Bachaquero study: a composite analysis of the behavior of a compaction drive/solution-gas drive reservoir

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1975 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6685273

Merle, H A; Kentie, C J.P.; van Opstal, G; Schneider, G M.G.

With some 18 billion bbl of oil initially in place, the Bachaquero post-Eocene reservoir is one of the largest heavy-oil fields at the Bolivar Coast in Venezuela. The most typical feature of Bachaquero is the occurrence of substantial surface subsidence, locally exceeding 12 ft and indicating appreciable compaction of the reservoir. A study was made to analyze the subsidence/compaction phenomena and the interaction of compaction with other prevailing drive mechanisms. The following highlights of this study are discussed: (1) calculation of areal distributions of reservoir compaction from measured surface subsidence using overburden deformation theory; (2) analysis of compaction/reservoir-pressure relationships; and (3) replay of past production performance with a special reservoir simulator. The study illustrates the existence of threshold reservoir pressures, only below which appreciable rock compressibilities become evident.

• Research Organization: Shell Internat. Petr. Mij. BV
• OSTI ID: 6685273
• Report Number(s): CONF-750924-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE-5529
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COMPRESSIBILITY
DEFORMATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
LATIN AMERICA
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OVERBURDEN
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCK MECHANICS
SOUTH AMERICA
VENEZUELA
VISCOSITY