A comprehensive study on the distribution characteristics and exploitation strategies of remaining oil was carried out in the Ordovician ultra-deep fault-controlled fractured–vuggy carbonate reservoir within the Shunbei No. 1 strike–slip fault zone. This research addresses challenges such as severe watered-out and gas channeling encountered during multi-stage development, marking a shift toward a development phase focused on residual oil recovery. By integrating seismic attributes, drilling, logging, and production performance data—and building upon previous methodologies of “hierarchical constraint and genetic modeling”—a three-dimensional geological model was constructed with a five-tiered architecture: strike–slip fault affected zone, fault-controlled unit, cave-like structure, cluster fillings, and fracture zone. Numerical simulations were subsequently performed based on this model. The results demonstrate that the distribution of remaining oil is dominantly controlled by the coupling between key geological factors—including fault kinematics, reservoir architecture formed by karst evolution, and fracture–vug connectivity—and the injection–production well pattern. Three major categories with five sub-types of residual oil distribution patterns were identified: (1) local low permeability, weak hydrodynamics; (2) shielded connectivity pathways; and (3) Well Pattern-Dependent. Accordingly, two types of potential-tapping measures are proposed: improve well control through optimized well placement and sidetrack drilling and reservoir flow field modification via adjusted injection–production parameters and sealing of high-permeability channels. Techniques such as gas (nitrogen) huff-and-puff, gravity-assisted segregation, and injection–production pattern restructuring are recommended to improve reserve control and sweep efficiency, thereby increasing ultimate recovery. This study provides valuable guidance for the efficient development of similar ultra-deep fractured–vuggy carbonate reservoirs.

The Shunbei 42X well group belongs to fractured-vuggy carbonate condensate gas reservoirs. This type of reservoir exhibits extreme heterogeneity, differing significantly from conventional reservoirs and posing considerable challenges for exploitation. Research on fractured-vuggy carbonate condensate gas reservoirs can begin with modeling and numerical simulation. By using historical data fitting to refine parameters such as pressure, production, and reserves, we can deepen our understanding of the reservoir and the movement patterns of water and oil. Combined with a geological and reservoir engineering analysis of residual oil distribution, this approach enables the evaluation of steady-state production technology feasibility. This study employs numerical simulation to conduct single-well injection production modeling for well SHB42X. First, a numerical model was created in simulation software, defining parameters such as grid spatial location and reservoir temperature. Second, the numerical model was established, and historical production dynamics were fitted using the software’s PVT module. Finally, after successful fitting, subsequent production parameters were set. By summarizing previous studies on gas injection huff-and-puff mechanisms and analyzing changes in parameters like recovery rates after actual injection, the simulation results for natural gas, nitrogen, water, and depleted reservoir development were compared. Further comparisons are made on the throughput effects of nitrogen under varying injection rates, production rates, injection volumes, and well-killing durations. Optimal parameters are selected to provide reference for enhancing subsequent development efficiency.