Characterization study of lower Lagunillas member, Block IV, Lake Maracaibo. Application of horizontal well to revive a mature oil field

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · AAPG Bulletin

OSTI ID:6573198

Coll, C; Gamero, H; Jimenez, Z ^[1]

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1. Maraven, Carcas (Venezuela)

The Lower Lagunillas is one of the largest reservoirs in Venezuela located in Block IV in the Lake Maracaibo Basin in Zulia State in Western Venezuela. The estimated remaining reserves are 270 MMSTB. A multidisciplinary, integrated reservoir characterization study was performed to evaluate reservoir heterogeneity and fluid flow dynamics in fine scale. The majority of the remaining reserves are in the form of oil bypassed in the low resistivity pay zones. These zones were identified by the now core-log calibration performed in this area. Significant pressure decline from the initial 4200 psi to 1400 psi has prompted us to explore new development strategy of selective drilling of horizontal wells. A key step in the study was acquisition and integration of new geoscience, well log and pressure data. The available geology, geophysics, sedimentology and petrophysics were integrated and loaded on to a 3-D visualization package for correlating and validating the various lithofacies with petrophysics and sedimentology. The resulting reservoir model was exported to a flow simulator for developing a dynamic simulation model. A target layer was selected based on the results of the characterization study and risk assessment strategy. A pilot well was drilled in the reservoir to acquire new data and information. These information were processed to evaluate the borehole stability, petrophysical properties, location of the fluid phases, pressure behavior and target zone. The processed data were utilized to confirm the location and to develop the completion diagram of the horizontal well.

• OSTI ID: 6573198
• Report Number(s): CONF-960527--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin Journal Volume: 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LATIN AMERICA
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVES
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESOURCES
SOUTH AMERICA
VENEZUELA