Analysis of Modern Challenges and Technological Solutions in Natural Gas Production at Fields with Complex Geological Structure: A Review

Due to the depletion of traditional hydrocarbon fields in the Russian Federation, the development of structurally complex fields is currently a pressing issue. The challenge is to ensure a high gas recovery factor (GRF). This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the scientific and technical literature, including a classification of factors affecting gas recovery; a review of existing approaches to neutralising their impact; and the identification of unsolved challenges and promising research areas at the pore, layer, and field scales. The study identified and classified the key factors affecting gas recovery. It was determined that, from the standpoint of automating gas production processes, changes in reservoir pressure are the key factor influencing gas recovery. Promising solutions are proposed, including the implementation of digital technologies, machine learning, proxy models, and the concept of digital twins. Unresolved challenges and research gaps are identified. The study results generalise existing knowledge on the challenges and promising approaches to improving the efficiency of developing the resource potential of fields with complex geological structures.