Multi-field coupling controls the formation and evolution of deep reservoirs

Following the maturation of shallow and medium-depth exploration, the petroleum industry is transitioning its focus to deep and ultra-deep formations. Field evidence shows that, even under extreme conditions of high temperature, high pore pressure, and high stress, some reservoirs retain anomalously high porosity and permeability, contradicting traditional compaction models. This paradox can be better explained through multi-field coupling, where temperature, pore pressure, and stress interact competitively and cooperatively to reshape compaction, fracture behavior, and fluid-rock interactions. Such interactions may induce brittle–ductile transitions that form semi-ductile permeability corridors, or cause localized enrichment when stress contrasts restrict fracture propagation and fluid accumulation promotes episodic reactivation. These insights shift the interpretation of deep reservoirs from single-factor models to a coupling-based framework, offering new directions for evaluation and exploration. Document Type: Perspective Cited as: Xu, S., Yang, D., Liu, B., Jia, C., Zhang, Y. Multi-field coupling controls the formation and evolution of deep reservoirs. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 17(2): 176-178. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.08.08