National energy security is an important guarantee to the sustainable development of national economy. In order to achieve China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, this article explores hotspot issues in the development of unconventional energy with a new development perspective of porous media science. In the paper, two aspects of porous media science are highlighted: (1) Multi-scale issues in unconventional petrochemical energy; (2) Multi field coupling theory and application issues related to the development of unconventional energy in porous media. The article reviews the development of the theory and application of multi-field coupling in porous media, as well as the current research hotspots and study trends; It also explores the current hotspots, difficulties, characteristics, transition methods, and development trends of multi-scale problems in porous media science which requires further in-depth research.

porous media  /  multiscale  /  multi-field coupling  /  unconventional energy  /  porous flow