PROGRESS ON GEL PARTICLES FOR GAS CHANNELING CONTROL IN CO₂ FLOODING RESERVOIRS

CO2 flooding, as a commonly employed enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method today, is characterized by high oil displacement efficiency, environmental friendliness, and economic viability, and has been extensively developed and applied in oil and gas field development. During CO2 flooding operations, gas channeling frequently occurs within the reservoir due to significant permeability contrasts arising from formation heterogeneity, coupled with the low density and viscosity of CO2. This phenomenon can adversely affect the normal productivity of oil wells. With the advancement of CO2 flooding technology, the effective prevention of CO2 channeling has become crucial for improving oil recovery. Gel particle plugging systems, being economically viable and efficient, exhibit favorable stability, adaptability, and strength, leading to significant applications in oilfield development and demonstrating promising prospects for future development. This paper comprehensively reviews the classification and developmental status of gel particle systems used for channeling control in CO₂ flooding. It introduces the mechanisms of several gel particle types, including preformed particle gel, polymer microspheres, and dispersed particle gel, and examines their current development status both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, future research directions and application prospects are discussed.

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