• Wettability alteration and mixed-wettability development emerge as a fundamental mechanism controlling oil–water displacements in porous media; studies connect crude oil exposure, brine composition, and thin-film dynamics to wettability shifts at the core and pore scale [1], [7], [11], [10].

• ASP (alkaline–surfactant–polymer) chemistries, cosurfactants, and field pilots define a major research thread, optimizing phase behavior, IFT reduction, and mobility control across carbonate and sandstone reservoirs [3], [12], [14], [18], [19], [2].

• Gel-based systems are explored as selective water-control agents to reduce water permeability more than oil, via polymer networks, crosslinking, and near-wellbore matrix treatments across high-temperature reservoirs [6], [8], [5], [9], [16].

• Formation-clay compatibility, pretreatment, and ion-exchange interactions frame salinity management to prevent formation damage and ensure flood effectiveness, highlighting mineral interactions and clay dispersion control [4], [17], [13].

• Field-level design and pilot results aggregate knowledge on ASP and surfectant floods, guiding practical deployment from lab design steps to full-scale field tests across diverse reservoirs [2], [12], [3], [19], [18].