PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Volume 45, Issue 4, August 2018

Online English edition of the Chinese language journal

Cite this article as: PETROL. EXPLOR. DEVELOP., 2018, 45(4): 745–753. RESEARCH PAPER

Potential application of functional micro-nano structures in

petroleum
LIU He1, JIN Xu1, 2, *, ZHOU Dekai3, YANG Qinghai1, LI Longqiu3
1. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China;
2. China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd., Beijing 100083, China;
3. Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China

Abstract: This paper takes micro-nano motors and metamaterials as examples to introduce the basic concept and development of func-
tional micro nano structures, and analyzes the application potential of the micro-nano structure design and manufacturing technology in
the petroleum industry. The functional micro-nano structure is the structure and device with special functions prepared to achieve a spe-
cific goal. New functional micro-nano structures are classified into mobile type (e.g. micro-nano motors) and fixed type (e.g. metamateri-
als), and 3D printing technology is a developed method of manufacturing. Combining the demand for exploration and development in oil
and gas fields and the research status of intelligent micro-nano structures, we believe that there are 3 potential application directions: (1)
The intelligent micro-nano structures represented by metamaterials and smart coatings can be applied to the oil recovery engineering
technology and equipment to improve the stability and reliability of petroleum equipment. (2) The smart micro-nano robots represented
by micro-motors and smart microspheres can be applied to the development of new materials for enhanced oil recovery, effectively im-
proving the development efficiency of heavy oil, shale oil and other resources. (3) The intelligent structure manufacturing technology
represented by 3D printing technology can be applied to the field of microfluidics in reservoir fluids to guide the selection of mine flood-
ing agents and improve the efficiency of mining.

Key words: petroleum industry; micro-nano structures; micro-nano motor; metamaterials; 3D printing; application direction; oil pro-
duction engineering; oil equipment; enhanced oil recovery

1. Overview important direction of technical development all over the

1.1. Research background
Recently, many breakthroughs have been made in tapping
remaining potential of existing oil fields, efficient develop-
ment of non-conventional resources, and upgrading oil pro-
duction engineering equipment, which have alleviated the
aggravation of resource degradation effectively. However,
modern petroleum exploration technologies, particularly pro-
tection, remote sensing, detection, and control technologies
under harsh well conditions, can hardly satisfy the need of
emerging oil production technologies. In addition, as the ex-
ploration activities become gradually more complex, pollution
of oil to environment is getting increasingly serious, restrict-
ing the sustainable development of the petroleum economy[1-4].
Therefore, there is a crying need to make use of emerging
technologies in the petroleum industry to achieve sustainable
oil development. In recent years, emerging technologies rep-
resented by functional micro-nano structures have become an
world, because micro-nano structures have shown material
characteristics and functional features different from those at
macroscopic scale. Micro-nano structures offer a new solution
and idea for solving problems that currently exist in the pe-
troleum industry.
1.2. Functional micro-nano structure
A functional micro-nano structure is defined as a structure
aiming at the realization of a specific target having special
functionality. Due to the micron-scale and even nano-scale
size, functional micro-nano structures show different material
characteristics from those observed at the macroscopic scale.
In combination with optimized design and intelligent adjust-
ment, such structures can achieve some special features or
functions, such as large specific surface area, high thrust-
weight ratio, and intelligent control of mechanical wave/elec-
tromagnetic wave transmission. Based on their functions
and features, new functional micro-nano structures are cate-

Received date: 25 Apr. 2018; Revised date: 22 May 2018.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: jinxu@petrochina.com.cn
Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41602159).
Copyright © 2018, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, PetroChina. Publishing Services provided by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Com-
munications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753

gorized into mobile micro-nano structures, represented by structures are typically applied in the adjustment of electro-
micro-nano motors, and fixed micro-nano structures, repre- magnetic, acoustic, optical, and thermal features. At present,
sented by metamaterials. metamaterials are commonly used for vibration isolation,
noise reduction, stealth (acoustic, optical, thermal), adjust-
1.3. Potential application of functional micro-nano
ment of transmission path, and super-resolution imaging, etc.
structures
Where the demand for petroleum equipment is concerned,
Distinct typical application areas exist, based on different such materials can be highly potentially applied in downhole
functions and features of functional micro-nano structures. At equipment vibration isolation, special sensing elements, and
present, micro-nano motors that belong to mobile functional pipeline protection, etc (Table 1).
micro-nano structures are typically used in the fields of mi- This paper introduces the development progress of func-
cro-nano scale medicine transmission and surgery, environ- tional micro-nano structures, using the examples of mi-
mental rehabilitation, sensing detection, as well as micro-nano cro-nano motors and metamaterials, as well as explaining 3D
processing, etc. When the development needs of the petro- printing as a critical manufacturing method for complex 3D
leum industry are concerned, mobile micro-nano structures micro-nano structures. The application prospects of these
have a great potential to be used in oil detection, micropore oil technologies in the petroleum industry are discussed.
displacement, petroleum pollution cleaning, oil exploration,
2. Current research on functional micro-nano
and oil transmission pipeline cleaning, etc (Table 1). On the
structures
other hand, metamaterials as fixed functional micro-nano
2.1. Motile functional micro-nano structure—micro-nano
Table 1. Typical micro-nano structures and their applications
motor
Type of
Typical Potential application in 2.1.1. Mechanism
micro-nano Typical application
example petroleum industry
structure
A micro-nano motor as a sort of dynamic device at micro-
Targeted medicine Oil detection
or nano-scale can convert optical, electric, magnetic, and
Environmental Micropore oil chemical energies from the environment into mechanical en-
rehabilitation displacement
ergy to achieve linear, circling, spiral, and other specific mo-
Micro- Oil pollution
Sensing detection tions[5]. According to the power sources, micro-nano motors
Mobile nano cleaning
motor
can be classified into chemical-driving, external physical
Micro-nano
Oil exploration field-driving, and hybrid power-driving micro-nano motors[6].
processing
(1) A chemical-driving micro-nano motor mainly turns
Oil transport
Nano surgery chemical energy of hydrogen peroxide, water solution, or acid
pipeline cleaning
solution into mechanical energy to move. The common che-
Vibration isolation Downhole equipment
and noise reduction vibration isolation mical-driving modes include concentration gradient, auto-
Acoustic stealth Acoustic logging
matic electrophoresis, and bubble driving[714]. Chemical-driv-
Acoustic Super-resolution Acoustic sensing
ing micro-nano motors have been widely applied in environ-
metama- imaging element mental rehabilitation, particle assembly, and inspection sens-
terial Acoustic path ing, because of their simplicity, strong driving force, and easy
Acoustic flowmeter
adjustment manufacturability. (2) External physical field-driving mi-
One-sided acoustic cro-nano motors can convert external energies from light
propagation source, magnetic fields, or ultrasonic fields into mechanical
Downhole equipment energy to drive itself[1519]. This kind of motor doesn’t need
Antenna
signal communication chemical fuel supplied, so they are highly biologically com-
Fixed Electromagnetic High sensitivity and patible and have broad application prospects in the biomedical
Electro- stealth high precision element industry. (3) A hybrid power-driving micro-nano motor com-
magnetic Absorbing materials Electromagnetic shield bines the two driving mechanisms of chemical-driving and
High-resolution focus Super-precision sensor external physical field-driving. It can be driven by multiple
High-resolution and driving forces and, accordingly, is applicable to a wider range
Geological exploration
holographic imaging than the former two[2023].
Thermal protection
Thermal stealth 2.1.2. Current research
for oil pipeline
Thermal
Interference-free Current research on micro-nano motors focuses on the fol-
metama- Thermal focuser
thermal sensor lowing aspects: (1) driving mechanism: to explore new driv-
terial
Downhole equipment ing modes, improve environmental adaptability, and enhance
Thermal diode
thermal isolation the application prospects of micro-nano motors; (2) collective
 746 
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753
behavior: to study mutual actions and group behaviors of mi-
cro-nano motors and explore the application prospects of mi-
cro-nano motors as a group; (3) potential applications: to ex-
plore potential applications of micro-nano motors in biomedi-
cine, micro-nano sensing, and environmental protection as
well as to study the potential applications in micro-nano pro-
cessing and micro-operation, etc.
2.2. Fixed functional micro-nano structure—metamaterial
The application of metamaterials is one of the emerging
orientations of development in the 21st century. Through or-
derly design of key physical dimensions of a material, it is
expected to break the limit of some apparent natural laws and
to obtain a micro-nano structure that has characteristics be-
yond original and ordinary physical characteristics of nature,
so thermal visibility, acoustic, and optical wave direc-
tional-fixed frequency transmission can be achieved to satisfy
some special requirements on material in special circum-
stances. Metamaterials are generally categorized into electro-
magnetic, thermal, and acoustic types, but some are catego-
rized as dynamical or mechanical metamaterials based on the
object of adjustment. The applications of metamaterials in the
oil production and recovery industry offer a new research area
to develop oil production technologies and high-end equip-
ment.
2.2.1. Electromagnetic metamaterials
An electromagnetic metamaterial is a kind of composite
material or structure having extraordinary electromagnetic
characteristics that are not found in natural materials. Elec-
tromagnetic metamaterials are based on the law of electro-
magnetism, and the materials overall have extraordinary
characteristics not found in natural materials by adopting a
spatial structure designed with much smaller than the charac-
teristic wavelength. To name a few, left-handed materials
have negative dielectric constant and magnetic conductivity.
Wave-absorbing metamaterials have negative magnetic con-
ductivity and impedance matching with the air. Hyperlenses
regulate electric field distribution of outgoing waves based on
the phase change of electromagnetic waves.
Potential applications of electromagnetic metamaterials are
introduced as follows: (1) Metamaterial antennas feature high
gain and high sensitivity and are capable of capturing weak
electromagnetic signal changes; they can be widely applied to
high-gain antenna, small antenna, radar and leaky-wave an-
tenna wide-angle scanning[24]. (2) Electromagnetic wave
stealth, the resonance with the electromagnetic wave of a spe-
cific frequency band is achieved by structure design to con-
sume the energy of electromagnetic wave and thus realizing
the stealth of electromagnetic wave[25]. (3) Wave-absorbing
material realizes the match between metamaterial impedance
and medium impedance of the environment (e.g. the air)
through a proper structural design to minimize the reflection
and transmission of the incident wave, to enhance the absorp-
 747 
tion rate and thus ultimately absorb the electromagnetic
wave[2627]. (4) Adjustable electromagnetic energy accumula-
tion combines metamaterials with computer technology to
obtain programmable electromagnetic metamaterial for the
purpose of realizing demand-based adjustment of microwave
energy. It is expected to be applied in terahertz radiation im-
aging, underground mineral detection, radar apparatus design,
etc. in the future[28]. (5) Anomalous reflecting surface is un-
equalizing the incident angle and the reflecting angle through
a proper structural design. Relevant metamaterial optical ap-
paratus are expected to be applied to solar energy receiving
devices[29]. (6) super-resolution imaging hyperlenses enable
the metamaterial to break the diffraction limit for focusing
and realize hyperlenses of the visible light band through
proper structural design, which are anticipated to be widely
applied in varied imaging fields[3031]. (7) Holographic imag-
ing metasurfaces enable the metamaterial to correct the de-
fects of traditional holographic photos, including the impossi-
bility of dynamic display, low resolution, etc. It is hopefully
to be used to naked-eye 3D imaging and whole-system dy-
namic display[3233].
2.2.2. Thermal metamaterial
Thermal metamaterial is a kind of composite material or
structure having extraordinary thermal characteristics that are
not found in natural materials[3435]. Thermal metamaterials
are designed based on Pendry’s theory on transform optics
and the principle that thermal physical laws show form in-
variance in different coordinate spaces. The flux of thermal
fields moves forward along a designed route by warping the
space to design a thermal structure having non-uniform ther-
mal conductivity coefficients and then to manufacture a func-
tional part.
Potential applications of thermal metamaterials are intro-
duced as below. (1) For thermal invisible cloak[3641], the re-
searcher extends the concept of the optical invisible cloak to
the passive steady-state thermal area as well as puts forward
the design principle and a theoretical model for thermal in-
visible cloak. The research achievements will be widely ap-
plied to thermal isolation materials and structures. (2) As far
as the thermal accumulator is concerned[4043], the researcher
recommends a dual-function accumulator that accumulates
electric and thermal flows simultaneously without disturbing
the external field distribution. The research achievements will
be widely applied in thermal flow adjustment, chip cooling,
etc.
2.2.3. Acoustic metamaterial
Similarly, acoustic metamaterial is a kind of composite
material or structure having extraordinary acoustic character-
istics that are not found in natural materials. Acoustic meta-
materials are designed based on the principle that acoustic
waves transmit in media to achieve the extraordinary adjust-
ment of acoustic waves by designing a special structure for a
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753
specific acoustic application.
Potential applications of acoustic metamaterials are: (1)
Vibration damping and noise reduction: acoustic metamateri-
als with negative equivalent mass or equivalent elastic modu-
lus can isolate acoustic waves of a specific frequency band to
absorb the shock and reduce noise; and they are applicable to
both military and civil fields. (2) Acoustic stealth, acoustic
waves can be diffracted through coordinate alternation to re-
alize acoustic stealth, which is expected to play a vital role in
anti-detection of submarines and other underwater weapons
and equipment. (3) Super-resolution imaging, evanescent
waves can be converted into transmission waves through
acoustic structural design to break the diffraction limit and
achieve super-resolution imaging, this feature is applicable to
medical acoustic imaging, and material defect detection, etc.
(4) Acoustic wave transmission path adjustment, the acoustic
wave transmission path, including extraordinary refraction,
extraordinary reflection, acoustic wave focusing, conversion
of transmission waves to evanescent waves, etc., can be ad-
justed as we wish through structural design of the acoustic
metasurface, this characteristic is applicable to neo-type
acoustic element development, etc. (5) One-sided acoustic
transmission, one-sided flow of acoustic energy can be
realized through acoustic structural design, which is appli-
cable to the manufacture of acoustic diodes and one-sided
acoustic glass, etc.[4448]
2.3. Manufacture of functional micro-nano structures
2.3.1. Traditional manufacture
The demands for high intelligence and informatization of
biomedical and energy equipment technologies drive the de-
velopment of core elements onto the paths of miniaturization,
high precision, high reliability and functional integration. For
instance, electromagnetic/acoustic/thermal stealth metamate-
rials, micro-nano robots, micro-nano sensors and executors,
etc., are on the frontier of international academic circles and
areas of intense research interest. They are also the strategic
technologies highly valued by the world. However, the
high-extent integration of functions, complexity of structure,
3D trends, and miniaturization also result in new challenges to
micro-nano manufacture. Traditional micro-scale and nano-
scale manufacturing technologies can only realize 2D or 2.5D
characteristic fabrication instead of the manufacture of com-
plex 3D structures at the micro-nano scale, although these
technologies can, to some extent, satisfy the need for func-
tional cross-scale micro-nano fabrications. The micro-scale
manufacturing technologies include optical lithography, X-ray
LIGA technology, bonding technology, while the nano-scale
manufacturing technologies include nano-scale impressing,
etching, atomic operation, etc. Traditional micro-scale and
nano-scale manufacturing technologies are incapable of
manufacturing and processing micro-spirals, micro-cavities,
micro-trussed, and other characteristic structures. They can
hardly satisfy the actual demands for material diversity, pro-
 748 
duction efficiency, and controlled production cost, resulting in
the existing problems, such as high manufacturing cost, long
period of manufacture, strict conditions for manufacturing
environment, complexities in assembly, etc.[4951] In summary,
traditional manufacturing technologies are facing bottlenecks
in high and new technology development regarding the man-
ufacture of complex 3D structures in a cross-scale manner.
There is an urgent need to explore new manufacturing meth-
ods to process and manufacture complex 3D micro-nano
structures.
2.3.2. An emerging method for manufacturing
micro-nano structures—3D printing
3D printing, the mostly developed advanced manufacturing
technology in recent years, is also called AM (Additive
Manufacturing), RP (Rapid Prototyping), LM (Layered
Manufacturing) and SFF (Solid Free-form Fabrication)[49].
Different from traditional material removal technologies, 3D
printing is characterized by layer-by-layer overlapping of
materials based on a digital model to realize the “bottom to
top” material increase in manufacturing. 3D printing has
shown incomparable technical advantages in fabricating com-
plex 3D or composite (multi-materials) structures and the ones
having high depth-to-width ratio. Besides, it is also widely
used due to its low cost, high efficiency, diversified materials,
and the direct forming mode, showing a huge potential of
applications in aerospace, biomedicine, flexible manufacture
metal circuits, embedded power supplies, sensing, micro-nano
E&M systems, metamaterial, and other advanced areas[45].
The Times lists 3D printing as the “top 10 fast-growing indus-
tries in the U.S.” The Economist believes that 3D printing will
“drive the realization of the 3rd industrial revolution together
with other digital production means.” In 2012, Barack Obama
initiated 3D printing as the top 11 critical technologies for the
manufacturing industry of the USA. In 2013, McKinsey &
Company issued the disruptive technologies theory, i.e., ad-
vances that will transform life, business and global economy,
in which 3D printing was ranked the 9th. In 2015, the State
Council issued the Made in China 2025, which specifically
stated that more support would be provided for 3D printing
and other cutting-edge technologies and equipment[4951].
Recently, 3D printing has experienced rapid development.
A series of mature technologies have been derived, including
stereolithography, TPP (two-photon polymerization) laser
direct writing, FDM (fused deposition modeling), SLS (selec-
tive laser sintering), and powder bed and inkjet head 3D
printing, etc. Meanwhile, the focus of research on 3D printing
has shifted from manufacturing principles, processes, and
equipment to 3D printing application technologies.
2.3.3. Typical applications of micro-nano 3D printing
The manufacture of complex micro-nano structures can be
realized by photocuring, multi-material pool photocuring, TPP
direct writing, and other 3D printing technologies.
(1) Metamaterials. The fabrication of extra-hard and extra-
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753
light metamaterials via 3D printing based on multiple over-
lapping of single curing layers and physical gas sedimentation
technology can achieve a minimum load-bearing capacity that
is 160 000 times larger than the dead weight of the material[52].
Via 3D printing, the manufacture of metamaterials having
special performance such as compressed reverse[53] is highly
possible in aerospace, rail transit, and the manufacture of
high-end equipment.
(2) The manufacture of micro-scale mechanical parts.
Making micro-scale mechanical parts with complex 3D struc-
tures or integrated micromechanical driving parts by 3D
printing may play an important role in the field of micro-nano
machinery manufacture[54].
(3) Bio-truss. Cell culture frameworks, customized de-
gradable intravascular stents and other biofunctional elements
made by 3D printing would have huge application potential in
the fields of bioscience and customized medical care indus-
try[55].
(4) Integrated electromechanical parts. Fabricating struc-
tural frameworks of E&M elements by photocuring 3D print-
ing, manufacturing metal circuits, embedded power supplies,
and processors etc. to realize integrated manufacture of com-
plex 3D electromechanical parts[56] would play an important
role in the fields of robot and high-end E&M equipment, etc.
(5) Micro-nano robot. 3D printing can also be used to make
micro-nano robots with complex 3D structures at micro-nano
scale in an integrated manner[57], which is of great importance
to promote the development of micro-nano robot technology
and to introduce relevant technologies into the areas of preci-
sion medicine and intelligent equipment, etc.
(6) New types of optical devices. Photonic crystals, optical
lenses, metamaterial super-resolution lens, and other neo-type
optical elements can be made by 3D structure integrated
manufacture to overcome the deficiency of traditional manu-
facturing technologies[58], such as lack of structural complex-
ity, scale-crossing ability, low efficiency, and lack of differ-
ence in individual structures. 3D printing thus shows great
promise in promoting the development of new technologies in
the areas of optics and imaging, etc.
(7) Neo-type sensors and drivers made by 4D printing. The
intention is to allow 3D printed structures to be adaptive to the
ambient environment or time via integrated structure and ma-
terial orderly design. Based on 2D printing of multi-material
and composite materials or 3D printing of sensing elements
with complex 3D structures[59], 4D printing is to realize the
construction of 4D structure[6061] and to subsequently develop
neo-type sensors and drivers. This technology is of critical
value in the areas of aerospace, military and national defense,
biomedicine, and high-end equipment, etc.
3. Application prospects of micro-nano structure
design and manufacture technologies in the
petroleum industry
Functional micro-nano structures such as micro-nano mo-
 749 
tors, metamaterials, etc. have been on the frontier of interna-
tional academic circles and a hot spot for research in recent
years. Functional micro-nano structures currently are shifting
from basic theories to design optimization, intelligent control,
and application technologies. At present, there is little re-
search on the applications of micro-nano structures in the
petroleum industry. However, current theories and research
results show that functional micro-nano structures are of great
potential and value in this area.
3.1. Engineering technologies and equipment in oil
production
Engineering technologies and equipment in oil production
are essential during the entire life cycle of oil/gas field explo-
ration, covering several areas from well completion to injec-
tion, recovery, lifting, well workover, and surface engineering.
Therefore, they are considered to be the key to efficient de-
velopment of oil and gas. To eliminate the gap between sup-
ply and demand of resources in China, one of the critical paths
is to comprehensively enhance and improve the engineering
technologies and equipment in oil production. Here mi-
cro-nano structures, metamaterials, and biomimetic engineer-
ing technologies are expected to upgrade key technical
equipment and downhole instruments, as well as to greatly
reduce energy consumption and development and manage-
ment costs, making a good reserve of new technologies for
sustainable development of the petroleum industry.
Equipment surface corrosion, friction between fluids and
inner walls of pipelines, and the capability of self-cleaning of
equipment have become key topics in the fields of oil produc-
tion, equipment, and pipe string anticorrosion, processing.
They are also the key issues that need to be solved immedi-
ately. For instance, we can realize biomimetic structuring of
the micro-nano composite structure on a metal surface using a
direct and simple chemical method, forming lotus leaf-like
micro-nano bulges of different sizes[62]. With some substances
having low surface energy, a special wettable metal surface
that is hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic or super-oleophobic
can be obtained. Such a surface has a static oil-water contact
angle greater than 150° and rolling contact angle smaller than
2°. Therefore, we can guarantee oil resistance, wax resistance,
acid and alkali corrosion resistance, reduction in flow resis-
tance, and surface self-cleaning. This inspiration effectively
improves anticorrosion performance of the surface of oil pro-
duction equipment pipe strings, which realizes the self-
cleaning of metal surfaces and reduces friction between fluids
and the inner walls of pipelines[6364]. In addition, the opti-
mized organic-inorganic composite doping vario-property
method can achieve an anticorrosion coating having a
shell-modeled composite structure to make up for the shortage
in resistance of organic matter against corrosive media. The
mechanical strength of the composite material improves me-
chanical properties, including friction resistance; materials
can be greatly enhanced by the synthesis of the shell-modeled
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753
layered buttress. Chemical decoration controls the formation
of each layer of substance, ensuring that different anticorro-
sion capabilities are provided for different substances. Ideal
bonding between layers is also ensured to establish an intelli-
gent anticorrosion coating system adaptive to corrosive condi-
tions in different regions. Such a technology featured in pro-
viding special wettability of equipment surface is expected to
be widely adopted in many areas, including pipeline transmis-
sion systems, micro-flow control systems, oil-water separation
equipment, hydraulic directional transmission motion, and
deep-sea exploration. All of them represent the great potential
and broad prospects for application.
Metamaterials can be obtained through the orderly design
of a micro-nano structure to realize intelligent control of elec-
tromagnetic waves, acoustic waves, etc.; there are vast pros-
pects for application in the field of oil production engineering.
Such special characteristics are not found in traditional mate-
rials. To be specific, electromagnetic metamaterials are appli-
cable to signal transmission and processing in complex envi-
ronments as well as in environmental detection. Acoustic
metamaterials can be used for vibration isolation and noise
reduction for petroleum equipment. Thermal metamaterials
are beneficial to thermal isolation as well as improvement of
system stability and reliability for core E&M elements of
downhole equipment. 3D printing is applied to in situ restora-
tion of equipment and pipelines, rapid manufacture of com-
ponents, and other traditional areas in the field of oil produc-
tion equipment. Meanwhile, it is also a key technology for
manufacturing micro-nano structures having complex 3D
structures, including micro-nano motors, metamaterials, etc.
In the future, micro-nano structures are anticipated to be a
critical segment to be applied in the petroleum field, providing
unprecedented solutions and ideas for solving existing tech-
nical bottlenecks.
3.2. Recovery improvement and new material development
At present, the water content of existing oil fields in China
has generally exceeded 90%. Remaining oil is distributed in a
complex manner. It becomes gradually difficult to implement
oil displacement by water flooding. The data from inspection
wells subject to polymer flooding displacement show that
there is still a great amount of remaining movable oil that is
highly scattered. In oil reservoirs that are not swept, the po-
rosity of reservoir rocks has a small radius, great tortuosity,
rough inner walls, and evident action of capillary force. Nei-
ther water flooding nor polymer flooding displacement can
effectively sweep such an area, leading to complexities in
exploration. In this case, the micro-nano material synthesis
and functionalization technology provide good ideas and
practicality to develop new technologies for improving the
recovery rate in low permeation, ultra-low permeation as well
as non-conventional oil and gas exploration.
The micro-nano material manufacturing technology not
only stands for a size, but represents a design concept, an ab-
 750 
abrupt improvement in performance and the intelligent extent
of new materials as well. The materials provide better inte-
grated coordination performance if they are assembled into
orderly structures of varied sizes. They also offer functional
adjustment, including surface decoration available for graded
structural materials. It is important to manufacture new mi-
cro-nano materials for improving the recovery rate of oil and
gas based on nano materials.
As far as the remaining oil, using existing oil displacement
technologies is concerned, we may prepare micro-nano level
basic particles or emulsion and take chemical or physical
means to intelligently decorate or modify the surface of basic
particles. By doing so, the particles become environmentally
sensitive and have weakened capillary force to efficiently
diffuse water and accumulate oil. The micro-nano functional
oil displacement material thus can be obtained, which is
highly potentially applicable in the future[65]. Besides, we may
also design micro-nano structures to prepare a sort of down-
hole high-efficiency oil absorbing microspheric material that
is responsive to external field drives. Therefore, it can be used
efficiently and repeatedly in an adverse environment and is
capable of external field driving. The development of intelli-
gent oil absorbing microspheric material and new preparation
technology may make a good reserve to develop oil reservoir
nano robots.
A micro-nano motor that is the core part of an oil reservoir
nano robot is characterized by low cost, high effectiveness
and high biocompatibility. The motor enjoys vast prospects
for applications in environmental monitoring, water quality
restoration, oil removal, and environmental sensing. Mi-
cro-nano motors that are capable of converting chemical, op-
tical, and electric energies into dynamic power or drive force
might be adopted to detect oil reservoir and drive crude oil. A
micro-nano motor enters the formation along with the flood-
ing water. It senses and records information of oil reservoir
and fluids (oil reservoir temperature, pressure, pore form, oil
and water distribution, etc.) during the flow through the for-
mation. It also collects the information according to charac-
teristic variations in materials and recovers it when the pro-
duced fluid returns. Besides, based on fluid behaviors, a robot
moves along with fluids in the remaining oil enrichment area
under the action of different physical field drives. Via surface
absorption and loaded catalyst, the robot performs in situ ab-
sorption and catalytic decomposition in oil reservoir, in addi-
tion to the separation of oil from water utilizing the special
surface wettability as well as the combination with oil drip
efficiently for directional transmission. Therefore, it can
achieve the real-time monitoring and effective exploitation of
the remaining oil and improvement in exploration of thick-
ened oil and shale oil.
3.3. Research on fluid micro-flows in reservoirs
Non-conventional oil and gas reservoirs usually have small
pores, complex pore structure, large specific surface area, and
 LIU He et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2018, 45(4): 745–753
diversified types of clay minerals. Fluids, thus, usually show
strong micro-flow effects (rarefaction, surface tensioning, low
Reynolds number, multi-scale and multi-phase effects, etc.)
when moving in narrow and small spaces of these reservoirs.
Percolation theories based on the Darcy-Weisbach formula
can no longer satisfy the demand for research and develop-
ment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a physical
simulation model with adjustable aperture parameters. The
model should be uniform, repeatable, and controllable for the
research on percolation patterns in complex micro pore chan-
nels in reservoirs. In this sense, 3D printing is the most suit-
able tool to meet the demand.
By CT, FIB-SEM, and other experimental means, a real
core micropore structure can be obtained and a nano-re-
solution 3D digital core model can be established. Then, we
can print out the micro-nano scale core mock-up using a
high-precision 3D printer. During the micro-flow simulation
experiment on the printed core, we may also repeatedly print
the micropore structure to provide standard repeatable sam-
ples for the experiment. Therefore, we can perform systematic
experimental operations and theoretical analysis. Meanwhile,
we can also realize the possibility for micro-flow mechanism
research by establishing microscopic core experimental mod-
els at different scales via 3D printing. The permeation rate
calculation formula under the absorption and diffusion effects
can be explored. We can also describe the multi-scale flow
behaviors of a specific non-conventional oil and gas reservoir
more truthfully. A well testing analysis model and productive
capability evaluation model can be set up by considering
characteristics of the non-conventional oil and gas reservoir to
provide experimental conditions for preparing and adjusting
the exploration scheme, thus offering a solid theoretical foun-
dation for interpreting reservoir testing data. In addition, we
can use 3D printing and surface decoration technology to con-
trol pore wall wettability of the printed core and shield the
disturbance of heterogeneous wettability, so that the impact of
a single main factor on flow behavior of a fluid in a mi-
cro-nano pore structure can be clarified, even the effective-
ness of different types of oil displacement agents can be quan-
titatively evaluated. The complexities in laboratory evaluation
of performance of oil displacement agents can be solved. The
cost for field experiment can be greatly reduced. The effec-
tiveness and improvement plan for newly developed oil dis-
placement agents can be forecast. Therefore, this would play a
vital role in selecting oil displacement agents and to improve
recovery efficiency.
4. Conclusion and outlook
Functional micro-nano structures aim at the realization of
specific targets having special functionalities. With mi-
cron-scale and even nano-scale sizes, functional micro-nano
structures shows material attributes different from those at the
macroscopic level. Based on the needs in oil and gas explora-
tion and development and the research status of intelligent
 751 
micro-nano structures, the micro-nano structures may have
three potential application areas: (1) Functional micro-nano
structures represented by metamaterial and intelligent coating
are applicable to oil production engineering and equipment.
Special characteristics that are not found in traditional materi-
als can be obtained through an orderly design for micro-nano
characteristic to improve the protection, sensing, and anticor-
rosion capabilities of petroleum equipment. Equipment stabil-
ity and reliability thus can be improved. Unprecedented solu-
tions and ideas can be offered for solving technical bottle-
necks in today’s petroleum industry. (2) Functional mi-
cro-nano robots represented by micro-nano motor and intelli-
gent microspheric material are expected to be applicable to
the development of new materials for improving recovery rate.
Effective exploration of remaining oil in a narrow space can
be realized via a special micro-nano structural design. Sense
and record formation information based on physical and
chemical characteristics can realize real-time monitoring and
efficient exploration of remaining oil and effectively improve
recovery efficiency of thickened oil and shale oil. (3) Func-
tional structure manufacturing technologies represented by 3D
printing are able to be used to research the micro-flow of res-
ervoir fluids. By preparing standard core via 3D printing,
standard repeatable samples for experiments as well as sys-
tematic experimental operations and theoretical analyses can
be provided. Quantitative evaluation can be conducted on
formation flow behaviors in micro-nano pores via CT,
FIB-SEM, and other experimental means can greatly reduce
the cost for site experiment. Quantitative evaluation can play a
vital role in selecting pit oil displacement agents and in im-
proving the efficiency in exploration.
In general, functional micro-nano structure technologies
represented by micro-nano motors and metamaterials as well
as 3D printing technology oriented at micro-nano fabrication
are still in the transition from basic technology development
to comprehensive development. However, they have shown
great scientific value and application potential in the petro-
leum industry. The research on such basic theories and appli-
cation technologies will provide unprecedented solutions and
ideas for eliminating bottlenecks in the petroleum industry.
Thus, they are of great importance for promoting China’s
petroleum technology.
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