Integrated Laboratory Field Application for Thermal Recovery Process

Abstract

The Bolívar Coast Heavy Oil Fields (Tía Juana, Lagunillas and Bachaquero), located at the eastern onshore area of Maracaibo Lake, Western Venezuela, contain some 37 billion barrels of Oil Originally In Place. The recovery from these three giant fields is 5.5 billions (15% STOOIP), and is expected to reach 7.7 billions (21% STOOIP) under current primary recovery method (Cyclic Steam Injection). It has been estimated that an additional 39% of STOOIP in potential areas for steamflooding could be recovered by this process. Previous conceptual studies, and field projects in Bolivar coast area has showed high recovery factor and marginal economics. Those project were conducted under conventional application of technology. In the last 10 years, technology has evolved in such a way that monitoring can be improved and the performance enhanced for secondary recovery process. These new technologies, such as 4D seismic, Tomography, fiber optic, new approach for steam generation etc., have been tested in different steamflood projects with high impact in the added value. PDVSA E&P has adopted a new approach to carry out technological projects under the philosophy of the Integrated Field Laboratories. This concept is a wider definition of a Pilot Test, since it encompasses the ideas of evaluating a secondary recovery process and performing the corresponding reservoir management. The reservoir management includes the evaluation of different technologies for monitoring and control and the simulation and visualization of the process itself, so injected fluid fronts can be tracked down the reservoir. This will allow the creation of an integrated data base and the use of intelligent information systems in order to predict changes and perform decision analysis. The lesson Learned in this Lab will help us to optimize and become marginal projects into profitable ones. This paper presented the results obtain up to date in the integrated field laboratory that for heavy oil is conducted in W-6 area of Lagunillas Field in the Bolivar coast.