Prediction of oil gravity prior to drill-stem testing in Monterey Formation Reservoirs, offshore California

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:6851663

Baskin, D K ^[1]; Jones, R W ^[2]

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1. Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, La Habra, CA (United States)
2. Chevron Oil Field Research Company, Encinitas, CA (United States)

This paper discusses empirical geochemical correlations used to predict API oil gravities prior to drill-stem testing in Monterey Formation reservoirs, offshore southern California. The primary objective was to eliminate expensive well testing by identifying intervals that contain low-gravity, nonproducible oil (usually <14[degrees] API). However, the correlations proved very successful in accurately predicting (within 4[degrees]API) oil gravities that range from 5 to 35[degrees] API throughout the offshore Santa Barbara and Santa Maria areas. The primary data are weight-percent sulfur and Rock-Eval pyrolysis of bitumen chemically extracted from reservoir rock samples. In general, reservoirs that contain higher gravity, producible oil have bitumen organic sulfur contents of less than 5 wt. %, Rock-Eval bitumen, and Rock-Eval bitumen S[sub 1]/S[sub 2] ratios greater than 1.0. These data are usually supplemented with Rock-Eval pyrolysis of the reservoir rock, where whole-rock S[sub 1]/S[sub 2] ratios greater than 0.30 usually indicate associated oil gravities greater than 14[degrees] API. This analytical mix gives a multiple approach for estimating reservoir oil gravities within proposed drill-stem test (DST) intervals. Using this approach, oil gravities of more than 50 DSTs have been accurately predicted in the offshore southern California area. The technique is also useful for reevaluating API gravities in older wells where Monterey reservoirs were not the primary target. Moreover, the technique should have application elsewhere, provided the range of oil gravities are not the result of obvious biodegradation and sufficient rock and oil samples are available to establish pertinent correlations. 34 refs., 14 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6851663
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:9; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
API GRAVITY
FORECASTING
PETROLEUM
OFFSHORE DRILLING
CALIFORNIA
DRILL STEM TESTING
GRAVITY LOGGING
GRAVITY SURVEYS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL
DENSITY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC OCEAN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
SURVEYS
TESTING
USA
WELL LOGGING
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
&amp; Exploration