically assess factors influencing foam stability, deepening the understanding of nanoparticle-surfactant interactions, developing low-cost and efficient nanoparticles, reducing nanoparticle-induced reservoir damage, and enhancing the stability and dispersion of nano-foam fracturing fluids in complex reservoir environments. The research findings can offer a theoretical reference and technical support for the application and development of nano-foam fracturing fluids in unconventional oil & gas reservoir exploitation.

Key words: fracturing fluid, unconventional reservoir, foam, nanoparticles

CLC Number:

TE357.1

YAO Weida, LI Yu, ZHANG Liang, WANG Peng, HU Jiachen, MA Weiyun, ZHI Guangchao. Research status and prospects of nano-foam fracturing fluids in unconventional reservoirs[J]. Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs, 2025, 32(3): 1-7.

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