Abstract: The development of reef-shoal carbonate reservoir is restricted by many factors, such as sedimentary environment and late reformation, and there are various challenges in the development process. Sapinhoa huge reef-shoal carbonate oil reservoir was studied as an example in this paper and the main characteristics of the reservoir and main problems in the development process are analyzed, in which the main controlling factors and distribution regularity of high-quality reef-shoal reservoirs need to be further studied. The internal heterogeneity of reef-shoal reservoir is very strong, the distribution of fluid properties is complex and its identification and prediction are difficult. Therefore, relevant development technology strategies are proposed.A variety of measures are combined to improve the output of single well under the control of cost, providing ideas and references for the efficient development of such reservoirs.