SPE-171091-MS

CSS Performance in Sands of Samaria Tertiary Field, Mexico

Maria G. Aguilar, SPE; Eliseo Mares Robles and Carlos M. Cabra Garduza, PEMEX; Oscar Osorio Peralta,
UNAM

Copyright 2014, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Heavy and Extra Heavy Oil Conference - Latin America held in Medellin, Colombia, 24 26 September 2014.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
In this paper shown the results obtained in the Extra Heavy Oil Samaria Tertary Field by Ciclic Steam
Stimulation (CSS) along almost 6 years. We have identified the major variables affecting the process; the
thickness of the sand has been identified as the principal parameter to affect the performance of CSS
process. It has been found that the temperature decline in thermal production from 35 days to 200 days.
For thin thickness loses energy about 40% and for net thickness upper 15 m loses energy about 10% from
overburden and underburden formations.
Our primary interest was to optimize present operations and to find infill wells. Actually the recovery
factor is 2.3; with the development plan has optimizate with the understanding of the CSS performance
in the field, with recovery factor increment from 6.93 to 8.8 in the next three years.

Introduction
In Mexico have important reserves of heavy and extra heavy oil, a example of this is Samaria Tertiary
field, located to 17 km of Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico; the field was discovered in 1961 after drilling
of the well SA-2, was drilled to a depth about 800 m; its produced 94 STB/day of oil with 7 API1. The
field originated in a fluvial environment; 4 sands was indentified as A-0, A-1, A-4 and A-6; the depth
sands are from 600 to 1200 m; contains extra heavy oil with range of API gravity between 6 to 10 API;
the dead oil viscosity ranges from 4220 to 76986 cp @ 37.8 C; the initial reservoir pressure was 1337
psia at a depth of 700m; the reservoir temperature was 48C. Actually the original oil in place is estimated
at 508 MMSTB with 3P reserves of 79.1 MMSTB.
In 2006 was developed project called Delimitation and Initial Characterization of Heavy Oil Field
Samaria Neogene2, in which dictates the importance of this reservoir and recommended to do pilot steam
injection project was designed to understandod the possibilities for implementation the CSS process as the
principal operation scheme of field. The pilot project was determined in 18 months with drilled 8 wells,
and injected at least 2 cycles of steam. In May/2009 started the ejecution of pilot project with the drilling
of well SA-916 and Dec/2009 started injection steam; the production increasing from 88 STB/day of cold
production to 996 STB/day of thermal production. By successful results it was decided in 2011 to do a
massification project of CSS in the field, defining the overall strategy of explotation of field, in Oct/2011
that began with the drilling of 51 wells in the project called Massification Project; in this stage it was

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 1Historical extra heavy oil production rate and active producing wells of Samaria Tertary Field.

Figure 2Samaria Tertary zones and type logs.

possible to reach a production of 7000 STB/day with 34 active producing wells. Actually developing a
second stage where drilled 130 wells called Interspaced Project. In Jun/2014 produce 22100 STB/day.
Therefore, there have been accumulative oil 0.225 MMSTB from cold production and 11,475 MMSTB
of thermal production, which means a acumulative production of extra heavy oil of 11.7MMSTB and
recovery factor of 2.3. Fig. 1 is a plot of extra heavy oil production rate and active producing wells vs
date, the low recovery in the aerly years was attributed to cold production in a pilot project; from
Dec/2009 CCS results in quicker production response.

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 3Performance of wellhead temperature and oil rate observed in first, second and third cycle in well SA-988 (net thickness 5m) as result of
change viscosity oil by CSS.

Reservoir Geology
The Samaria Tertiary Extra-Heavy oil field produces from three sands A-1, A-4 and A-6. These sands
were deposited in a braided river environment and have porosities about 30% and high permeabilities
from 5 to 15 darcys. The reservoir sands are interbedded with clay, which may be barriers to fluid flow.
The reservoir is divided into several reservoir zones, these individual sand bodies, wich are tipically 4 to
40 m thick and are separated by correlatable clay layers. The reservoir depth is 600 to 1200 m. Fig 2 shows
a schematic correlation of the sands and types logs. However, not all zones show in Fig 2 exists throughout
the field.
Detailed geologic model were contructed for the project are on basis of seismic 3DHD. The project area
is 7.9 km2, it consists of 302 wells and of wich 94 are produces in sands of extra heavy oil field. Actually,
the high well density at field provided good well control for detailed geological model. This model helps
to understand the complex geology and to find the new locations for new wells.

Fluid Characterization and Viscosity Behavior vs Temperature

From five PVT lab analyses, taken in the three sands of extra heavy oil field, was made the fluid
characterization. The extra-heavy oil has saturation presure is 512 psia, the oil relative volumen is 1.03
STB/bbl and gas oil ratio is 55.08 scf/STB. The oil density are 6 to 10 API, molecular weight are 488
to 687 lb/lb-M, oil compressibility is 3.8669106 psi1, oil expansion coefficient is 0.00062562 1/C
and oil specific heat is 1.16 J/gC.
In extra-heavy oils the property has the greatest impact for the production in the wells is the viscosity.
The oil viscosity is inversely proportional to temperature, when the temperature increases, viscosity
decreases. Less viscous oil results in greater mobility. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the performance of wellhead
temperature and oil rate observed, the oil rate is directly proportional to temperature, when the temperature
decreases, the oil rate decreases, as result of change in the viscosity.
Reservoir temperature management is recognized as fundamental to the long term efficient operation
in this field. A significantly higher degree of control over the reservoir temperature is possible with real
time surface temperature monitoring equipment installed in the wellhead producer wells. CSS performance is monitored by reading temperature profile data not only at the well injectors but also at the
producer wells.

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 4 Performance of wellhead temperature and oil rate observed in first, second and third cycle in well SA-922 (net thickness 30m) as result
of change viscosity oil by CSS.

Cycle Steam Stimulation Process

The CSS is a single well process that consists of 3 stages called cycle. The step 1 (injection stage), steam
was generally injected into sands reservoirs for about 6 to 48 days and distribute the injection heat in the
neighborhood of the well; the step 2 (soak stage), the well was shut-in for about 7 days and the injected
steam penetrate into the reservoir broader; and finally the step 3 (production stage), the well is put on
production for about 1 year, until the low oil rate was reached. The cycles were repeated until the process
was no longer economic; in this case, there were about 10 cyclies.
As a result of the pilot project, during the injection stage the average injecting is 240 tons of steam per
day with 80% steam quality, 1,508 equivalent cold water STB/day, a maximum pressure of 2200 psi and
a temperature of 340 C. Injected 150 to 200 tons per meter shot.
After the injection stage were obtained successful results in all wells increase significantly the oil
production, in thermal production from 150 to 1200 STB/day. Actually we have 94 active producting
wells of extra heavy oil and have already gone through the first injection cycle, 41 wells have a second
cycle, 7 wells have third cycle and 1 well have a fourth cycle; actually all wells are thermal producers.

Monitoring Program
The monitoring program included gathering data on injection: pressure, temperature, rates and steam
quality of steam injection. For production: pressure in tubing, pressure in casing and wellhead temperature. The results from the monitoring program were extremely valuable in timely diagnosis an interpretation of an individual well performance. They significantly helped reduce the time and effort associated
with speculations on what might be taking place within the reservoir during CSS process.
Quick analysis and interpretation of temperature traces for the long time period allows evaluating
inflow profile distribution. It will cause to the strong basis for the next well interventions wich help to
solve exhisting well issues and bring additional vale to the monitoring. Proper evaluation an interpretation
on monitored results include: update of the geological model, project performance curves, multizone
allocation, recovery efficiency and energy balance. Tipically remedial action includes calculation of
volume steam injection.

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Figure 5Pressure, temperature and density profiles of PLT in injection, soak and production stages of well SA-946.

Figure 6 Energy balance of thin sands (below 9m).

In steam based thermal recovery operations during production, the knowledge of reservoir temperature
and its trend is very important. Because, not only it shows if the stimulation has been effective, but also
it helps to determine if the production is suffering from lack of mobility due to decreasing temperatures.
Pressure Temperature profiles for injection, soak and production stages
The well SA-946 encountered 24 m of net thickness (921 934 md and 991 1002 md). Fig. 5 shows
that measured pressure, temperatura and density fluid profiles in injection, soak and production stages
from production logging tool. The injection profile shows the wellhead temperature on 304 C and the
wellbore on 298 C, only lose 6 C. The soak profile shows the wellbore temperature on 251 C at
perforated zone 921 934 md, data below 940 m appear to have affected by condensation water until
perforated zone at depth 1000 m. The production profile shows the wellbore temperature on 173 C and

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 7Energy balance of sand upper 15m of net thickness.

Figure 8 Wellhead temperature of sands less than 9m of net thickness5.

the wellhead temperature on 157 C, only lose 16 C this because of the gas lift injection; on this date the
system surface temperature monitoring showed the wellhead temperature on 140 C. The heat losses are
minimal in the well due to use of isothermal tubing. Similar results have been observed in several
production logging in 70 wells of field3. These results showed that the surface monitoring are confidence
data for understanding the behavior of temperature in wells.

Energy balance performance

During six years of implementation of CSS process in the field, we have identified many variables that
affect the process. The injected pressure, injected temperature, steam quality are the parameters in the
steam generators that are controlled depending on the number of cycle in well. Because type of oil and
low pressure in the reservoir is necessary use the artificial lift. In thermal production stage has been

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 9 Wellhead temperature of sands from 10m to 15m of net thickness5.

Figure 10 Wellhead temperature of sands from 16m to 20m of net thickness5.

identified that while the temperature is above 80 C, the gas lift is the most efficient to use and below
that value use the rod pumping to final part of the well production before starting with a new cycle4.
The results of steam injection under differents net thickness were show in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. The results
showed that the injection steam had differents loss heat from overburden and underburden, for thin sands
(below 10m) these loses heat can be until 40% of injected energy, otherwise with sands of net thickness
with 15 m these loses heat can be until 10%. For thin sands the solution has been increased from 150 t/m
to 250 t/m until 400 t/m to reduce losses as much as 30%.
Wells of thin sands loss the temperature in 35 days (see Fig. 8), which to return to original condition
and flow assurance loses, as can see in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. As mentioned above the wells have a cycle
average year; if reducing the cycle in 6 months or 3 months, the production of these wells not increase
significantly; thinner sands result in a higher steam-oil ratio (until 9). They are generally considered

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 11Wellhead temperature of sands from 21m to 30m of net thickness5.

Figure 12Wellhead temperature of sands from 31m to 40m of net thickness5.

unrecoverable with current commercial thecnologies when then sands net thickness is less than 9m.
Therefore, are wells with not priority to stimulation, and are taken into account only by the flow assurance
management in streams from several wells or the management of steam generator logistics.

Wellhead temperature performance

The results of CSS under different effective thickness were show in Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12 and
Fig. 13. From these plots and the understanding which have been development over the years, it is
apparent that net thickness for a successful of CSS is influenced by optimization of operation strategies
and the reservoir properties where the CSS is applied. These plots show that5:
y 4 to 9 m of net thickness, the cycle is 35 days.
y 10 to 15 m of net thickness, the cycle is 50 days.
y 16 to 20 m of net thickness, the cycle is 60 days.

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Figure 13Wellhead temperature of sands from 41m to 80m of net thickness5.

y 21 to 30 m of net thickness, the cycle is 100 days.

y 31 to 40 m of net thickness, the cycle is 150 days.
y 40 to 80 m of net thickness, the cycle is 200 days.
With time, the heated zone temperature declines as a result of heat removed with the produced fluids
and conduction losses to overburden/underburden formations, as show in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Oil rate decline
as the heated zone temperature and oil viscosity decreased, as show in Fig. 3. When the production or
temperature declines to a predetermined level, another cycle of steam injection must be initiated.

Optimization of Development Plan

The current development plan has 57 infill wells and 340 thermal stimulations at Apr/2017, the forecast
production results in a 6.93 of recovery factor with a 2.06 of OSR (see Fig. 14). In order to understand
the CSS process is to optimize hydrocarbon recovery through the thermal production. The objetive of
reservoir engineering team of this project, day to day was optimize the development plan, for example,
with the steam generator logistics at 18/Jun seeks to increase the recovery factor of 7.37 with 2.55 of OSR
(see Fig. 14).
The steam generator logistics are complex, because there are 9 mobile steam generators and aims to
steam inject about 150 producing wells that are in the development plan. The operations conditions of
artificial lift, the space in the well path, the flow assurement stream by several wells in well paths, the
performance of CSS process by well, are the main factors affecting the steam generator logistics.
As results of CSS process in the field, the forecast production results in a 7.81 of recovery factor with
a 1.53 of OSR (see Fig. 14), this is by ensuring that at least all producing wells reach a fifth cycle with
actually operations conditions. Finally, in what might be called the temperature optimization project, by
reduction of time for each cycle, as show in Fig. 8 to Fig. 13 the forecast production results in 8.8 of
recovery factor with a 1.05 of OSR (see Fig. 14).

10

SPE-171091-MS

Figure 14 Forecats production for development plans with differents steam generators logistics.

Conclusions
Extra Heavy Oil Samaria Tertary Field has different sands net thickness ranges from 4m to 80m. The
results show that for thin sand the temperature declines in 35 days and the oil returns to the initial
conditions of viscosity decreasing mobility. This does not mean that this process cannot be applied in thin
sand, but other parameters must be considered that may be relevant to the type sand formation.
Is apparent that net thickness for a successful of CSS is influenced by optimization of operation
strategies and the reservoir properties where the CSS is applied. Its necessary to reduce cycle time as
decrease temperature.
The pressure temperature logs from the different phases have been invaluable tools in helping to
ensure an accurate assessment of the wells performance and providing a better understanding of the
effective distribution of steam injected into the different sand bodies. The heat losses are minimal in the
well due to use of isothermal tubing. These results showed that the surface monitoring are confidence data
for understanding the behavior of temperature in wells.
The results showed that the steam injection had different heat loss from overburden and underburden
for thin sands (below 10m) the heat loss can be up to 40% of the energy injected otherwise wells over the
15 m net thickness heat loss can be up to 10%. For thin sands the solution has been increased from 140
t/m to 400 t/m to reduce losses by up to 30%.
Planning and developing a successful CSS in Samaria Tertary Project; our primary interest was to
optimize present operations and to find infill wells. Actually the recovery factor is 2.3; with the
development plan has optimizate with the understanding of the CSS performance in the field, with
recovery factor increment from 6.93 to 8.8 in the next three years.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thanks Proyecto de Explotacion Samaria Somero of Activo Samaria Luna for
permission to publish this paper.
Nomenclatures
MMSTB
STB/day

million stock tank barrel.

stock tank barrel per day.

SPE-171091-MS

m
Psia
STB/bbl
scf/STB
km2
C
t/m
cp
OSR
md

11

meters.
pounds per square inch absolute.
stock tank barrel per barrel reservoir.
starndart cubic feet per stock tank barrel.
kilometer square.
degress Celsius.
tonnes per meter shot.
centipoises.
oil steam ratio
measured depth

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1. Prueba de inyeccin de Vapor en el Pozo Samaria 2 Campo Samaria Pesado Negeno. PEMEX
1962.
2. Arteaga-Cardona, M. et al. 2011. Samaria Neogeno Exploitation Plan: FEL Approach and Pilot
Test Implementation Paper SPE 150318 presented at the SPE Heavy Oil Conference and
Exhibition, Kuwait City, 1214 December.
3. Cabra, C. M. et al. 2014. Increasing the Profitability of Extra-Heavy Oil Wells with Cyclic Steam
Injection in the Samaria Neogeno Field by Using Injection Profiles Logged under Extreme
Temperature Conditions Paper presented at the World Heavy Oil Congress, New Orleands, 5
7 March.
4. Gutierrez-Jimenez, H. M. et al. 2013. Results From Anular Injection in Heavy and Extra Heavy
Oil Wells Producing With Rod Pumping in the Samaria Field: A Field Test Paper SPE 165069
presented at the SPE Artificial Lift Conference Americas, Cartagena, Colombia, 21 22 May.
5. Aguilar-Aguilar, M. G. et al. 2014. Importancia del Espesor de la Arena en el Proceso de
Inyeccion Alterna de Vapor en el Campo Samaria Somero Paper presented at Congreso
Mexicano del Petroleo 2014, Acapulco, Mexico, 4 #x2013; 7 June.