Characterization of multiscale fluid imbibition in unconventional reservoirs: Key advances and challenges
Abstract
Fluid imbibition in unconventional formations is an important mechanism for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery. This editorial provides a concise overview of the principal approaches used to investigate imbibition in unconventional reservoirs. Theoretical modeling, molecular simulations, pore‑scale approaches, and core‑scale experiments have elucidated interfacial evolution and fluid transport mechanisms across different scales. However, the coupled effects of nanoconfinement, dynamic pore‑structure evolution, and multiscale structural heterogeneity remain difficult to characterize within a unified framework. Further research should strengthen the integration of multiscale flow mechanism with in situ experimental characterization, with particular emphasis on elucidating how pore‑structure evolution and nanoconfinement jointly govern imbibition behavior.
Document Type: Editorial
Cited as: Cai, J., Aryana, S. A., Jia, C., Wang, H. Characterization of multiscale fluid imbibition in unconventional reservoirs: Key advances and challenges. Capillarity, 2026, 20(3): 63‑65. https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2026.09.01
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2026.09.01Keywords:
Imbibition, multiscale flow simulation, nanoconfinement effects, pore-structure evolutionReferences
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jianchao Cai, Saman A. Aryana, Cunqi Jia, Han Wang
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