Due to regulatory restrictions on long?chain fluorocarbon surfactants, the synergistic mechanisms of short?chain composite systems developed as alternatives remain unclear, hindering the advancement of high?performance and environmentally friendly firefighting agents. This review systematically outlines optimization strategies for short?chain fluorocarbon firefighting agents, including molecular engineering approaches (chain?length control, zwitterionic design) and compounding techniques (fluorocarbon/hydrocarbon synergy). By synthesizing existing research, it highlights that C₄—C₆ short?chain surfactants strike a balance between surface activity and environmental friendliness and composite systems significantly reduce critical micelle concentration and fluorine consumption, simultaneously enhancing foam stability. The review summarizes synergistic mechanisms in compounding including electrostatic interactions between anions and cations promoting dense film formation, and conformational matching inhibiting aqueous migration. It also establishes quantitative relationships spanning from microscopic molecular arrangements to macroscopic properties, such as interfacial tension and foam stability. This study provides theoretical reference for understanding the mechanism of compounding and promoting the rational design of fire extinguishing agents.

During the thermal recovery of steam injection in heavy oil reservoirs, once steam channeling occurs between wells resulting in ineffective steam circulation, which seriously restricts the expansion of steam sweep volume and the improvement of oil recovery. A 2D visualization experimental apparatus was used to research the phenomenon of steam channeling and the distribution characteristics of remaining oil during steam injection in heavy oil reservoirs. Then, the method of numerical simulation was used to research the influence factors of steam channeling between wells. The results showed that steam migration is a process of steam driving condensate water and water driving oil in porous media. Outside the displacement front, the reservoir temperature gradually decreases and the seepage process presents the characteristics of conventional non?piston water flooding. The seepage speed of water is faster than that of crude oil, which results in an obvious inrush phenomenon and a lot of remaining oil on both sides of channeling path. Finally, the plane sweep efficiency in only 43.16% between injector and producer. However, there is amount of residual oil in the swept zone of steam injection. The main influence factors include the relationship between well location and high permeability zone, the plane heterogeneity, the thickness, the oil viscosity, the speed of steam injection, and etc.