The In Situ Combustion Pilot Project (ISCPP) to be carried out in the Orinoco Oil Belt (Venezuela), is a technological project leaded by PDVSA Intevep together with several organizations of PDVSA E&P San Tomé. ISCPP is oriented towards the assessment of such thermal process in the increase of recovery factors in heavy (H) and extra heavy (XH) crude oil reservoirs. Although the Orinoco Oil Belt was discovered in the 1930s, it was in the 1980s that the first rigorous evaluations were made. Recently, the area was certificated to contain 235 billions of recoverable (20% of recovery factor) barrels of heavy and extra heavy oil. The ISCPP will allow the study and development of new technologies that increase the current recovery factor in the world’s largest H/XH oil reservoir. This work covers all of disciplines considered in the project, mainly: The analysis of lab combustion tests using two kinds of cells both prepared with sand and saturated with water and XH crude oil at reservoir conditions.The static and dynamic reservoir simulations using Petrel and Star respectively.The design, construction and completion of producers, observers and air injection wells.The study, analysis and development of surface facilities and the gas treatment system and monitoring, which must have to take care of relevant quantities of contaminant gases such as SO2, H2S and CO. Based on this study, the technical and economical feasibility analyses were completed. The cold production is expected to begin during first semester of 2011, while the thermal phase involving air injection, which is the aim of the project, will be implemented throughout the second semester 2011.

The Venezuelan oil industry has begun an exploration and drilling program in the Orinoco Delta, and an intensive research is executed about the feasibility of landspreading as an option to dispose water based drilling wastes (DW) to avoid the contamination of water bodies. The original fluvial marine seasonal floodplain nearby Boca de Uracoa town (9 N, 62, 21' W), was modified after the closure of Manamo distributary, which led to the transformation of the original substrate with high pyrite contain, to acid-sulphate soils. Greenhouse experiments were carried out applying Drilling Waste (DW) equivalent doses of 0, 200, 500, 1000 and 1500 m3/ha to an acid-sulphate soil, using as test plant Zea mays var. PB-8. The results show that the elevated pH of DW (pH of 9.7) neutralizes the very acidic reaction of the acid-sulphate soils (pH 2.85) which is reflected on the higher production of biomass obtained with DW equivalent doses over 500 m3/ha. The Ba content in aerial biomass was below 0.2 g/g in all treatments, while Pb and Zn content were depleted by the parallel application of Phosphoric rock (PR). Concentrations of these elements in the soil equilibrium solution, shows very low leaching and low availability for vegetation. Introduction Development of the oil resources occurring in the tropical swamp forests in Eastern Venezuela in the states of Monagas, Delta Amacuro and Sucre, convey significant environmental challenges for the Venezuelan Oil Industry as well as for its business associates. One of these is related to the future disposal of water based Drilling Waste (DW) made up by cuttings and spent mud components under the following constraints:The absence in this region of consolidated soils were mud pit disposal can be performed,Corporate Environmental Policy that mandates the development of this resources in a cost effective environmentally surgical (minimal impact) way, andThe evolution of environmental regulations that moves towards banning the conventional mud pit disposal methods. There constraints suggest that DW disposal should be dealt within the land reclamation frameworks. In order to proceed with this scheme, two premises are relevant. On one hand DW must be sought as a soil amendment analyzable with soil chemistry and fertility criteria. On the other hand, there are suitable soils (acid-sulphate pH < 3.5), within cost effective distances that could function as harmless stable sinks for disposal of DW (basic, pH >9.0). In order to determine the feasibility of developing a safe landspreading technique for DW, that without harming vegetation growth can involve physical-chemical properties of acid-sulphate soils, a project that includes greenhouse, laboratory and field experiments leading to an operational scale landspreading procedure has been established. Preliminary laboratory results are reported in this paper. Given the above premises, the location, occurrence and relevant properties of acidic and acid sulfate soils of Eastern Monagas and Delta Amacuro state, follows. Description of landscape and soil processes The study area (Fig. 1), that has been chosen for the potential disposal of DW, is located Northeast of the town of Boca de Uracoa, in Monagas state (9 N, 62 21' W). P. 35

The In Situ Combustion Pilot Project (ISCPP) is an ongoing testing effort aimed at assessing the efficacy of this thermal process to increasing recovery factor in the exploitation of heavy oil reservoirs from Orinoco Oil Belt (Venezuela). The process is expected to produce 3 to 7 million cubic feet/d of combustion gases, with an anticipated composition of 20% CO 2 (g) and 80% N2(g). As an option for Carbon Capture and Storage of produced CO 2 , mineral carbonation in caustic byproducts (liquor and red mud) from alumina production was assessed at lab scale. Byproducts were characterized showing pH values 12 -14 and important quantities of NaOH. Caustic liquor and red mud were exposed to gas blends (ambient pressure and temperature) with 10 and 20% CO 2 (g) in N 2 (g), as well as pure CO 2 (g), until reaching pressure stabilization into liquid-gas system. Red mud suspensions with various densities were exposed as well to gas blends during several cycles. Saturation point was reached when consumption of NaOH was completed, resulting in the precipitation of Na 2 CO 3 . Results showed that caustic mud has a CO 2 capture capacity of 7.9 kg CO 2 (g)/m 3 , or 19 kg Na 2 CO 3 /m 3 reaching pH 8.3 at carbonate equilibrium.On the other hand CO 2 capture capacity of the red mud was 87 kg CO 2 (g)/m 3 . Thermogravimetric analysis of red mud (270 -670 °C) shows less than 2% mass loss which is a good indicator of actual CO 2 sequestration. ISCPP will produce around 77000 ton CO 2 (g) in 3 years of operation, and caustic liquor from alumina process will have sufficient capacity for its complete capture. Results revealed the existence of an important sink for CO 2 (g) to be produced in Orinoco Oil Belt, which would diminish as well the hazard of caustic liquor and red mud.

Effects of Single and / or Combined Application of Water and Oil Based Drill Cuttings in a Tropical Agricultural Soil Located in Jusepin Oil Field (Monagas State, Venezuela). Abstract At eastern Venezuela, the oil developments are established mainly in areas with agricultural and cattle arising activities. This compel to an effective and environmentally safe treatment for water (WB) and oil-based (OB) drill cuttings (DC), according to the Venezuelan regulations. In order to determine the effects of individual and combined applications of WS and OB in an acid soil (Ultisol), it was designed and installed on January 1997 a field test in the Jusepin Oil Field (Monagas State). In 9 plots of 0.7 ha. each one, were applied the following treatments (equivalent doses in m3/ha.): WB: 0,125, 250, 500; WB/OB: 90/72, 180/140, 360/280; and OB: 100, 200, 400. Then were applied an adjusted fertilization (N, P, S), complementary amendments and periodical tillage, to stimulate the hydrocarbons biodegradation (TPH). After a 87 days period, the TPH percentage in OB treatments (45.9 %) was smaller than WB/OB (53.3%). Due to the use of CaO at the output of solids control equipment as dryer for DC, sorne soils plots showed high Ca++ and pH, mainly at high DC doses (an over liming effect). Other soil and leacheates parameters (electric conductivity, Cl TPH and heavy metals), were found under the established limits by ad hoc environmental regulation (actually being reviewed). The 500 WB treatment shown both high soil fertility and grasses growth. The results show that is feasible the WB/OB application, being reduced the treatment area for the safe disposal of more than 2000 m3 DC by well.

Since 1995 PDVSA environmental management policies for oil exploration and production activities (E&P), have encouraged significant research in order to safely dispose of drill cuttings (DC) in previously drained and consequently acidified wetland soils from the Orinoco upper Delta, due to the exposure of their underlying pyritic (FeS2) marine clays to more oxygenated environment. These soils with pH <3.5 high exchangeable Al >15 meq/100g.), and low saturation of exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg), are commonly colonized by Cyperaceac weeds. In a field experiment located nearby Varadero de Manamo (Monagas state), the addition and tillage of DC in concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000 m3/ha, produced total reduction of exchangeable Al, as well as pH increase in the range of 5.6 to 6.9. During two years, floristic and successional changes were evaluated. It was observed a progressive substitution of the non palatable sedge cover by useful cattle and wildlife species (Leersia hexandra, Paspalum conjugatum, Oryza rufipogon, Cassia occidentalis, Cassia tora and Axonopus sp.). Net primary productivity changes in the range of 1.7 to 4.6 times over the control plots were found. Changes in soil chemistry, leaching and foliar accumulation of heavy metals are reported. These results show that drill cuttings are a useful resource in the reclamation of wetlands with acid-sulfate soils and for the improvement of regional biological productivity and diversity.