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SPE 56558

Geological and Production Problems Solved by Recognizing the Strike Slip


Component on Reverse Faults, Block I, Lake Maracaibo
J-Y. Chatellier, R. de Sifontes, SPE, and O. Mijares, PDVSA Intevep, and P. Muoz, SPE, PDVSA E&P

Copyright 1999, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.


to the Icotea Fault. Based on that structural model and on the
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Annual Technical Conference and production behavior of the wells, six water injectors have been
Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, 36 October 1999.
drilled through time in a down-dip position in the western part
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of of the field (Fig.1).
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Problems with original model
Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
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Despite the injection of water, the pressure has kept


Abstract decreasing in nearly all of the producing wells indicating the
inadequacy of the official structural model. Locally some of
Despite years of oil production and numerous geological and the correlations between wells and the interpretation of the
geophysical studies, no structural and sedimentological model sedimentary environments had to be revised. There is still
succeeded to adequately describe the reservoir architecture or large uncertainty and misunderstanding with respect to the
match the production behaviour in Block VLA-31. Around a sealing or non-sealing nature of the known faults in order to
newly acquired 3-D seismic a multidisciplinary team has have a history match.
integrated all of the available information and came up with a
radically different geological model that is coherent with the
production history. The newly interpreted faults are reverse New effort of integration
but no repetition of section is ever observed. We identified and
visualized these faults through various means and discovered An integrated team was given the task to better the geological
the strike slip component responsible for the previous mis- model in order to understand the sand body architecture and
interpretation of the faut system. propose a new development plan for the block. This
integration work involved geophysics, geology, petrophysics,
geostatistics and reservoir engineering.
Whereas a newly acquired 3-D seismic survey was being
Original model interpreted, sedimentologists were attempting to resolve the
correlation problems with the help of the reservoir engineers.
The block VLA-31 is located within Lake Maracaibo to the Other tools and disciplines have been used in this integration;
west of the Icotea fault (Fig.1); it is part of the better known these include drilling information, graphical visualization
Block I. It is producing from the Eocene Misoa C Sands that (Bischke, 1994, Sanchez et al., 1997) and geostatistics
are considered to be deltaic in nature by most authors (van (Porjesz et al., 1997).
Veen, 1969, and many others). The sediments for the studied
block were supposed to be derived from the South. The source Work procedure
of Misoa sediments has been controversial: van Andel
proposed a source from the NorthEast (1956), van Veen from The first hurdle in the integration was that whereas R. Hyde
the SouthWest (1969) whereas Audemard (1991) and Lugo (Fig.2) was proposing the existence of three very large reverse
(1991) proposed some source from the North. faults, no repetition was seen in any of the wells, even when
The prevailing and official structural interpretation can be focussing around the depth estimate given by the seismic. The
summarized as a series of normal faults roughly perpendicular
2 J-Y CHATELLIER, R. DE SIFONTES, O. MIJARES AND P. MUOZ SPE 56558

existence of major reverse faults is in line with some recent line up too well on our maps. We could however estimate the
studies (Link et al., 1996 and Leon et al., 1999) overall directions of the channels.
In order to go on with the integration and accept or refuse the
hypothesis of reverse faults we tried to identify the existence The overall solution to the problem came from the pattern
of faults through various means including the use of secondary formed by the wells where the storm deposits were missing.
information and graphical visualization. The wells devoid of this storm deposit are all located in the
southern part of the VLA-31 block; the geographical
It appeared that many of the wells had not reached their distribution of these wells corresponds to two well-defined
proposed total depth for mechanical reason. The existence of groups with similar linear limits. These two groups are offset
near vertical faults is the prime suspect for such common by one of the large reverse fault proposed by the geophysicist.
occurrence of abnormal termination of wells. We thus tried to A displacement of one kilometer along the fault gives a
visualize these TDs (total depths) and found that most of these perfect alignment of the northern limit of the wells that do not
abnormal TDs line up on three planes (Fig.3). The logical show the storm deposit.
conclusion being that these are the three reverse fault planes
seen on seismic. This one kilometer displacement has been validated by our
paleogeographical reconstruction and by geostatistical study
Each of the three groups of points thought to correspond to the (Porjesz et al, 1997). For the statistical study the vertical
reverse faults has been mapped using least square gridding. succession of channel, marine bar and marine shale facies was
The fault planes thus created have been used to find discretised in every well, foot by foot, and was the input for
hypothetical intersection with the various wells drilled (Fig.4) the generation of variograms. Subsequently many
geostatistical realizations were performed first without any of
A quality control of the proposed fault planes was made by the newly proposed reverse faults and then with them; in all
calculating the residual between the fault plane and the TDs cases we got similar views of the sand body distribution. This
used in the gridding. The agreement was very good except for has validated the existence of the reverse faults proposed by
four TDs that were then discarded as they were not related to the geophysicist. A closer look at the sand distribution
any of the faults studied. generated statistically (but honoring all of the data from the
wells) gives credit to a lateral senestral displacement of one
We calculated the position of the fault in the various wells but kilometer along one of the reverse fault (Porjesz et al, 1997).
we were still unable to see any repeated sections. An MBPA
analysis was then undertaken (Sanchez et al., 1997), the
results of which indicated that there were thickness and dip Implications for the field development
anomalies where repeated sections were expected.
The geological model for the field has dramatically changed
The study of wireline logging problems also confirmed the if we consider that all of the major faults are nearly
location of the proposed faults. These problems relate to the perpendicular to the previous set of interpreted faults (Fig.6).
difficulty and often impossibility to go down or to come back These newly proposed faults give sense to the pressure data
up the open hole with the wireline logging tool: the hole is and to the absence of support from the existing water injection
weaker at the fault location and is prone to collapse. wells (Fig.7) and it shows why the water cuts are so low in the
eastern side of the Field (Fig.8). A new development plan has
Sedimentology been proposed as new blocks and new opportunities have been
discovered.
For the sedimentological study we have characterized every
sandstone package according to its apparent grain size trend
(derived mostly from the gamma-ray pattern). We have thus Conclusions
distinguished fining up and coarsening up sequences as well as
some particular patterns. One of these was a thin blocky We learned from our study of Block VLA-31 that there might
sandstone well isolated within marine shales and nearly be some problem identifying repeat sections when faults have
always present below a well developed sandstone sequence a strike slip component especially in rapidly changing
attributed to the C4 Sands. sedimentary environments.

This thin blocky sand that we interpreted as a storm deposit However there are a few tools and types of data that can be
has been of tremendous help in our correlation exercise and it and have been of some help
was used as datum (Fig.5). Using this storm event as a datum
to correlate the sands above we could see a series of Catastrophic geological events such as large storm deposits
coarsening marine bars dissected by fining upward channel can be very useful and reliable markers for correlation
sands. These channel sands, very well defined in wells did not purposes.
SPE 56558 GEOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTION PROBLEMS SOLVED BY RECOGNIZING THE STRIKE SLIP COMPONENT ON REVERSE
FAULTS, BLOCK 1, LAKE MARACAIBO 3

A Bischke Plot analysis may reveal anomalies previously 7. Sanchez, R., Chatellier, J-Y., de Sifontes, R., Parra, N.and
undetected in wells, some of which may be related to non- Muoz P.: Multiple Bischke Plots Analysis, a powerful method
interpreted faults. to distinguish between tectonic or sedimentary complexity and
miscorrelations; methodology and examples from Venezuelan
oil fields, Memorias del Primero Congreso Latinoamericano de
Drilling problems can be used to identify fault locations and Sedimentologia, Soc. Venezolana de Geologo, Tomo II,
logging problems (up or down) can relate to presence of faults. (Noviembre 1997), p.257-264

Three dimensional visualization allows a quick identification 8. Van Andel, T.H.: Petrography and sources of Eocene sediments.
of potential faults and fault planes and helps validate any In:Compania Shell de Venezuela, Stratigraphic-Paleogeographic
hypothesis (old or newly proposed). Atlas of Western Venezuela, (1956) Map. N . 1848.

The reservoir engineering data started to make sense within 9. Van Veen, F.R.: Ambientes sedimentarios de las formaciones
the context of the new structural model. In any future work we Mirador y Misoa del Eoceno Inferior y Medio en la Cuenca del
Lago de Maracaibo. IV Congreso Geologico Venezolano,
intend to integrate even more this type of information to refine Caracas, 1969, Memoria, Tomo II, p. 1073-1104.
further our geological model.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the following people
for their important contribution to the realization of this work:
Richard Hyde for the seismic interpretation, Alberto Hevia
and Raoul Sanchez for the geological model, Humberto
Serrano and Ramon Gomez for their technical support. We
would also like to thank PDVSA E&P and PDVSA Intevep
for allowing this work to be published.

References

1. Audemard, F.: Tectonics of Western Venezuela. Ph.D. thesis,


Rice University, Houston, Texas, (1991) 245

2. Bischke, R.: Interpreting Sedimentary Growth Structures from


Well Log and Seismic Data (With Examples), AAPG Bulletin,
V.78, No.6 (June 1994), p.873-892

3. Link, M.H., Taylor, C.K., Muoz, N.G., Bueno, E.and Muoz,


P.J.: 3-D seismic examples from Central Lake Maracaibo,
Maraven's Block I Field, Venezuela, in P. Weimer and T.L.
Davis, eds, AAPG Studies in Geology No.42 and SEG
Geophysical Developments Series No.5, AAPG/SEG, Tulsa,
(1996) p.69-82

4. Leon, P., Camposano, C., Moya, R.M. and Brink, G.J.:


Extensional and compressional structural influence upon the
stratigraphic framework of Eocene and Oligocene sequences,
South Lake Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela, San Antonio AAPG
annual Convention (1999) abstract only

5. Lugo, J.: Cretaceous to Neogene Tectonic Control on


Sedimentation: Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela. Ph.D. thesis,
University of Texas, Austin, Texas, (1991) 234p.

6. Porjesz, R., Chatellier, J-Y., Sanchez, R., Sifontes R. and Muoz


P.: Geostatistical methods to validate and choose between
sedimentological and structural interpretations in VLA-31 of
Block 1, Lake Maracaibo, Memorias del Primero Congreso
Latinoamericano de Sedimentologia, Soc. Venezolana de
Geologo, Tomo II, (Noviembre 1997), p.181-190.
4 J-Y CHATELLIER, R. DE SIFONTES, O. MIJARES AND P. MUOZ SPE 56558

Fig.1 VLA-31 block: development wells and old structural Fig.2 New structural interpretation for Block VLA-31:
interpretation A West-East cross-section showing the newly proposed
reverse faults
SPE 56558 GEOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTION PROBLEMS SOLVED BY RECOGNIZING THE STRIKE SLIP COMPONENT ON REVERSE
FAULTS, BLOCK 1, LAKE MARACAIBO 5

Fault 1
Z

Fault 2
Z

Two options
To validate

Fault 3 Y

Fig.3 Faults visualized in a 3-D statistical program using


the abnormally shallow bottom holes
6 J-Y CHATELLIER, R. DE SIFONTES, O. MIJARES AND P. MUOZ SPE 56558

FAULT 3 2.7 6327


FAULT 2

4.1 10496.1

24.1 5439

-7.4 6413.9

-10.9 10499.7

7.3 9056.3

FAULT 1

Fig.4 Fault planes created with Least Square algorithms


SPE 56558 GEOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTION PROBLEMS SOLVED BY RECOGNIZING THE STRIKE SLIP COMPONENT ON REVERSE
FAULTS, BLOCK 1, LAKE MARACAIBO 7

Fig.5 Distribution and spacing of the various environments in


Block VLA-31

Fig.6 Schematic view of the area of Block VLA-31


8 J-Y CHATELLIER, R. DE SIFONTES, O. MIJARES AND P. MUOZ SPE 56558

Pressures
PSI
2500
2400
2300
2200
2100
2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100

Pre-injection pressure map

Fig.8 Map of water cut showing the influence of the newly


interpreted faults

Pressures
PSI
4000
3800
3600
3400
3200
3000
2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200

Injection wells

Post-injection pressure map

Fig.7 Pressure maps before and after injection scheme

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