Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications
Fuzzy-ball fluids have emerged as a novel class of chemical sealaplugging materials with significant potential for enhancing both traditional oilfield operations and clean energy technologies. They are characterized by unique viscoelastic properties, plugging, self-adapting capabilities, and the abi...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1592 |
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| author | Long Jin Chinedu J. Okere Qin Guo Lihui Zheng |
| author_facet | Long Jin Chinedu J. Okere Qin Guo Lihui Zheng |
| author_sort | Long Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fuzzy-ball fluids have emerged as a novel class of chemical sealaplugging materials with significant potential for enhancing both traditional oilfield operations and clean energy technologies. They are characterized by unique viscoelastic properties, plugging, self-adapting capabilities, and the ability to regulate multi-phase fluid flow under extreme subsurface conditions. In oilfield applications, fuzzy-ball fluids offer solutions for drilling, hydraulic fracturing, workover operations, and enhanced oil recovery in shallow, deep, and offshore reservoirs. In clean energy fields such as hydrogen storage, carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and geothermal energy, they show promise in improving energy efficiency, storage security, and environmental sustainability. This review explores the fundamental principles and mechanisms behind fuzzy-ball fluids, examines their field applications in the oil and gas industry, and investigates their potential in emerging clean energy technologies. This study also identifies key challenges, including material stability, economic viability, and environmental impact, which must be addressed to ensure the successful deployment of fuzzy-ball fluids. Furthermore, we outline future research directions, emphasizing material optimization, large-scale field trials, environmental impact assessments, and interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of fuzzy-ball fluid technologies. By addressing these challenges, fuzzy-ball fluids could play a transformative role in both conventional and clean energy fields, contributing to sustainable and efficient energy solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d01ac87f12243878ba203f8181a00a8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d01ac87f12243878ba203f8181a00a82025-08-20T03:06:20ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01187159210.3390/en18071592Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield ApplicationsLong Jin0Chinedu J. Okere1Qin Guo2Lihui Zheng3College of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaCollege of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, ChinaFuzzy-ball fluids have emerged as a novel class of chemical sealaplugging materials with significant potential for enhancing both traditional oilfield operations and clean energy technologies. They are characterized by unique viscoelastic properties, plugging, self-adapting capabilities, and the ability to regulate multi-phase fluid flow under extreme subsurface conditions. In oilfield applications, fuzzy-ball fluids offer solutions for drilling, hydraulic fracturing, workover operations, and enhanced oil recovery in shallow, deep, and offshore reservoirs. In clean energy fields such as hydrogen storage, carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and geothermal energy, they show promise in improving energy efficiency, storage security, and environmental sustainability. This review explores the fundamental principles and mechanisms behind fuzzy-ball fluids, examines their field applications in the oil and gas industry, and investigates their potential in emerging clean energy technologies. This study also identifies key challenges, including material stability, economic viability, and environmental impact, which must be addressed to ensure the successful deployment of fuzzy-ball fluids. Furthermore, we outline future research directions, emphasizing material optimization, large-scale field trials, environmental impact assessments, and interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of fuzzy-ball fluid technologies. By addressing these challenges, fuzzy-ball fluids could play a transformative role in both conventional and clean energy fields, contributing to sustainable and efficient energy solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1592fuzzy-ball fluidsoil and gas industryclean energy technologiesself-adapting capabilitiessealaplugging capabilitiesenergy efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Long Jin Chinedu J. Okere Qin Guo Lihui Zheng Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications Energies fuzzy-ball fluids oil and gas industry clean energy technologies self-adapting capabilities sealaplugging capabilities energy efficiency |
| title | Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications |
| title_full | Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications |
| title_fullStr | Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications |
| title_short | Fuzzy-Ball Fluids: Fundamentals, Mechanisms, and Prospects for Clean Energy and Oilfield Applications |
| title_sort | fuzzy ball fluids fundamentals mechanisms and prospects for clean energy and oilfield applications |
| topic | fuzzy-ball fluids oil and gas industry clean energy technologies self-adapting capabilities sealaplugging capabilities energy efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1592 |
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