Viscous Oil Production

Technologies for
The Faja del Orinoco

Maurice B. Dusseault

Faja del Orinoco

 API Definitions

Density
API
g/cm
50 Condensate 0,780
Conventional Oil

45 0,802
40 0,825

Light oil
30 0,876

20 0,934
ventional
Non-con-

Heavy oil
Oil

10 1,000
Extra heavy oil (<10000 mPa.s)
Tar sand/Bitumen (>10000 mPa.s)
0 1,076

API: American Petroleum Institute

Faja del Orinoco

 World Viscous Oil Endowment
Probably the total endowment is 11-13 trillion barrels
Venezuela and Canada together have ~30% of this

Heavy
Venezuela HO, XHO:
Conventional
30% 15% Faja del Orinoco:
1.1-1.31012 bbl
Maracaibo Basin:
Extra Heavy ~10-15% of this
and Bitumen
55%
(Canada ~ 1.81012 bbl)

Liquid Petroleum In Situ

OOIP
Faja del Orinoco
 Where is the Viscous Oil Found?
>85% in sands Core from Venezuela
~ 27-32%
Unconsolidated
sands
>55% > 10,000 cP
>80% < 1500 m deep
90% is onshore (?)
Probably >70% in
beds >10 m thick
Faja del Orinoco
Oil sand slopes - Alberta
 Comparing Venezuela and Canada

Faja del Orinoco

 Value of Canadian Experience
Canadian reservoirs are generally more
difficult than the Faja reservoirs
Lower k, thinner zones, higher
Canada has been very aggressive in
development of HO, bitumen
Many concepts have been tested in the
field, new methods commercialized
This experience is of great value in
Venezuelan resource development
We must exploit Canadian experience
Faja del Orinoco
 Carabobo Type Section
Thin marine-
influenced sands
Thick fluvial sands
High oil
saturations
Good permeability
characteristics
What technologies
are optimum for
which zones?
Faja del Orinoco
 Viscous Oil Production Processes

Production Processes

Primary Thermal Non-Thermal

Cold Production Steam Combustion Water Flooding

CHOPS CSS Fire Flooding CO2, Gas Injec.
Flooding THAI Chemical Injec.
SAGD Top Down VAPEX

Hybrid Processes
Sequencing
Faja del Orinoco
 Production Technologies
Cold Production (currently used)
CHOPS Cold Heavy Oil Production with
Sand co-production
SAGD Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage
HCS Horizontal Cyclic Steam
These are the three most likely candidate
technologies for further development
Lets examine them more closely

Faja del Orinoco

 Commercial Projects, Canada

Alberta Saskatchewan
Athabasca Mining
CSS, Peace River oilsands
oilsands SAGD
CHOPS CHOPS
CP CP Cold Lake oilsands
CSS
Wabiskaw SAGD
deposits
CHOPS
Edmonton
Lloydminster Saskatoon

Heavy
Oil Belt
Calgary
Regina

Faja del Orinoco

 CHOPS
Sand is deliberately co-produced with the
viscous oil (0.1 to 5% sand)
A solution gas drive mechanism dominates
Wells operated with aggressive drawdown
Formation transport properties are
enhanced because of sand production
Limited to < ~20,000 cP
Sand must be unconsolidated
No aquifers!
Faja del Orinoco
 Edam Field 31 Well Region

800

700
Production rate, oil or water m3/d

Oil - m3/day

600 Water - m3/day

500

400

300

200

100

0
1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

Faja del Orinoco

 Cumulative oil or water production m3 Edam Field Sand Production

800000 4800
Oil

Cumulative sand production m3

Water 4132.4
Sand 4000
640000 More sand in the 622027.5
well drilling period
3200
528823.4
480000

2400

320000
1600

160000
800

0 0
1980 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005

NOTE: Sand curve is from 13 wells only

of the 31 wells included in the sample
Faja del Orinoco
 Edam Field Well 16-30

40 1.0
Oil
Production rate, oil or water m3/d

Water
Sand
32 0.8

Sand production rate, m3/d

24 0.6

16 0.4

8 0.2

0 0.0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Faja del Orinoco

 Cumulative oil or water production m3
Edam Field Well 16-30

42000 540.0
39019.3

Cumulative sand production m3

Oil 454.9
35000 Water 450.0
30833.9
Sand
28000 360.0

21000 Y 270.0

14000 180.0

7000 90.0

0 0.0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Faja del Orinoco

 CHOPS Effects

altered (improved) zone oil, water, gas + sand

oil
seepage
D oil
seepage

CHOPS process
short oil flow path!
10 vertical exaggeration
Faja del Orinoco
 CHOPS for the Faja?
Thin zones 4-15 m thick
Projected RF = 0.15
Highly suited to develop the thinner
marine-influenced sands (Upper Faja)
These zones have
28-32%, So > 0.80, no water
In Canada, CHOPS currently produces
> 700,000 bbl/day
Conclusion: A suitable Faja technology
Faja del Orinoco
 Progressing Cavity Pump

Belt drive with

torque control Polished rod
Electric motor
(or hydraulic) Production flow line
Well-head assembly

Well casing
(usually 175 mm) Sucker or co-rods in
production tubing
Production tubing
(usually 72 or 88 mm)
Chromed rotor in
fixed stator

Faja del Orinoco

 SAGD
Horizontal wells + steam technology
Flow is gravity dominated (segregation of
phases of different density)
p is kept very low
Must have reasonable kv, kh (> 2D)
Must have a thick zone (>15-20 m)
Thin shales are no problem
Thermally induced shearing, clay dehydration
We can also handle basal aquifers
Faja del Orinoco
 SAGD Schematic

SAGD Facility

EAST

Courtesy Neil Edmunds, EnCana

Oil Producer Steam Injector

Steam Chamber

Slots

Oil Sand Formation

Steam Flow

Oil Flow

Faja del Orinoco

Q:\Facility\SAGD\Sag-0022.cdr
 SAGD Physics Double Wells

overburden
Keep Dp small to
insulated
region maximize stability
CH4 + oil

countercurrent countercurrent
flow steam + oil flow
+water + CH4

q liquid level
lateral steam
chamber extension oil and water

water leg

Faja del Orinoco

 SAGD Production Profiles

Q (rate)
2000 bbl/day

~ 105 cP, z = 600 m

1000 bbl/day

> 106 cP, z = 250 m

5-8 years
Faja del Orinoco
 Is Thickness Sufficient for SAGD
Identify thick single
Seq.
Strat. Architecture

channels in the lower C

Ma
MFS M1 16.8

Upper delta plain

and D zones. If >15 m
these are candidates
MFS M9 17.0

MFS M12 17.1

Find areas where stack

Lower delta plain

MFS M14 17.3

channels are separated

by modest shale layers Top D1 19.1

only (1-2 m) with a

Top D2

Alluvial/Upper delta plain

Top D3

reasonable net pay

Top E1

Top E2

Refine suitability Top F

criteria for SAGD

Base F.
23.8 Cambrian/Cretaceous sedimentary rocks

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 Shale Barriers and SAGD
DV Shales are impermeable to
dehydroxylation?
steam, and behave differently
than sands

dehydration SAGD passes through thin

T shales (DV/DT & t effects)
>125C >300C

fractures
bypassing

I believe shales at least 1.5 m thick can be passed

Faja del Orinoco
 Two SAGD well pairs
Husky Energy
Pikes Peak

Long-stroke Rotaflex pump

pump jack

Steam lines
Injection well

Faja del Orinoco

 SAGD for the Faja?
Zones must be > 15-16 m (if no shale)
Projected RF = 0.60, SOR < 2.0
Highly suited to develop the thick fluvial
sands of the Middle and Lower Faja
With active H2O, pc = pw
Can handle shales up to 1.5-2 m thick
In Canada, SAGD currently produces
about 120,000 bbl/day
Conclusion: A suitable Faja technology
Faja del Orinoco
 CHOPS SAGD?

Sequence: CHOPS, then conversion to SAGD

steam injection
Rapid spreading Converted
occurs when hot zones CHOPS wells
touch disturbed zones

yielded
zone

Converted
HCS wells

Faja del Orinoco

 HCS for the Faja?
Horizontal wells used for cyclic steaming
Injection is above fracture pressure
Fracturing + thermal effects breaks
through shale barriers and baffles
Production phase mechanisms:
p effects
Recompaction drive (thermal shear dilation)

Gravity segregation (steam flashing as p)

No active water!
Two Canadian projects (Shell and CNRL)
Faja del Orinoco
 More HCS Comments
Production phase mechanisms:
p effects
Recompaction drive (thermal shear dilation)

Gravity segregation (steam flashing as p)

Can handle lower permeability than SAGD

Laminated clay-sand sequences, thicker beds
There is a limited experience base at
present (< 3 years)
Best for higher viscosities, generally

Faja del Orinoco

 Horizontal Well Cyclic Steam

Horizontal cyclic steam pad

Surface drilling
and well pad

Wells may be monobores, multi-

exits or multilaterals

Oblique view
Plan view

Faja del Orinoco

 A Possible HCS Configuration

HCS with steam placement tubing Pump jack

-Steam is distributed evenly along the
horizontal well axis
-Liquid level maintained above the
pump

depth Pump Steam tubing

Steam injection, soak, &

slow production to get
heel gravity drainage benefits

Slotted liner section

Faja del Orinoco
 Multi-Wells and Pump Location

Mother well
Production tubing

H
~0.85H
reservoir Daughter wells

Production pump
The single vertical well may
have up to four daughter
wells (more is problematic)

Faja del Orinoco

 Sequenced HCS Approach

On later production
A

B On soak, early production

Block 1
On steam injection
C

1000 m
D Awaiting steam injection

A
On later production
B On soak, early production
Block 2
C On steam injection

D Awaiting steam injection

Faja del Orinoco
 Shell Oil Canada Peace River

Surface
uplift / tilt
data
reservoir inversion grid
with 50x50m grid cells
Multi-lateral
CSS

Faja del Orinoco ref. Nickles New Technology Magazine, Jan-Feb 2005
 Satellite Radar Interferometry

+285 mm
Cold Lake
+200
CSS
-210
Imperial Oil
+100 Vertical
Recompaction drive
+260 displacements
(mm)
+130 mm over 86 days
-165
heave
km subsidence
Faja del Orinoco mod. Stancliffe & van der Kooij, AAPG 2001
 HCS for the Faja?
Many zones > 15-16 m with shaley streaks
Projected RF = 0.30-0.40
Highly suited to develop the thick fluvial
sands of the Middle and Lower Faja
Zones must be free of active water
Can handle shales up to 3 m (?) thick
In Canada, HCS currently produces about
30,000 bbl/day
Conclusion: A suitable Faja technology
Faja del Orinoco
 HCS + CHOPS SAGD

Sequence: CHOPS, then HCS, then conversion to SAGD

steam injection
Rapid spreading Converted
occurs when hot zones CHOPS wells
touch disturbed zones

yielded
zone

Converted
HCS wells

Faja del Orinoco

 Fast SAGD (SAGD + HCS)

Single horizontal well

Initial SAGD chamber operated as a CSS well,
after SAGD pair is mature

breakthrough

countercurrent countercurrent
flow flow
steam + oil
+water + CH4
Startup 2-3 years
after SAGD begins
liquid
level 15-30 m
oil and water

Lateral symmetry 50-75 m

SPE #65509
Faja del Orinoco
 CHOPS, SAGD, HCS?
The similarities between Canada and Faja
HO are very apparent, but
Venezuelan viscosities are much lower
Venezuelan reservoirs are somewhat better

Different zones different technologies

Other technologies are emerging
We can use these methods together
We can use them in a planned sequence
Higher RF should result
Faja del Orinoco
 Maracaibo HO, XHO Asset Region

Main HO & XHO

redevelopment
areas

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of A. Escalona

 General Faja Disposition
NZZ-18X NZZ-9X SDZ-72X SDZ-61X SDZ-64X SDZ-73X SDZ-90X SDZ-107
NZZ-1X Panchita-1 SDZ-20X SDZ-55X SDZ-60X SDZ-78X SDZ-114X SZZ-136
North South

Upper A SB=Unconformity
B
OFICINA

C
D
Middle E
F
Lower G

Location map
SINCOR

Deltaic shaly dominated

Deltaic sandy dominated
Fluvial sandy dominated

No scale between wells 80 Km

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 Reservoir Characteristics
POES
SDZ-2X
-800 ft

A1/2
MFS
DELTAICO

B1/2
500 ft

(47%) MFS

C1
MFS

C2
OFICINA

TS/MFS
-1300 ft

D1D2
FLUVIAL

D3
300 ft

(53%)

E1
AQUIFER
-1600 ft
E2
Discordancia
Cambrian/Cretaceous sedimentary rocks

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 Faja Characteristics

Reservoir depth 400 850 m

Porosity of sands 28 32% (higher figures in error)
Oil zone thickness 3 m to 30-35 m
Permeability 0.5 D to 17 D (channel gravels)
Oil gravity 8.5 - 10API (denser than water)
Oil viscosity (live) 1000 cP to 6000 cP (increasing)
Gas in solution ~2.0 m3/m3 oil/MPa (>95% CH4)
Sands Quartzose, unconsolidated
Temperature 40 - 55C
Initial pressures Almost always hydrostatic (wz)
Bubblepoint Usually pb = po
Compressibility 1-510-6 kPa-1

Faja del Orinoco

 Horizontal Well Technologies
CP suitable for high k zones
Down to 10-15 m if k > 4 D (RF < 0.15)
PPT may help increase rates, RF

HCS suitable for lower k zones (1-4 D)

Fracturing, shear breaks through ~1 m shales
Limited to zones > 15 m thick, RF 0.30 (?)

Later conversion to SAGD to be considered

SAGD best for higher k zones (> 2-4 D)

High RF (>0.60), good rates possible

Faja del Orinoco

 Upper Faja Units A - B
SW NE
VX01S YX02S

B1

B2

2 Km vertical exaggerated scale

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 Mixed Development Scheme

CHOPS
wells

CHOPS CHOPS
-CSS -CSS
CP

Horizontal HCS-SAGD
wells
SAGD Continuous sands

Water sand Water sand

Faja del Orinoco
 Examples from the Faja

Luis Rodriguez
Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP Geologo - Carabobo
 Choosing the Best Technology

SAGD
or
HCS
zone?

CHOPS
zones?
Courtesy of INTEVEP CHOPS
CSS?
Faja del Orinoco
 Lateral Heterogeneity!
OESTE ESTE

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 ~60 m

70 m of Athabasca Oilsands,
= 30%, So = 0.8, > 1,000,000 cP
North of Fort McMurray, Alta
Faja del Orinoco
 Choosing the Right SAGD Zone
These are tentative suggestions only
SB00 SX01S VC00
3.3 Km

W E

HIGHLY HETEROGENEOUS

CHOPS?
SAGD
HCS-SAGD?
SAGD CHOPS?

1.6 Km 1.6 Km

Faja del Orinoco Courtesy of INTEVEP

 Preferred Technologies, Faja
CP, but followed by another technology
Methods to improve CP
SAGD where possible, high RF, lower SOR
If shaley but still thick enough, HCS,
followed by SAGD and/or IGI
Thin zones CHOPS
Intermediate CHOPS + CSS + IGI
Monitoring, other things

Faja del Orinoco

 The Geological Model

Faja del Orinoco

 Thick Channel Sands Axes

Courtesy of INTEVEP
Faja del Orinoco
 Looking at a Rich Section
NE 18,4 Kms SE

Courtesy of INTEVEP

> 500 feet of net pay!

Faja del Orinoco

 What is the Potential?
Some simple calculations show that in very
rich sections, as much as 108 bbl may be
technically recoverable per km2
More reasonably, an average for the Faja
might be 25-30106 bbl/km2
However, the technologies must be
demonstrated in the field in the Faja
CHOPS, SAGD, HCS are not speculative
They have been commercialized in Canada

Faja del Orinoco

 Acknowledgements
INTEVEP geologists have taught me a
great deal about the Faja
Other companies have helped me learn in
Venezuela, China, Kazakhstan
My university is very accommodating
My wife is very tolerant

Faja del Orinoco