CCUS technologies are crucial solutions for mitigating climate change by reducing CO₂ emissions from industrial operations and energy sectors. This review critically examines the current state of CCUS technologies, and highlights advancements, challenges, regulatory frameworks, and future directions. It comprehensively analyzes carbon capture methods, such as pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion capture, while comparing their efficiencies and limitations. The review also explores carbon utilization techniques, such as direct and indirect utilization, emphasizing their potential applications and technological constraints. Additionally, it assesses various carbon storage methods, focusing on geological, ocean, and mineralization storage, and discusses their capacity, feasibility, and environmental implications. The study reviews the policy and regulatory frameworks, economic viability, market trends, and environmental sustainability of CCUS. By identifying research gaps and recommending future research priorities, this review aims to guide the development of more efficient/effective, and cost-effective CCUS technology, ensuring their role in a sustaining low-carbon future. This review provides a forward-looking perspective, a critical and interdisciplinary analysis that assesses the current state of CCUS technologies, and further provides a roadmap for future development.

An indispensable factor in developing improved enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is the in-depth insight into the fractional flow mechanistic effects of waterflood performance, especially for an inefficient waterflood operated field. In this study, the inefficiency of waterflood on the Farnsworth Field Unit (FWU) is investigated. The field is divided into two halves (East and West) of the same reservoir with similar geological characteristics. Though the east was prolific on primary recovery, it failed on waterflood, while the west performed efficiently. Through core-flood experiments, fluid–fluid surface charge tests, and rock-fluid surface chemistry analysis, the causative mechanisms are unraveled. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) analyses were also conducted to assess mineral composition, pore characteristics and distribution. The core samples exhibited extremely low permeability, resulting in a drastic reduction in flow capacity. Single-phase injection of low salinity water (SIIW) further reduced permeability and increased differential pressure compared to high salinity water (SCW). pH and effluent ionic compositions showed a high reactivity within the rock samples. Fine migrations, clay swelling, scaling, and precipitation were identified as key causes of formation damage during low salinity water flooding. Surface charge and compatibility tests revealed fluid–fluid and rock-fluid reactivity and scale formation influenced by high ionic concentrations, temperature, and pressure. Geochemical analysis indicated aragonite, calcite, and dolomite precipitation under reservoir conditions. Element-mineral identification analysis revealed clays and mineral particles obstructing pores and pore throats. Thus, the principal mechanisms of waterflood inefficiency include low permeability, clay mineral reactivity and fluid incompatibility. These factors collectively contribute to formation damage pore and reduced flow capacity. These insights contribute to the development of effective and improved recovery strategies for incremental recovery from the FWU-east field and addition of new knowledge to existing information on low salinity waterflooding on a Morrowan sandstone.