Research of CO 2 -Responsive Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery: Review and Outlook

Bo Dong (), Quan Xu, Jierui Liu, Shuming Du, Wenli Luo (), Wei Wu, Xinyuan Zou and Shisheng Liang
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Bo Dong: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Quan Xu: China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation, Beijing 100028, China
Jierui Liu: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China
Shuming Du: Xinmu Oil Production Plant of Jilin Oilfield, Songyuan 138000, China
Wenli Luo: Institute of Porous Flow and Fluid Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Langfang 065007, China
Wei Wu: Exploration and Development Research Institute of Jilin Oilfield, Songyuan 138000, China
Xinyuan Zou: PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China
Shisheng Liang: Sinopec Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering, Beijing 102206, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: In enhanced oil recovery (EOR), various processes have specific requirements concerning surfactant surface activity. High surface activity is essential during the oil production, whereas low or even negligible surface activity is required during the oil separation process. CO 2 -responsive surfactants can regulate their surface activity through the addition or removal of CO 2 in their aqueous solutions. This property makes them suitable for the formulation of CO 2 -responsive displacement systems, including CO 2 -responsive foam, emulsion, and hydrogel systems. These three systems hold significant application value within the realm of enhanced oil recovery. This paper reviews the structure, types, synthesis methods, applications in EOR technology, and the effects of EOR in both field and laboratory settings. This method is both environmentally friendly and efficient for enhancing oil recovery. Furthermore, the application of CO 2 -responsive surfactants facilitates carbon capture, utilization, and storage, contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality and the carbon peak.

Keywords: CO 2 -responsive; surfactant; EOR; system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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