Xiongfei Yu — Researcher Analysis Report
Analysis Mode: fast | Analysis Time: 2026-03-16T00:07:51
Rating: Early Researcher (28.3/100)
Basic Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Institution | Unknown |
| h-index | 6 |
| Total Citations | 248 |
| Citations in Last 5 Years | 0 |
| Total Papers | 37 |
| Papers from Top Conferences | 0 |
| Publication Period | 1996 - 2019 |
| Semantic Scholar | 2112440444 |
Research Trajectory
Xiongfei Yu’s academic trajectory shows a rare multi-stage development pattern across multiple fields, likely resulting from the contributions of several researchers with the same name. The first phase (1996—2004) focused on the petroleum engineering field, concentrating on gas reservoir condensate prediction, CO₂ injection for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and gas injection reservoir screening evaluation, with a clear background in Chinese oil fields (Liaohe, Daqing, etc.). The second phase (2005—2011) shifted significantly to geotechnical and civil engineering, with publications such as finite element analysis of dam stability, flood dikes in Louisiana, and pile foundation testing in Georgia—characteristic of North American engineering projects—with almost no connection to petroleum engineering. The third phase (2017—2019) returned to the petroleum field, but the research level was elevated to rock physics and unconventional reservoir mechanisms—focusing on compaction of unconsolidated sandstone, the impact of sand production on flow, and NMR spontaneous imbibition in tight sandstone, reflecting the large-scale development of shale oil/tight oil in China. The most cited paper (2019, 108 citations) represents the peak of his academic influence.
Breakthrough Works
1. New insights into spontaneous imbibition in tight oil sandstones with NMR (2019)
Description: Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, this study systematically revealed the microscopic mechanism and quantitative laws of capillary spontaneous imbibition in tight sandstone reservoirs, providing experimental evidence for the crude oil recovery mechanism during焖井 after fracturing, and directly guiding the optimization design of fracturing fluid return and焖井 systems.
Why it couldn’t be done before: The pore size in tight sandstone is extremely small (nanometer scale), and traditional mercury intrusion and core experiments cannot dynamically characterize fluid distribution and migration in pores in situ; the maturity of NMR core analysis technology and the widespread use of high-field instruments provide the basis for such research. Additionally, large-scale commercial shale oil/tight oil development in China (after 2015) created urgent engineering needs, driving funding and sample availability.
Impact: This paper was cited 108 times and became an important reference in the study of spontaneous imbibition in tight reservoirs, promoting the engineering direction of “midden well optimization—capillary drive” in China’s unconventional oil and gas field.
2. Stability analyses of dam abutments by 3D elasto-plastic finite-element method: A case study of Houhe gravity-arch dam in China (2005)
Description: Using the Houhe gravity arch dam in China as a case study, a three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element method was applied to systematically analyze the stability of the dam abutment, providing a numerical simulation framework applicable to actual engineering verification. This work was cited 39 times and represented the most influential achievement during this period.
Why it couldn’t be done before: Three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element models require high computational resources, and three-dimensional rock mass simulations at engineering scale were not common in China before 2005; meanwhile, large-scale water conservancy projects in China (such as the Three Gorges Project) provided case sources and engineering background requirements.
Impact: It provided a methodological template for seismic stability analysis of gravity arch dams in China and has been continuously cited in geotechnical engineering literature.
3. Fluid flow with compaction and sand production in unconsolidated sandstone reservoir (2018)
Description: Through single-phase displacement experiments, the coupled effects of compaction and sand production on flow patterns in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs were quantitatively measured, and a fluid flow model considering reservoir damage was established, providing experimental evidence for predicting oil well productivity decline.
Why it couldn’t be done before: Specialized high-pressure core clamping devices to control compaction degree and sand production are difficult to implement; experimental operations on unconsolidated sandstone (sample preparation and encapsulation) are technically challenging, and relevant experimental data were scarce previously.
Impact: This paper was cited 23 times and provided an experimental basis for productivity assessment and sand control design in heavy oil and loose sandstone reservoirs (such as Liaohe oil field).
4. The variation mechanism of petrophysical properties and the effect of compaction on the relative permeability of an unconsolidated sandstone reservoir (2017)
Description: A systematic study was conducted on the changes in petrophysical parameters (porosity, permeability) in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs with compaction, especially quantifying the impact of compaction on the gas-water relative permeability curve, and revealing the mechanism of flow capacity decline during production.
Why it couldn’t be done before: Relative permeability experiments are usually carried out on consolidated cores; dynamic compaction + two-phase flow experiments on unconsolidated sandstone pose significant technical and equipment challenges, and such data have been lacking for a long time.
Impact: This paper was cited 18 times and filled the gap in compaction–flow coupling research on unconsolidated sandstone, offering practical reference for development scheme design of offshore heavy oil and loose sandstone reservoirs.
5. A SCREENING CANDIDATE RESERVOIR FOR GAS INJECTION WAY BASED ON CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETER’S COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT OPTIMIZATION METHOD (2004)
Description: A reservoir screening method based on comprehensive weight optimization of characteristic parameters was proposed for gas injection candidates, providing a quantitative decision-making framework for reservoir selection in CO₂/N₂/natural gas mixed phase drive, representing a systematic methodological contribution to early EOR engineering practices.
Why it couldn’t be done before: Early reservoir screening relied mostly on single-parameter empirical judgment, lacking a multi-parameter comprehensive quantitative evaluation method; meanwhile, large-scale CO₂-EOR experiments in China (early 2000s) provided data accumulation for refining screening criteria.
Impact: This paper was cited 6 times and provided reusable systematic screening ideas for pre-assessment of gas injection EOR projects in Chinese oil fields.
Research Directions
- Rock physics of tight and unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs (compaction, sand production, relative permeability, NMR spontaneous imbibition)
- Gas injection enhanced oil recovery (CO₂/N₂/natural gas mixed phase drive, reservoir screening evaluation)
- Geotechnical and civil engineering (dam abutment stability finite element analysis, geophysical exploration, flood dike systems)
- Fluid flow mechanisms and development prediction in unconventional reservoirs
Methodological Evolution
Early (1996—2004) research relied mainly on engineering experience methods, including fuzzy hierarchical analysis (FAHP), parameter optimization screening, and semi-empirical prediction models, focusing on decision-support tools in oilfield engineering practice with limited experimental verification. The middle period (2005—2011) shifted toward numerical simulation (three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element) and geophysical field tests (CPTu, seismic waves, borehole geophysics), reflecting a trend toward precision in geotechnical engineering. The later period (2017—2019) completed the transition from macro-engineering to micro-mechanism: centered on high-pressure core physical experiments (single-phase/two-phase displacement, compaction loading devices) combined with NMR pore-scale characterization, supplemented by numerical simulation and theoretical models, representing the mainstream paradigm of contemporary reservoir physics research.
Field Impact
Overall, Xiongfei Yu’s (or the group of researchers with the same name) academic influence shows a “late-stage concentrated outbreak” pattern: early and middle-period papers had scattered citations (up to 39 citations per paper), while three rock physics papers published between 2017—2019 contributed approximately 149 citations, accounting for over 60% of the total 248 citations. Among them, the 2019 NMR spontaneous imbibition paper (108 citations) has become a high-citation reference in tight sandstone flow research. This pattern indicates that researchers identified key research opportunities with precise laboratory characterization capabilities during the rise of unconventional reservoirs, contributing specific and quantifiable academic contributions to the technology field of shale oil/tight oil development in China. However, the h-index of only 6 and abnormal citation statistics in the last 5 years suggest possible merge issues among authors in the database; verification through author institutions is recommended.
High-Citation Papers (Top 20)| # | Year | Reference | Title |
|—|——|——|——| | 1 | 2019 | 108 | New insights into spontaneous imbibition in tight oil sandstones with NMR | | 2 | 2005 | 39 | Stability analyses of dam abutments by 3D elasto-plastic finite-element method: A case study of Houhe gravity-arch dam in China | | 3 | 2018 | 23 | Fluid flow with compaction and sand production in unconsolidated sandstone reservoir | | 4 | 2017 | 18 | The variation mechanism of petrophysical properties and the effect of compaction on the relative permeability of an unconsolidated sandstone reservoir | | 5 | 1996 | 8 | A New Method for Predicting the Law of Unsteady Flow Through Porous Medium on Gas Condensate Well | | 6 | 2004 | 6 | A SCREENING CANDIDATE RESERVOIR FOR GAS INJECTION WAY BASED ON CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETER’S COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT OPTIMIZATION METHOD | | 7 | 2007 | 6 | No-fines concrete as ecologic stream bank erosion control | | 8 | 2017 | 6 | Laboratory experiments of well testing for fracture-cave carbonate gas reservoirs | | 9 | 2001 | 5 | EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY IN LIAOHE LIGHT OIL DISTRICT | | 10 | 2007 | 5 | Unknown Foundation Testing: A Case Comparison of Different Geophysical Methods | | 11 | 2002 | 4 | A NEW INTIGRATIVE EVALUATION WAY FOR CANDIDATE OF CARBON DIOXIDEmiscible FLOODING RESERVOIRS BASED ON FUZZY ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS | | 12 | 2010 | 4 | Beneficial Utilization of Lime Sludge for Subgrade Stabilization: A Pilot Investigation | | 13 | 2010 | 4 | Seismic CPTu to Assist the Design on Existing Foundations | | 14 | 2005 | 3 | Statistical comparison of models for soil dielectric spectrum | | 15 | 2007 | 3 | Innovative Applications of Geophysics in Civil Engineering | | 16 | 2010 | 2 | Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering | | 17 | 2002 | 1 | REASONABLE VELOCITY OF N_2 INJECTION NONMISCIBLE FLOODING IN TILTING MULTILAYER RESERVOIR | | 18 | 2004 | 1 | The Effect of Two Mediums Injection on Crude Property | | 19 | 2008 | 1 | Risk based design of levee system | | 20 | 2011 | 1 | Sustainable flood risk management: Lesson from recent cases |