Abstract
Polymer gels are essential functional materials for subsurface energy operations, playing a critical role in conformance control, fluid diversion, hydraulic fracturing, and leakage mitigation. As reservoirs become increasingly complex and the demand for sustainable energy grows, continued innovation in gel technologies is crucial. This editorial introduces a Special Issue titled "Advances and Applications of Polymer Gels for Subsurface Energy and Storage," which compiles seven original research articles exploring recent developments in gel synthesis, characterization, and applications. The featured studies highlight the versatility of polymer gels, including nanoparticle-reinforced composites, foam–gel hybrids, recrosslinkable preformed particle gels, and advanced fracturing fluids. The contributions address key challenges across CO2-enhanced oil recovery, heavy oil production, low-permeability reservoir fracturing, and combined enhanced oil recovery strategies. The findings demonstrate ongoing efforts to tailor gel systems for harsh reservoir conditions, improve sweep efficiency, and reduce formation damage, fostering more efficient and sustainable subsurface engineering practices. This Special Issue serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners advancing polymer gel technologies for energy and storage applications.
Recommended Citation
B. Bai and J. Pu, "Editorial For The Special Issue “Advances And Applications Of Polymer Gels For Subsurface Energy And Storage”," Gels, vol. 12, no. 9, article no. 821, MDPI, Sep 2026.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12090821
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Second Department
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
CO2 geological storage; drilling fluid; improved oil recovery; polymer gels; subsurface energy
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2310-2861
Document Type
Editorial
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Sep 2026
Included in
Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons, Geology Commons, Petroleum Engineering Commons
Comments
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant 52574065