Interfacial phenomena and microscale flow in energy extraction and underground energy storage: Recent advances and future perspectives

Authors

  • Shiyuan Zhan College of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, P. R. China; State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, P. R. China (Email: zhanshiyuan@cdut.edu.cn)
  • Jing Wu College of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, P. R. China; State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, P. R. China
  • Mingshan Zhang School of Vehicle and Energy, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066000, P. R. China
  • Bin Pan State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, P. R. China
  • Jiapei Du Discipline of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne 3001, Australia
  • Shuaijiang Guo State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, P. R. China

Abstract

Interfacial interactions and nanoconfined fluid transport are key factors influencing the efficiency and safety of unconventional oil and gas recovery, geological CO₂ storage, and underground hydrogen storage. This paper examines competitive CO₂ adsorption, interfacial water structure, and the mechanisms regulating confined flow, with the aim of identifying microscopic processes common across these different geo-energy contexts. Existing research shows that CO₂-pore wall interactions are strongly scenario-dependent: they can enhance competitive displacement in shale gas recovery, yet in underground hydrogen storage they may instead occupy usable pore space and increase transport resistance. The hydrogen-bond network of interfacial water, together with the water films and water bridges it forms, further governs CO₂ adsorption, dissolution, and migration. These structures can also contribute to an “imbibition water shield”, which can impede contact and mass transfer between CO₂ and crude oil. Ions, external physical fields and chemical additives can regulate confined flow by altering aqueous-phase structure, interfacial tension, pore connectivity and wettability. Together, these findings provide a theoretical basis for improving hydrocarbon recovery efficiency, subsurface storage capacity, and long-term operational safety.

Document Type: Perspective

Cited as: Zhan, S., Wu, J., Zhang, M., Pan, B., Du, J., Guo, S. Interfacial phenomena and microscale flow in energy extraction and underground energy storage: Recent advances and future perspectives. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2026, 22(1): 95–100. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.10.09

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.10.09

Keywords:

Nanoconfinement effects, unconventional energy, enhanced recovery, underground hydrogen storage

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Published

2026-09-21

How to Cite

Zhan, S., Wu, J., Zhang, M., Pan, B., Du, J., & Guo, S. (2026). Interfacial phenomena and microscale flow in energy extraction and underground energy storage: Recent advances and future perspectives. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 22(1), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2026.10.09

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026): October

Section

PERSPECTIVE

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Copyright (c) 2026 Shiyuan Zhan, Jing Wu, Mingshan Zhang, Bin Pan, Jiapei Du, Shuaijiang Guo

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.