Progress and Development Strategies for Mechanism Characterization, Identification, and Prevention and Control of Gas Channeling in Gas Injection Reservoirs

To address the key issue of how gas channeling restricts the effectiveness of gas injection development in reservoirs, this paper reviewed research progress in gas channeling mechanisms, identification methods, and prevention and control technologies, and the current challenges. In terms of mechanism research, physical and numerical simulation techniques were used to analyze the influencing factors of gas channeling quantitatively at both microscopic and macroscopic scales. In terms of identification technologies, tracer monitoring was used as the primary method, with dynamic and static data analysis and numerical simulation serving as complementary tools. In terms of prevention and control technologies, a core technical pathway centered on development mode adjustment and chemical plugging was established. Currently, gas channeling research still faces several challenges. Simplified physical models are difficult to represent real reservoirs, while reservoir simulation often fails to fully account for microscopic mechanisms. Current identification technologies are limited by insufficient accuracy, delayed early warning, and restricted analytical dimensions. The technical adaptability and process maturity of gas channeling prevention and control in complex reservoirs still need to be improved. Based on the aforementioned research progress and existing challenges, this paper discussed solution pathways for gas channeling problems. It is suggested that future efforts should focus on deepening research on gas channeling mechanisms, including constructing multi-scale heterogeneous physical models and developing multi-field coupled numerical models to improve quantitative analysis. Identification technologies should be optimized, with particular attention paid to three key directions: quantum dot tracers, integrated identification frameworks for gas channeling pathways, and integrated surface-subsurface monitoring. Prevention and control strategies should be optimized by selecting appropriate measures for different development stages, with injection-production regulation applied at early stages and chemical plugging at later stages, together with parameter optimization and dynamic monitoring to improve effectiveness. The research results provided references for improving the full-chain management and control technology system of gas channeling and supporting the upgrading of gas injection development engineering technologies.