Currently, the alteration of external factors during crude oil extraction easily disrupts the thermodynamic equilibrium of asphaltene, resulting in the continuous flocculation and deposition of asphaltene molecules in crude oil. This accumulation within the pores of reservoir rocks obstructs the pore throat, hindering the efficient extraction of oil and gas, and consequently, affecting the recovery of oil and gas resources. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the principles of asphaltene deposition inhibition and the synthesis of asphaltene inhibitors. In recent years, the development of nanotechnology has garnered significant attention due to its unique surface and volume effects. Nanoparticles possess a large specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, and excellent suspension and catalytic abilities, exhibiting unparalleled advantages compared with traditional organic asphaltene inhibitors, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and salicylic acid. At present, there are three primary types of nanoparticle inhibitors: metal oxide nanoparticles, organic nanoparticles, and inorganic nonmetal nanoparticles. This paper reviews the recent advancements and application challenges of nanoparticle asphaltene deposition inhibition technology based on the mechanism of asphaltene deposition and nano-inhibitors. The aim was to provide insights for ongoing research in this field and to identify potential future research directions.

Intelligent polymers have become the focus of attention worldwide. Intelligent polymer materials through organic synthesis methods are used to make inanimate organic materials become “feeling” and “sentient”. Intelligent polymer materials have been applied in actual engineering production, and they are becoming a new research topic for scientists in various fields and countries, especially in the areas of drilling and plugging. The development of intelligent polymer materials can provide new solutions and technical means for drilling and plugging. Unlike traditional plugging materials, intelligent polymer plugging materials can cope with environmental changes. They have the characteristics of a strong target, good plugging effect, and no damage to the reservoir. However, there are currently no reviews on intelligent polymer plugging materials in the drilling field, so this paper fills that gap by reviewing the research progress of intelligent polymer plugging materials. In addition, this paper describes the mechanism and application status of intelligent polymer shape-memory polymers, intelligent polymer gels, intelligent polymer membranes, and intelligent polymer bionic materials in drilling and plugging. It is also pointed out that some intelligent polymer plugging materials still have problems, such as insufficient toughness and a poor resistance to salt and high temperature. At the same time, some suggestions for future research directions are also presented for reference.

The smart membrane is a new type of functional membrane. The performance of this membrane is changed according to the variations in external physical and chemical signals. This membrane has become an essential focus in specific recognition, catalysis, selective permeation, and other fields. However, the problems of this membrane are weak anti-pollution ability, poor response performance, and inability of mass production. Therefore, scholars have done a lot of research on improving this membrane by modification, grafting polymerization, phase transformation, and in situ cross-linking copolymerization. This review provides a comparative investigation and summary of smart membranes, including temperature, light, electric field, magnetic field, pH, and specific molecular and ion-responsive membranes. Moreover, the authors also introduce the preparation process, selectivity, optimization and improvement of membranes, and their application fields. Finally, the authors’ perspective on the current key issues and directions of these fields for future development are also discussed.

The requirements for drilling bentonites are tightening due to ever-increasing demands for petroleum resources, coupled with cost and reaction technology constraints. In addition to raising the risk of drilling, bentonite’s poor performance also raises the possibility of safety incidents and significant financial losses. Organically modified bentonites effectively reduce the consumption of drilling fluids, conserve resources, and lessen environmental effects. This paper aims to provide an overview of the several organic modification methods of bentonite for drilling fluids. It also evaluates the characteristics and application impacts of bentonite. We primarily describe the three popular modification methods represented by intercalation, coupling, and grafting. Also, this review provides the effect of molecular simulation on the investigation of structure in microconfined conditions. Through microlearning, organically modified bentonite with exceptional performance is to be further developed.

Polymer flooding, one of the main methods for improving crude oil recovery using chemical flooding technology in China, is widely used for actual oil displacement. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is a commonly used linear polymer in polymer flooding, but it exhibits poor temperature and salt resistance due to its molecular structure. Therefore, branched polymers have been studied. This article provides a review of the specific synthetic methods and current practical applications in the petrochemical field of dendritic polymers and hyperbranched macromolecules. The advantages and disadvantages of each synthetic method for branched polymers are also elaborated. Finally, the application prospects of branched polymers are discussed. The feasibility of branched polymers in large quantities should be further verified through additional field tests, which should address concerns such as synthesis costs and reaction efficiency.