Bibliometric Insights into Cellulose Nanoparticles: Advancing Sustainable Enhanced Oil Recovery in HTHP Reservoirs

Abstract This bibliometric analysis explores the growing body of research on the application of cellulose derivatives in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Emphasizing their abundance, low cost, and environmentally friendly nature, cellulose-based materials have gained attention for their ability to improve recovery efficiency, particularly in challenging high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) reservoirs. The review identifies key challenges such as data inconsistencies, experimental variability, and stability issues that have limited large-scale applications. It highlights recent advancements in cellulose nanoparticle design, pretreatment, and extraction methods tailored for oilfield conditions. Quantitative insights reveal the increasing academic and industrial focus on cellulose derivatives, with studies demonstrating their capacity to enhance viscosity by 10–70%, improve sweep efficiency by 52–85%, and increase oil recovery by 10–30% of the original oil in place. Key research trends include optimizing nanoparticle stability in HTHP environments and exploring economic feasibility for widespread adoption. The bibliometric findings underscore the significant potential of cellulose bionanomaterials in EOR, aligning with broader trends toward sustainable and cost-effective recovery solutions. This analysis provides a roadmap for future research and highlights the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome challenges and fully leverage the capabilities of cellulose-based materials in oilfield applications.