The success of a horizontal drilling campaign depends on the implementation of appropriate technologies and procedures to manage uncertainties and risks that may affect the overall economy of the project. This is the case for most fields in the Orinoco oil belt—the largest reserve of heavy oil in the world—which is mainly developed via horizontal drilling. As with other fields in the area, Junin-6 presents special challenges for horizontal well placement. The friable shallow reservoirs include some of the shallowest currently developed in the Orinoco oil belt. The main target sands range in thickness from 30 ft in the Arenas Basales (Basal sands) to 250 ft in the Oligoceno (Oligocene) reservoir. The lateral sections vary from 3,000 to 4,000 ft. This, combined with a high geological complexity, lack of 3D seismic data, and a limited number of correlation wells, makes the horizontal well placement a real challenge in many cases. Advanced logging-while-drilling (LWD) technologies had to be implemented in the challenging cases, such as in the Basal sands reservoir. A proactive approach based on bed boundary mapping technologies, combined whenever possible with point-the-bit rotary steerable systems, is being used to improve horizontal well placement in this field. The main results include net pay increase and cost reduction compared to wells executed with conventional technologies. The risk of unproductive drilling has been considerably reduced, especially in the thinnest formations drilled in this field. The best results were achieved when LWD bed boundary mapping was combined with point-the-bit rotary steerable systems, since this type of technology enabled better well trajectory control, faster execution, longer horizontal sections, and safer completions. This paper presents the main challenges for horizontal well placement in the giant Junin-6 heavy oil field and how they are being addressed with the use of advanced geosteering technologies.

TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThe technology for coiled-tubing-conveyed perforating (CTCP) under extreme conditions has been available for a number of years, but until recently, the techniques have not been used in Venezuela. This paper will describe the first experiences in which CTCP has been used in this area.The first candidate identified for the application was a new well in East Venezuela. This well was the first high pressure, high temperature (HP/HT) highly deviated deep monobore well completed in El Furrial Field in the North Monagas area that was perforated underbalanced with this technology. Although several traditional perforating methods were initially evaluated, the decision was made to perform the operation underbalanced using rig-assisted coiled-tubing technology because of the following advantages that could be realized from use of this method:• Debris in the tunnel would be reduced, minimizing the potential for formation damage. • The debris could be circulated out more easily.• The use of kill fluid to control the well would not be necessary. • By eliminating the cost of the kill fluid and the resulting costs of handling the returned kill fluid, well costs would be reduced. The operation was performed in a live well with a 77degree maximum well deviation and total depth (TD) of 17,907 feet. Several engineering simulations were performed before the job. These simulations enabled the operator and service engineering personnel to quantify the effects of CT fatigue, lockup, stresses, forces, elongation due to weight and temperature, and buoyancy effects. Other important factors considered were safety, health, environment, quality and well control, taking into account all possible contingencies. Finally, nine (9) coiled tubing runs were performed to complete the well, a total of 1,190 ft of 3 3/8-in., 6 shots per foot (SPF) and 2 ¾-in., 6 SPF guns were run. In all of the coiled-tubingconveyed perforating runs, the expended guns were retrieved successfully under live well conditions. To retrieve the guns without killing the well, a subsurface flapper-type safety valve, which enabled the operations to be performed under controlled conditions, was used.Currently, the well is producing 19,621 BOPD through a 1-in. choke and 1,591 psi surface pressure.Production and wellhead pressure expectations for this well were exceeded.

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