Innovations in Hydraulic Fracturing Technology for Unconventional Reservoirs

Dear Colleagues,

Unconventional reservoirs, with their vast reserves and extensive distribution, have become key to future energy development. Hydraulic fracturing is a stimulation technique utilized in low-permeability unconventional reservoirs such as tight sandstone, shale, certain coal beds, and geothermal reservoirs. However, there is a pressing need for intensified efforts to advance innovative hydraulic fracturing technologies. These advancements should focus on improving efficiency, ensuring cost-effectiveness, and mitigating environmental impact.

This Special Issue, titled “Innovations in Hydraulic Fracturing Technology for Unconventional Reservoirs”, aims to cover the recent advances in hydraulic fracturing technology in unconventional reservoirs. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• New theories, models, and numerical simulation methods for hydraulic fracturing;
• Innovative fracturing method and technology in low-permeability oil and gas reservoir (tight oil and gas, shale oil and gas, etc.), coalbed methane, natural gas hydrate, geothermal, etc.;
• Cross-layer fracturing in laminated reservoirs;
• Carbonate reservoir acid fracturing;
• Ultra-deep high-temperature high-pressure reservoir fracturing;
• CO₂ fracturing and CCUS technology;
• Novel fracturing materials (fracturing fuild, proppant, etc.) and tools;
• Non-aqueous fracturing technology;
• Hydraulic fracturing assied by artificial intelligence, internet of things, and big data;
• Monitoring and evaluation of hydraulic fracturing (fiber-optic cables, etc.);
• Envoiromental risks and seism reduction.

Dr. Xiaoguang Wu
Dr. Xianwei Dai
Guest Editors

Dr. Xu Zhang
Guest Editor Assistant

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• unconventional reservoir
• hydraulic fracturing
• coalbed methane
• natural gas hydrate
• geothermal reservoir
• ultra-deep reservoir
• artificial intelligence
• CCUS
• fracturing monitoring techniques
• novel fracturing materials