The microfluidic in geo-energy resources: Current advances and future perspectives

Authors

  • Zhao Lu Hainan institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, P. R. China
  • Lizhong Wang* Hainan institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, P. R. China; Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China (Email: wanglz@zju.edu.cn)
  • Zhen Guo Hainan institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, P. R. China; Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
  • Yi Hong* Hainan institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, P. R. China; Department of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China (Email: yi_hong@zju.edu.cn)
  • Limin Zhang HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, P. R. China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 000000, P. R. China

Abstract

The development of geo-energy resources plays a crucial role in transitioning towards a sustainable energy future and achieving carbon neutrality. Conventional experimental approaches, constrained by macroscopic-scale observations and high costs, often fail to capture critical microscale mechanisms. In contrast, microfluidic technology offers distinct advantages through high-resolution visualization, high-throughput screening, and precise simulation of practical conditions such as temperature, pressure, pore structures, and chemical reactions, effectively addressing key challenges in geo-energy extraction. This review systematically examines innovative applications of microfluidics in shale gas reservoir, carbon capture, utilization and storage, chemical enhanced oil recovery, enhanced geothermal system, and natural gas hydrate. It further investigates prevailing challenges regarding material compatibility, scale translation, and data extrapolation methodologies. The study demonstrates that microfluidic systems provide innovative experimental methodologies, enabling unprecedented precision in elucidating complex geological processes through enhanced mass transfer efficiency and high-throughput screening capabilities, thereby bridging microscale mechanisms with macroscale phenomena. In the future advancements, the microfluidic technology demands synergistic convergence with materials science, chemical reactions, artificial intelligence, and physical explanation to promote the geo-energy research. This interdisciplinary convergence will provide scientific foundation for developing efficient and sustainable energy solutions.

Document Type: Invited review

Cited as: Lu, Z., Wang, L., Guo, Z., Hong, Y., Zhang, L. The microfluidic in geo-energy resources: Current advances and future perspectives. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 16(2): 171-180. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.05.08

Keywords:

Microfluidic, shale gas, carbon storage, enhanced oil recovery, enhanced geothermal system, natural gas hydrate

References

Abedini A, Ahitan S, Barikbin Z, et al. Past, present, and future of microfluidic fluid analysis in the energy industry. Energy Fuels, 2022, 36(16): 8578-8590.

Abolhasani M, Günther A, Kumacheva E. Microfluidic studies of carbon dioxide. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2014, 53(31): 7992-8002.

Alarji, H., Alzahid, Y., Regenauer-Lieb, K. Acid stimulation in carbonates: Microfluidics allows accurate measurement of acidic fluid reaction rates in carbonate rocks by quantifying the produced CO2 gas. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2022, 99: 104444.

Betancur, S., Quevedo, L., Olmos, C. M. Microfluidic devices, materials, and recent progress for petroleum applications: A review. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2024, 102(7): 2583-2607.

Bordoloi, A. D., Scheidweiler, D., Dentz, M., et al. Structure induced laminar vortices control anomalous dispersion in porous media. Nature Communications, 2022, 13(1): 3820.

Cai, J., Jiao, X., Wang, H., et al. Multiphase fluid-rock interactions and flow behaviors in shale nanopores: A comprehensive review. Earth-Science Reviews, 2024a, 212: 104884.

Cai, J., Tian, Z. H., Zhou, S. et al. A critical mini-review of key issues on sweet spot identification for shale gas reservoirs. Energy Reviews, 2024b, 3(4): 100101.

Cai, J., Zhao, J., Zhong, J., et al. Microfluidic experiments and numerical simulation methods of pore-scale multiphase flow. Capillarity, 2024c, 12(1): 1-5.

Cha, L., Xie, C., Feng, Q. Geometric criteria for the snap off of a non-wetting droplet in pore-throat channels with rectangular cross-sections. Water Resources Research, 2021, 57(7): e2020WR029476.

Chen, K., Liu, P., Wang, W., et al. Hypergravity experimental study on immiscible fluid-fluid displacement in micro models. Fuel, 2025a, 391: 134776.

Chen, Y., Bian, Y., Zhan, L., et al. Effects of multi source plant-derived urease enzyme on the morphology, growth, size, and distribution behavior of calcium carbonate through enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation method: A microfluidic chip experiment. Acta Geotechnica, 2025b, 1-27: 10.1007.

Chen, Z., Xu, J. H., Wang, Y. D. Gas-liquid-liquid multiphase flow in microfluidic systems-A review. Chemical Engineering Science, 2019, 207: 1-14.

Chen, R. Q., Xu, W. J., Chen, Y. M. Gas transport in saturated porous media at pore scale: Numerical simulations and hypergravity experiments. Physics of Fluids, 2025c, 37(4): 043315.

Datta, S. S., Battiato, I., Fernø, M. A., et al. Lab on a chip for a low-carbon future. Lab on a Chip, 2023, 23(5): 1358-1375.

Deng, Y., Peng, C., Dai, M., et al. Recent development of super-wettable materials and their applications in oil water separation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 266: 121624.

Fani, M., Pourafshary, P., Mostaghimi, P., et al. Application of microfluidics in chemical enhanced oil recovery: A review. Fuel, 2022, 315: 123225.

Feng, D., Chu, Y. Pore-Scale Modeling of the MICP process by using a coupled FEM-LBM-CA Model: With a focus on the heterogeneity of the pore structures. Computers and Geotechnics, 2024, 172: 106414.

Fu, T. Microfluidics in CO2 capture, sequestration, and applications. Advances in Microfluidics-New Applications in Biology, Energy, and Materials Sciences, 2016: 293-313.

Geistlinger, H., Ataei-Dadavi, I., Mohammadian, S., et al. The impact of pore structure and surface roughness on capillary trapping for 2-D and 3-D porous media: Comparison with percolation theory. Water Resources Research, 2015, 51(11): 9094-9111.

Gogoi, S., Gogoi, S. B. Review on microfluidic studies for EOR application. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2019, 9(3): 2263-2277.

Golmohammadi, S., Ding, Y., Kuechler, M., et al. Impact of wettability and gravity on fluid displacement and trapping in representative 2D micromodels of porous media (2D sand analogs). Water Resources Research, 2021, 57(10): e2021WR029908.

Gorbunov, D., Nenasheva, M., Shashkin, G., et al. Transferring hydroformylation reaction into high-pressure gas–liquid microfluidic systems: Key achievements and perspectives. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2024, 136: 46-72.

Gravesen, P., Branebjerg, J., Jensen, O. S. Microfluidics-a review. Journal of micromechanics and microengineering, 1993, 3(4): 168.

Guo, F., Aryana, S. A., Wang, Y., et al. Enhancement of storage capacity of CO2 in megaporous saline aquifers using nanoparticle-stabilized CO2 foam. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2019, 87: 134-141.

Harshini, R., Ranjith, P. G., Kumari, W. G. P., et al. Innovative applications of carbon dioxide foam in geothermal energy recovery: Challenges and perspectives-A review. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2024: 213091.

He, D., Jiang, P., Xu, R.. The influence of heterogeneous structure on salt precipitation during CO2 geological storage. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 7(3): 189-198.

He Q., Barajas-Solano D., Tartakovsky G., et al. Physics Informed Neural Networks for Multiphysics Data Assimilation with Application to Subsurface Transport. Advances in Water Resources, 2020, 141: 103610.

Ho, T. M., Razzaghi, A., Ramachandran, A., et al. Emulsion characterization via microfluidic devices: A review on interfacial tension and stability to coalescence. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 299: 102541.

Lei, W., Gong, W., Lu, X., et al. Fluid entrapment during forced imbibition in a multidepth microfluidic chip with complex porous geometry. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 2024, 987: A3.

Lei, W., Yang, Y., Yang, S., et al. Advancing sustainable energy solutions with microfluidic porous media. Fluid Dynamics, 2025: 04180.

Lifton, V. A. Microfluidics: An enabling screening technology for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Lab on a Chip, 2016, 16(10): 1777-1796.

Li, G., Zhan, L., Chen, Y., et al. Effects of flow rate and pore size variability on capillary barrier effects: A microfluidic investigation. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2022a, 60(6): 902-916.

Li, L., Zhang, D., Su, Y., et al. Microfluidic insights into CO2 sequestration and enhanced oil recovery in laminated shale reservoirs: Post-fracturing interface dynamics and micro-scale mechanisms. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024a, 13(3): 203-217.

Li, M., Liu, W., Zhang, J., et al. Soybean-urease-induced CaCO3 precipitation as a new geotechnique for improving expansive soil. Acta Geotechnica, 2024b: 1-14.

Li, X., Xiao, K., Wang, R., et al. Experimental research on enhanced oil recovery methods for gas injection of fractured reservoirs based on microfluidic chips. ACS Omega, 2022b, 7(31): 27382-27389.

Li, Z., Zhang, B., Dang, D., et al. A review of microfluidic based mixing methods. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2022, 344: 113757.

Lu, Z., Zhou, W. H., Yin, Z. Y., et al. Numerical modeling of viscous slurry infiltration in sand. Computers and Geotechnics, 2022a, 146: 104745.

Lu, Z., Zhou, W. H., Yin, Z. Y. Effect of viscosity on the slurry infiltration in granular media. International Journal of Geomechanics, 2022b, 22(9): 040022138.

Lu, Z., Zeng, C., Zhang, Y., et al. Study of the pore size influence on infiltration of porous media considering capillary effect. Capillarity, 2025, 14(1): 1-12.

Ma, G. L., Yin, Z. Y., Xiao, Y.. Numerical modeling of MICP grouting in homogeneous and layered heterogeneous soils. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 2025, 49(7): 1769-1789.

McIntyre, D., Lashkaripour, A., Fordyce, P., et al. Machine learning for microfluidic design and control. Lab on a Chip, 2022, 22: 2925-2937.

Mehmani, A., Kelly, S., Torres-Verdin, C. Review of micro/nanofluidic insights on fluid transport controls in tight rocks. Petrophysics, 2019, 60(6): 872-890.

Mittal, P., Nampoothiri, K. N., Jha, A., et al. Convergence of machine learning with microfluidics and metamaterials to build smart materials. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing, 2024, 18: 6909-6917.

Mukherjee, M., Vishal, V. Gas transport in shale: A critical review of experimental studies on shale permeability at a mesoscopic scale. Earth-Science Reviews, 2023, 244: 104522.

Niculescu, A. G., Chircov, C., Bîrc˘a, A. C., et al. Fabrication and applications of microfluidic devices: A review. International journal of molecular sciences, 2021, 22(4): 2011.

Nie, S., Liu, P., Chen, K., et al. Permeability of structured porous media: numerical simulations and microfluidic models. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A, 2024, 25(12): 1018-1036.

Ouyang, T., Liu, W., Liu, B., et al. Design and optimization of a novel sinusoidal corrugated channel for microfluidic fuel cell with gas-liquid two-phase flow model. Renewable Energy, 2023, 208: 737-750.

Pan, X., Sun, L., Huo, X., et al. Research progress on CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) based on micro nano fluidics technology. Energies, 2023, 16(23): 7846.

Porter, M. L., Jiménez-Martínez, J., Martinez, R., et al. Geo material microfluidics at reservoir conditions for subsurface energy resource applications. Lab on a Chip, 2015, 15(20): 4044-4053.

Raissi, M., Perdikaris, P., Karniadakis, G. E. Physics-informed neural networks: A deep learning framework for solving forward and inverse problems involving nonlinear partial differential equations. Journal of Computational Physics, 2018(378), 686-707.

Saadat, M., Tsai, P. A., Ho, T. H., et al. Development of a microfluidic method to study enhanced oil recovery by low salinity water flooding. Acs Omega, 2020, 5(28): 17521-17530.

Saha, B., Das, B., Shukla, V., et al. Pebble traversal-based fault detection and advanced reconfiguration technique for digital microfluidic biochips. Journal of Electronic Testing, 2024, 40(4): 573-587.

Seo, S. Microfluidics for Carbon Capture and Sequestration. Florida Atlantic University, 2019.

Sinton, D. Energy: The microfluidic frontier. Lab on a chip, 2014, 14(17): 3127-3134.

Soltanian, M. R., Amooie, M. A., Gershenzon, N., et al. Dissolution trapping of carbon dioxide in heterogeneous aquifers. Environmental Science & Technology, 2017, 51(13): 7732-7741.

Sugioka, K., Cheng, Y. Femtosecond laser processing for optofluidic fabrication. Lab on a Chip, 2012, 12(19): 3576-3589.

Tang, C. A., Hudson, J. A. Rock failure mechanisms: Explained and illustrated. London, UK, W. H. ISRM, 2010.

Tang, C. A., Webb, A. A. G., Moore, W. B., et al. Breaking Earth’s shell into a global plate network. Nature Communication, 2020, 11(1): 3621.

Tang, C. A., Zhang, Y. B., Liang, Z. Z., et al. Fracture spacing in layered materials and pattern transition from parallel to polygonal fractures. Physical Review E, 2006, 73(5): 056120.

Vandu, C. O., Krishna, R.. Mass Transfer from Taylor Bubbles Rising in Single Capillaries. Chemical Engineering Science, 2005, 60(22): 6430-6435.

Wang, D., Dong, Y., Wei, C., et al. Expansion-induced fracture propagation in deep geothermal reservoirs under alternate-temperature loading. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 15(3): 261-272.

Wang, M., Gao, M., Zhang, C., et al. Gas transport mechanisms, mathematical models, and impact factors in low permeability rocks: A critical review. Advances in Geo Energy Research, 2024, 14(2): 119-134.

Wang, Y., Soga, K., Dejong, J. T., et al. A microfluidic chip and its use in characterising the particle-scale behaviour of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP). Géotechnique, 2019, 69(12): 1086-1094.

the application of microfluidics in biogeotechnology. Transportation Geotechnics, 2023, 41: 101030.

Xiao, Y., He, X., Stuedlein, A. W., et al. Crystal growth of MICP through microfluidic chip tests. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2022, 148(5): 06022002.

Xie, M., Zhan, Z., Li, Y., et al. Functional microfluidics: Theory, microfabrication, and applications. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 2024, 6(3): 032005.

Xu, R., Kou, X., Wu, T. W., et al. Pore-scale experimental investigation of the fluid flow effects on methane hydrate formation. Energy, 2023, 271: 126967.

Yang, Y., Zhou, Y., Blunt, M. J., et al. Advances in multiscale numerical and experimental approaches for multiphysics problems in porous media. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2021, 5(3): 233-238.

Yang, Y. X., Wang, S., Feng, Q. H., et al. Imbibition mechanisms of fracturing fluid in shale oil formation: A review from the multiscale perspective. Energy & Fuels, 2023, 37(14): 9822-9840.

Yew, M., Ren, Y., Koh, K. S., et al. A review of state-of-the-art microfluidic technologies for environmental applications: Detection and remediation. Global Challenges, 2019, 3(1): 1800060.

Zeng, C., Zhang, Y., Lu, H., et al. Simulation of CO2-water two-phase fluid displacement characteristics based on Phase Field Method. Deep Underground Science and Engineering, 2025: 1-14.

Zhang, N., Li, S., Chen, L., et al. Study of gas-liquid two phase flow characteristics in hydrate-bearing sediments. Energy, 2024a, 290: 130215.

Zhang, H., Sun, Z., Zhang, N., et al. Brine drying and salt precipitation in porous media: A microfluidics study. Water Resources Research, 2024b, 60(1): e2023WR035670.

Zhao, X., Zhan, F., Liao, G., Liu, W., et al. In situ micro emulsification during surfactant enhanced oil recovery: A microfluidic study. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 620: 465-477.

Zheng, X., Mahabadi, N., Yun, T. S., et al. Effect of capillary and viscous force on CO2 saturation and invasion pattern in the microfluidic chip. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 2017, 122(3): 1634-1647.

Zhong, Y., Li, Q., Gao, W., et al. A review of microfluidic technology for CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025.

Zhou, Y., Guan, W., Zhao, C., et al. Spontaneous imbibition behavior in porous media with various hydraulic fracture propagations: A pore-scale perspective. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 9(3): 185-197.

Zhu, X., Wang, K., Yan, H., et al. Microfluidics as an emerg ing platform for exploring soil environmental processes: a critical review. Environmental science & technology, 2022, 56(2): 711-731.

Zou, S., Zhang, Y., Ma, L. Revealing subsurface dynamics: Imaging techniques for optimizing underground energy storage. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2024, 12(1): 1-7.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2025-05-16

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025): May

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s)

Creative Commons License

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