SPE 53944
Hydraulic Units in Traditional Areas of Eastern Venezuela.
M. Rampazzo, G. González, A. Ferrer, A. Iraldi and R. Alvarez. PDVSA EyP.
Copyright 1999, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Latin American and Caribbean
Petroleum Engineering Conference held in Caracas, Venezuela, 21–23 April 1999.
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Abstract
The highly lenticular character of the reservoir sands present in
the traditional fields of Eastern Venezuela Basin, led to the
establishment of multiple reservoirs, which were completed
individually for exploitation. This production scheme and the
current low well production rates, result in a low profitability to
maintain these reservoirs active. For increasing productivity,
here it is proposed to complete more than one sand
simultaneously.
In order to determine the possibility of sand layer
communication, the information of six different traditional fields
was reviewed, as a result, the Acema Casma area was proposed
as the best area for a pilot project. This project will be used to
monitor the results of a different completion outline, thus
allowing the establishment of a general plan, to cover other
fields in the traditional Eastern Basin.
According to the well simulation analysis the combined
production of more than one sand, allows to produce the reserves
in a shorter time, increasing in a significant way, the Net Present
Value, and diminishing the risk of well mechanic damage. One
of the big limitations of this study was the lack of enough
reservoir information, for that reason the pilot project includes to
take additional data like well pressure.
Where sand layers are not in communication, commingle
production should be surely evaluated in the future, whenever,
the compatibility of the crudes and the effective production
monitoring is guaranteed. In order to make the appropriate
decision regarding these traditional field exploitation, a detail
reservoir characterization, that includes additional data is
absolutely necessary.
Introduction
The traditional oil producing areas, in the Eastern Venezuela
basin, like the Greater Oficina and Greater Temblador trends
include about one hundred small and medium fields. There are
fields, like Mata, Zapatos, Acema, Oritupano, etc. (Fig. 1) that
globally, still contain important oil reserves, but in most cases,
these reserves are not economic to be produced under the present
conditions. Typically, there are more than 50 thin to medium
sand layers present in a gross interval 1500-4000 ft thick, in the
Oficina Formation (Fig. 2), and these sands are considered
individual reservoirs, so that, according to the present regulation
each layer should be completed/produced individually. The low
production that in general those layers show (50-300 STB/D),
makes it not profitable to drill a well, and some times even to
work over a wells in those fields.
The exploitation in the Oficina formation began here since
1937, when the first discovered well was drilled, and exploration
and production continued in the following years, consequently,
many of the fields are very mature, and the main productive
sands are partially depleted. As a result, some of these fields are
already closed (inactive), even thought they still have important
volumes of reserves. Under these conditions some fields have
been given for PDVSA in operation agreements to other
companies. Some of these companies, have successfully change
the exploitation outline, and the other companies are looking
forward to changing it.
In the light of the facts, the one way to make productive
these fields is to complete more than one sand, and in order to do
that a serious review should be done. It is necessary to study the
possibility of sand layers communication, that allows to simplify
completions, and in other cases, when sand layers are not in
communication, it is necessary to study the possibility to
produce them commingle. In both cases, additional reservoir
information like pressure, core analysis, modern logs,
geochemistry analysis etc., is required., in order to perform a
detail reservoir characterization that allows to make the
appropriate decision regarding reservoir exploitation.
Here it is presented the results of a study that had allowed the
selection of the best area, among 6 traditional PDVSA fields, for
2 M. RAMPAZZO, G. GONZÁLEZ, A. FERRER, A. IRALDI, R. ALVAREZ
carrying out a pilot project that evaluate the completion of more
than one sand together. According to the present study this
change would imply important economic benefits that suggested
to look for similar opportunities in other reservoirs.
Geological Setting
The Eastern Venezuela basin located in the northeastern part of
Venezuela includes two subbasins: the Guarico subbasin in the
West and the Maturin subbsin in the East. The Greater Oficina
and Greater Temblador trends are located in the southern part of
the Maturin Subbasin, South of Monagas and Anzoátegui States,
at north of Orinoco Belt (Fig. 1). Oil is produced here mainly
from sandstones within Oficina Formation (Lower Miocene) and
less part from Merecure Formation (Oligocene) (Fig. 2). Oficina
Formation, consist of, thin intercalation of sandstone layers and
laminated shale. It also occasionally shows coal layer
intercalations that are excellent correlation markers. Most of the
productive sandstone layers show a very thin character 2-40 ft,
but in some cases these sandstones can be 40-90 ft thick. These
layers have been informally named by letters from A-0 to U-1.
The gross interval can be 1500-4000 ft thick. Oficina Formation
has been interpreted as a complex deltaic sediments.1,2
Merecure Formation varies a lot in thickness, 250-1500 ft
and is overlaying a mayor unconformity over the Cretaceous
sediments2. This unconformity separates the sediments deposited
in a passive continental margin setting (Lower Cretaceous to
Middle Eocene), from those sediments deposited during the
foreland basin, developed due to the Caribbean-South American
plate interactions. The compression/transpression between the
Caribbean and South American plates caused overthrusting and
uplift of the Serranía del Interior. The load represented by the
accreted allochthonous belt caused the rapid southward shift of
the position of the periferical bulge, and also reoriented it to
east-west direction3. This event produced a rapid deepening of
shelf which allowed the deposition of a pile of sediments like
Oficina Formation, across a wide area3. Sediments show a
general transgressive trend to South between 30 m.y. and 12.5
m.y., after this, a prograding NE trend is observed until 3.8 m.y.4
All the oils accumulated in the Maturin Subbasin are
genetically related to the type II, marine source rocks of the
Querecual and San Antonio Formations5. Migration proceeded
from north to south, and took place during Lower to Middle
Miocene times, before faulting and folding disrupted lateral
pathways.5
General Reservoirs Description
The oil is trapped for a stratigrafic/structural combination. Most
of the times the accumulations are contained in the upthrown
block of normal faults, that trended in E-W and NE-SW
directions. The combination of thin sand layers that pinched out
occasionally, with the several faults, creates a complex
compartmentalization’s that originates such a great number of
small to medium accumulations. These accumulations show
great heterogeneity in the quality of the rocks, in such a way that
SPE 53944
porosity can vary from 10%-35% in the same way that
permeability that can be from 50 to 1000 mD.
The oils show a wide variety of gravity, from heavy up to
light (8°-57° API), but the medium gravity is the more abundant.
The dominant production mechanism is dissolved gas drive
even when there is weak aquifer activity.
Experiences in the Area
As it was already mentioned, all the companies that have
operation agreements with PDVSA for oil exploitation in
traditional areas of the Eastern Basin, are working in similar
approach for exploitation plans. Some examples are the
following ones: Pérez-Compac, as a result of an integrated
study that included the acquiring and analysis of a series of new
information, developed a new exploitation plan for the
Oritupato-Leona fields and increased considerably their
production.6 This plan consisted on identify groups of sands that
could communicate hydraulically. The consortiums Astra
Quiamare (Quiamare-La Ceiba area) and Arco/Inelectra (Caki-
Maulpa area) and Lasmo (Dación area) are working in pilot
projects to exploit commingle sands production. Additionally,
PDVSA carried out a successful commingle project in some very
mature reservoirs in the Lake of Maracaibo.7,8
Data Review
Some of the traditional fields are closed (inactive) at the
present, others, even thought are keep producing, do not have
modern information or studies. Here, six fields (Acema Casma,
Oritupano Norte, Carisito, Zapatos, Acema 200, and Budare)
that show multiple stratification of reservoir sands with low
production rates by sand, have been considered for selecting a
pilot study. The main objective of this study was to establish the
possibility that groups of these sands could be connected and, in
that way, simplify mechanical completion and increase the
production by well.
The characteristics of each field regarding general
complexity, mechanical conditions of the wells and available
information related with seismic, cores, pressure data and
especially the existence of modern studies, were reviewed. One
of the big limitations in this review was the lack of enough
information, especially reservoir pressures to be able to
determine with reasonable certainty the communication among
sands.
Only two of the fields previously mentioned, Budare and
Aguasay, have 3D seismic information, and this information, is
being analyzed by the multidisciplinary teams working in
reservoir characterization. Reservoir integrated studies are being
carried out in those areas, but the integration to the final
geologic model has not been finished yet. Other areas like
Oritupano Norte, Zapatos and Acema 200 have very limited
modern information.
After comparing all the information of the fields, the Acema-
Casma area was selected as the best candidate to begin a pilot
project that allows to evaluate the feasibility of a new
completion outline, and to extend the experience to other areas.
SPE 53944 HYDRAULIC UNITS IN TRADITIONAL AREAS OF EASTERN VENEZUELA.
The reason for that decision is that even thought, this area has a
limited basic information, it is a small area that already has a
new defined geologic model and a reservoir simulation model is
being carried out. Besides, a plan for additional pressure data,
had already been designed by the reservoir study team working
in the area.
During this first stage, the possibility of implementing a
commingle production was not analyzed, since it requires a
complete analysis that includes a systematic plan for taking
additional information, however, the commingle production will
be surely evaluated in the future.
Pilot Area
The Acema Casma field presents, in general, different pressures
among individual sands. When small, these changes of pressures
can be partly associated to geologic events of sedimentary
character like different sand thickness, shale layers, and lateral
variations of petrophisical properties among the sands.
Although, there is a clear evidence of the effect of geologic
events in the vertical and lateral pressures variation in some
located areas, it is not possible to generalize whether or not it is
truth for the whole field, due to the limited information. This
limitation makes very difficult the analysis of different
alternatives for producing sand packages, and for that reason
additional pressure information is absolutely necessary.
Based on the production behavior and the limited pressure
information it seemed to indicate that three of the sands of
Acema-Casma (H-3, H-4, an H-5), could be vertically connected
(Fig. 3). There is not core information in the area, that allows to
create a model that guide the connectivity among different sand
bodies. According to the stratigrafic correlation of well logs,
those three sands are separated by thin shale layers, which could
be locally eroded by small channel bodies allowing vertical
communication (Fig. 3), like in the model interpreted in the
Oritupano area.6
There are very few recent pressure information to make
reliable analysis. However, with the available data of Acema
Casma field, two simulations or production scenarios for the
three producers units (H-3, H-4 and H-5) were made. The result
of these simulation were compared to a basic case scenario. In
the basic case, each sand unit was single produced until its
economic cut off. The characteristic of the simulation are
described as follows:
1.- Optimistic scenario:
According to this plan, the three sands were produced together,
assuming that they belong to the same hydraulic unit. That is,
with equal pressure depletion and equal production decline. For
this scenario, a 10 years production plan was setting. The results
were compared with a basic case, where each sand unit was
single produced using equal pressure depletion and equal
production decline. The results show that after 10 years, the
accumulated oil production for the first case, was 450,119 STB
more than the basic case (Fig. 4). Comparing the accumulation
oil production curves, the total production of the basic case was
1.1 MMSTB after 30 years, while, with the combined
3
production the same production is reached after only 16 years
(Fig. 4).
The economic impact of this difference indicated that
assuming a $12/barrel, the Net Present Value (NPV) is 4.5 times
higher than the single layer production. Additionally, the shorter
time production, reduces the risk of well damages due to
mechanical problems.
2.- Pessimistic scenario:
This scenario considers that the sand (H-3U) deplete so quick,
that could originate crossed flow. For such reason, the
combined production was calculated considering only the sands
H-4 and H-5. These two sands are produced until their economic
cut-off, and after this point the H-3U start to be produced (Fig.
5). The results of this simulation were compared with a basic
case, where each sand is single produced with different pressure
depletion and production decline. In this case, a total
accumulative production of 700 MSTBO is obtained after 23
years, the same production is reached 4 years earlier when H-4
and H-5 are produced together (Fig. 5).
With these simulations, the technical and economic
advantage of producing more than one sand is highly
evidenced. In second instance, having optimized the production
in terms of hydraulic units, the second phase is to move to
commingle production, whenever, the compatibility of the
crudes and the effective production monitoring is guaranteed.
Commingled Production:
After the increase of the productivity through Hydraulic Units,
the second stage corresponds to complete diverse units of flow
for commingled production. The main inconvenience for the
combined production is the control that is taken over the
production and the compatibility of the fluids (oil and water). If
the oils are incompatibly, asphaltenes precipitation will be
occurred, while incompatible waters can precipitate carbonates.
In order to prevent this damage, a geochemical study is required
to determine the compatibility among fluids. On the other hand,
geochemical characterization (fingerprint) of the oils is needed
in order to monitor the production. At the present, with the study
of oil composition, saturated, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes
(SARA), and Biomarkers, and using organic geochemical tools
like fingerprints and clusters analysis, the commingled
production of the mixture of at least two different oils can be
quantificated (Fig. 6). At the moment, PDVSA-Intevep works on
the development method which is able to elucidate a mixture of
more than two different oils. This tool will allow to figure out
the production percentage coming from the different producer
sands. This technological advance will result in a great impact in
the administration and monitoring of the reservoirs.
The geochemical information for the oils of the six fields
mentioned in this study is very scare. However, some of the
reservoir crudes in the eastern basins have been studied
geochemically. According to the Ref. 5 all the crude oils of the
north and south part of the Maturin sub-basin are genetically
related. This is a encourage point to begin geochemical studies
for commingled production.
4 M. RAMPAZZO, G. GONZÁLEZ, A. FERRER, A. IRALDI, R. ALVAREZ
The first step to go to the phase of commingled production is
the oil geochemical analysis of each producer sand in order to
characterize them. Using the characterized oils, artificial mixture
of samples are made for monitoring production analysis.
The recommendation is to repeat the analysis of the crude
oils after six month in order to verify the analysis technique, and
to carry out PLT tests to compare the resulted production
percentages to those obtained in the laboratory.9
According to Ref. 7 commingled production should be
recommended in the following situations:
1.-When reservoir pressures and reserves are extremely low,
so that, they are not economic for commercial exploitation.
Additionally, it accelerates the production in a way that it is not
necessary to wait for the complete depletion of one layer to
begin with other one.
2.- In mature reservoirs, where water injection is taking
place, it is possible to reduce the production rate by layer
without sacrificing the total well rate, in order to avoid water
fingering.
3.- In reservoir vertically separated for small distance and
with similar production mechanisms, commingled allows stable
pressure and stable production behavior of the different layers. It
could result in a bigger Pwf for each sand, and it could
diminish sand production.
To conclude, the advantage of commingled production is
demostrated in Fig. 7, where simulation of a commingle process
indicates that the same accumulated oil is obtained in a shorter
period of time, therefore, the risk of missing reserves due to
mechanic damage is diminished, and a bigger NPV is obtained.
Conclusions
1. According to the revision of the information of the six fields
here considered, Acema-Casma was selected as the best area to
begin a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of a new
exploitation outline, and extend the experience to other areas.
2. One of the big limitations of this study was the lack of
enough reservoir information, especially, pressure data to be
able to determine communication among different sand layers,
in order to decide their combined completion.
3. Based on the well simulation exercise, carried out in the
Acema-Casma area, the combined production would increase
the NPV until 4.5 times.
4. In the initial pilot project here proposed in Acema-Casma,
the possibility of implementing a commingled production was
not analyzed, since it requires a complete study that includes a
systematic plan for taking additional information, however, the
commingle production will be surely evaluated in the future,
whenever, the compatibility of the crudes and the effective
production monitoring would be guaranteed.
5. Most of the companies that have operation agreements
with PDVSA, have increased well oil production, in the
traditional fields of the Easter Basin, changing the conventional
completion outlines, to commingled completion and to
combined production of different sands that are communicated.
SPE 53944
Recommendation:
1. In order to carry out the project pilot in the Acema Casma
area, the required additional pressure information plan, should
be executed.
2. It is absolutely necessary to take additional information
(pressure data, core, seismic 3D, geochemistry, etc.) that allow
to characterize these traditional reservoirs in a very detailed
way, in order to select the appropriate exploitation plan that
make profitable this reservoir.
References
1. Hedberg, H. D., Sass L. C. And Funkhauser, H. J., 1947.
Oilfields of Greater Oficina Area, Venezuela. AAPG Gull.,
vol. 28, p. 1-28.
2. Gonzalez de Juana C., Arozena J.and Picard X. C., 1980.
Geología de Venezuela y sus Cuencas Petrolíferas.
Ediciones FONINVES, Caracas.
3. Pindel, L. J., Higg, R. and Dewey, J. F., 1998. Cenozoic
Setting of the Northern Margin of South America:
Paleogeographic Evolution and Non-Glacial Eustacey.
SEPM Spetial Publication N° 58.
4. Chevalier, Y., Gonzales, G., Mata, S., Santiago N., and
Spano G., 1995. Estratigrafía Secuencial y Tectónica del
Transecto El Pilar-Cerro-Negro, Cuenca Oriental de
Venezuela. VI Congreso Colombiano del Petróleo.
5. Talukdar, S., Galango O., and Ruggiero R., 1988.
Generation and Migration of Oil in the Maturin Sub-basin,
Eastern Venezuela Basin: Organic Geochemistry, v. 13,
p.537-547.
6. Perez Companc. Estudio Integrado del Campo Oritupano,
1998. El Tigre Edo Anzoategui.
7. Ferrer, F., 1994 Producción Conjunta de Yacimientos.
Informe EPC-13534. Maraven, SA Gerencia de Producción
Caracas.
8. Ferrer, F. And Valdez, L., 1996. Informe Final de la Prueba
Piloto de Producción Conjunta de Yacimientos. Informe
EPC-14020. Maraven S.A. Gerencia de Produccion.
Caracas.
9. Alberdi M. and Toro, C., 1995. Generación de Técnicas
para la Descripción de Yacimientos. Metodología
Geoquímica para Cuantificar Porcentajes de Crudo en
Producción Combinada.
SPE 53944 HYDRAULIC UNITS IN TRADITIONAL AREAS OF EASTERN VENEZUELA. 5

Fig. 1. – Study Area Location.

EPOCH Fm. Log-Type

800
ft.

Fig. 2. –Log type of Oficina Formation.

6 M. RAMPAZZO, G. GONZÁLEZ, A. FERRER, A. IRALDI, R. ALVAREZ SPE 53944

Fig. 3. –Stratigrafic section Pilot Area, showing the three simulated flow units.

1200

1000

800 450119
MB

600 Relative NPV= 4.5

400
H5 H3U H4
200

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
años
Singled Combined

- Equal depletion pressure. - Equal production decline.

Fig. 4. – Optimistic Scenario. Simulation Result.
SPE 53944 HYDRAULIC UNITS IN TRADITIONAL AREAS OF EASTERN VENEZUELA. 7

800
106019
700
600
H3
500
MB

400
H4 + H5
300
200
100
H3 H5 H4
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
years
Singled Combined

- Different depletion pressure. - Different production decline.

Fig. 5. –Pessimistic Scenario. Simulation Result.

Producing
interval

Type A Oil

Type B Oil

Fig. 6. –Fingerprints Characterization of two different crudes.

8 M. RAMPAZZO, G. GONZÁLEZ, A. FERRER, A. IRALDI, R. ALVAREZ SPE 53944

1000

Production (B/D)
800
Commingled 3 layers
600

400
3 layers production

200

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Years
Fig. 7. –Production comparations between commingle and single layers (from Ref.7).