Fines migration in porous media: A critical review of mechanisms, impacts, and mitigation strategies in subsurface energy operations

Fines migration presents a significant challenge in various reservoirs, adversely impacting well permeability and productivity, leading to considerable financial losses and numerous operational issues, thereby reducing the productive life of a well. This review presents a comprehensive overview of fines migration mechanisms and the factors that trigger particle detachment, mobilization, and pore plugging. Experimental observations of fines release under varying salinity, pH, ionic strength, flow rates, and temperature are systematically analyzed to elucidate how these parameters influence electrostatic forces, drag, and colloidal transport in porous media. The review highlights the coupling between porous media hydrodynamics and electrokinetic phenomena, which together govern the stability and detachment of clay minerals. Furthermore, the review critically evaluates existing mathematical models for fines migration and their ability to predict permeability alteration, alongside advanced analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), zeta potential measurements, and micromodel visualization for quantifying fines behavior. The implications of fines migration in practical applications are analyzed, with emphasis on CO2 sequestration injectivity and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. While fines migration is often associated with formation damage, certain controlled scenarios have leveraged fines movement to improve sweep efficiency in EOR. Finally, remediation strategies, including clay stabilizers, matrix acidizing, and nanoparticle treatments, to mitigate fines-related damage are reviewed. Updated case studies from the past decade are integrated throughout, and recent advances in both fundamental understanding and field management of fines migration are highlighted.