Developing a marginal field using new techniques-South Monagas Unit, Venezuela
- Benton Oil and Gas Co., Carpineteria, CA (United States)
- Benton Vinccler, C.A., Maturin (Venezuela)
In 1992 the Venezuelan national oil company, PDVSA, awarded operating service agreements to foreign oil companies for reactivation of marginal oil fields. The South Monagas Unit contains three oil and gas fields, Uracoa, Bombal, and Tucupita, that were not producing prior to the award of the contract As of October 1995, production from Uraroa had exceeded 20 MBbls/day of heavy oil from 26 vertical and 11 horizontal wells. Initial uncertainties about heavy oil treatment capability, water and gas production, oil flow rates, and ultimate recoverable reserves led to a phased development plan that has incrementally reduced the risk of financial exposure over time. The first phase of development utilized conventional geologic techniques and vertical wells to test treatment facilities, mud and gravel-pack technologies, and flow rates. Positive results led to the next phase of development which focused on reservoir performance and well optimization. A horizontal well drilling program was implemented in December 1993. A milestone in this program was the first gravel-pack horizontal well in Venezuela, completed in February, 1995. A pilot 2-D seismic program in late 1994 confined that high-quality seismic could be acquired to significantly enhance the development of Uracoa. A 175 W 3-D survey was shot and processed in mid-1995. Concurrently, borehole imaging logs were acquired in vertical wells to determine internal reservoir heterogeneity and sand depositional models. The sequence stratigraphic model that evolved, based on outcrop field analogs, 3-D seismic stratigraphy, and regional well control, is being used to optimize field development. In addition, new exploration concepts are being tested without risk using strategically located water injection wells as test wells.
- OSTI ID:
- 6587379
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960527-; CODEN: AABUD2
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin, Vol. 5; Conference: Annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Inc. and the Society for Sedimentary Geology: global exploration and geotechnology, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 May 1996; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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OIL FIELDS
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
PETROLEUM
EXPLORATION
PRODUCTION
VENEZUELA
SEISMIC SURVEYS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
LATIN AMERICA
MINERAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SOUTH AMERICA
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
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020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production