SPE 75201
Reservoir Management of the El Furrial Field – Venezuela under Enhanced Oil
Recovery Process
Isaura Echeverría Araque, PDVSA, S.A. Gerard Auxiette, Beicip Franlab.
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium
held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 13–17 April 2002.
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Abstract
El Furrial field, is located in the north of Monagas
State and was discovered in 1986. It originally contained
around 7.5 billions STOIIP. The field is approximately 13
km long and 7 km wide. It produces from two main formations
identified as the Naricual and Cretaceous Formations. The
gross thickness of the two reservoirs is more than 2100 ft. The
oil composition in the Furrial Field changes rapidly with depth
from that of a conventional oil (28 °API) at the top of the
formation to that of an immovable tarmat, at the base of the
reservoir. Mainly as a result of the increasing asphaltene
content of the crude.
PDVSA has devoted intensive engineering studies to
define the optimum development strategy and to maximise
final recovery. As a result of these studies, production
mechanisms were identified early and a reservoir pressure
maintenance program was defined to increase the recovery and
to sustain production. Simultaneously with the implementation
of a waterflood project, engineering studies were continued to
determine the feasibility of a gas-injection alternative. These
studies showed that complement to the water-injection
program and it will increase cumulative oil recovery by
around 7.5 % OOIP.
Additional mechanistic studies concerning the WAG
process for the downdip flanks have been done. The results
from these shows increase in the recovery factor by about 7 to
10 % OOIP, due to the miscible gas effect.
The studies involve, extensive laboratory work,
geostatistical and deterministic reservoir descriptions and
cross-sections compositional and black-oil miscible simulation
models, to define the best recovery process. At this moment
water and gas injection processes are already implemented and
are at present injecting about 458 MBWPD and 393
MMSCFD. A mechanistic WAG pilot project is ongoing.
Introduction
El Furrial field is located in the state of Monagas,
Venezuela, approximately 25 Km west of Maturin City, and
was discovered by the well FUL-1 in February 1986. This well
was completed in the Lower Naricual Formation
(Tertiary age).
The initial oil in place (STOOIP) is estimated in the
Naricual Formation around 7 billion STB. The discovery well
FUL-1 found oil of 28ºAPI gravity. The initial reservoir
pressure was 11,258 psi at 13,800 feet subsea, and at average
reservoir temperature of approximately 300ºF. This indicates
that the reservoir was initially over-pressured.
Initially, the production mechanism was natural
depletion under rock-fluids expansion. The field produced
from two reservoirs identified as the Naricual (Tertiary age)
and the Cretaceous (Cretaceous age) Formations. The gross
thickness of the two reservoirs is around 2,100 ft. The average
porosity is 13% and the average permeability is around 300
md (see Table 1).
The pressure maintenance scheme of the Naricual
Reservoir in the Furrial field was initially through peripheral
water injection. The volume of water injected increased from
400 MBD in 1992 to 550 MBD. At the end of 1998, a miscible
crestal gas injection project was initiated, and planned to inject
450 MMCFD. As a result of these pressure maintenance
projects, the final oil recovery has been estimated at 3210
MMBls or 47% of the OOIP.
The initial development plan was based on the
assumption that the Naricual reservoir consisted of three main
2 I. ARAQUE, AND G. AUXIETTE
separate units: Upper Naricual, Middle Naricual and Lower
Naricual. These units along with the underlying hydrocarbon
bearing Cretaceous reservoir required wells with separate
completions to maximise the oil production.
By 1994 however, it became clear that the Upper Naricual
and the Middle Naricual were part of the same reservoir pool.
This was clear from the reservoir pressure seen during the
depletion and from a reinterpretation of structure.
Reservoir characteristics
Geological Description
The Furrial field is located in the eastern province of
Venezuela, within the Maturin sub-basin. It is limited to the
north by the Jusepín oil field and to the south by the Furrial
thrust belt; Eastwards, it is limited by the Corozo field and to
the west limited by the Carito field (see Fig. 1).
El Furrial represents the major oil producing field in the
eastern province; it comprises a 2200-feet-thick sedimentary
section, which it has been divided into 3 major oil reservoirs
called from base to top as Cretaceous, Lower Naricual and
Upper Naricual (see Fig. 2).
Structurally, the Furrial field constitutes an
asymmetric ramp anticline oriented N 70 E. In the area two
major fault patterns are seen (see ref. 12); the principal one is
identified by:
1. A low-angle reverse fault system, represented by El
Furrial, Carito and Jusepín thrust belts, and
2. A strike-slip fault system represented by the transference
zones of Carito, Furrial and Corozo areas.
The secondary fault pattern is identified by:
1. A high-angle reverse fault system oriented N 70 degrees
E, with a throw of 50 to 200 feet, and
2. A high and low-angle normal fault system oriented NE-
SW and NW-SE, with 50 to 400 feet of throw. Towards
the south flank it is generally more than 200 feet.
The sedimentology and the stratigraphy are quite
heterogeneous within the field, especially in the upper
Naricual reservoir, which it is the best oil producer. From base
to top, the first reservoir (Cretaceous) is dated as late
Cretaceous and comprises an average of 650 feet of fluvio-
deltaic sediments, with some tidal influences. Deposited in a
passive margin setting with a provenance from the Guyana
shield towards the south (see ref. 11). Stratigraphic correlation
is high complicated due to the low occurrence of continuous
shaly markers within the field. A thick-shale section, called
Areo, is located between the Cretaceous and the Lower
Naricual reservoirs. This shaly section is of marine origin and
SPE 75201
represents a very continuous stratigraphic marker within the
Maturin sub-basin.
The Lower Naricual reservoir is partially dated as
late Cretaceous and comprises a 650-feet-section mainly
composed by deltaic deposits such as distributary channels
and mouth bars. Sediment provenance is from the south.
Towards the top, this reservoir section becomes more marine,
with the occurrence of an extensive glauconitic section, dated
as Eocene.
The top reservoir, Upper Naricual is mainly dated as
Oligocene and represents an 850 feet-thick oil-prolific
sedimentary section, which in general trends towards the north
and Northeast with an associated sediment source from the
Guyana shield towards the south. Major stratigraphic markers
are well defined within the field, which helps stratigraphic
correlation and reservoir description.
Sedimentologically, this section comprises a deltaic
system with the occurrence of shorefaces, distributary
channels, mouth bars, marine shales and brackish bay deposits
(see ref. 11). Reservoir properties are better within this
reservoir due to the occurrence of coarser sands, which are
less affected by diagenesis.
Fluid Properties
The most important factors influencing the El Furrial
Field behaviour are:
High temperature (273 – 300ºF) and pressure (11020 psi),
Asphaltene content (4 – 12 % weight),
Vertical extent of the reservoir
The hydrocarbon column is highly under-saturated,
there is no gas cap, and is at high temperature and pressure
conditions. It shows a clear compositional gradient with depth.
The compositional changes are reflected in the API gravity,
the asphaltene, sulfur, iron and vanadium content, all of which
increase with depth. This has resulted in a heavy oil-tar zone,
which underlies the medium oil column. API gravity ranges
from 29º at the crest to 16º close to the tar zone. Oil-water
contact was detected only on the south flank at -15,200 tvd
subsea feet.
As a result of the compositional variation, the bubble-
point pressure varies from 4600 psi to 2900 psi (Fig. 3), and
gas-oil ratio ranges from 1300 to 500 scf/stb. The oil near the
crest of the structure exhibits less asphaltene content.
One of the most important features of the El Furrial
hydrocarbon-phase behaviour is the asphaltene precipitation,
which reduce the permeability and thus field productivity.
75202 RESERVOIR MANAGAMENT OF THE EL FURRIAL FIELD – VENEZUELA UNDER ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS
Development Plan of the El Furrial Field
The behaviour of the reservoir is essentially divided
in three stages, which reflect the development phases for the
El Furrial field.
Natural Depletion
During this stage the reservoir showed a uniform
depletion law in all three members of the Naricual Formation
from production start in 1986 until November 1992, when the
water injection project started. The depletion law during this
stage was 11.1 psi/MMbls with a cumulative production of
304 MMBLS (see Fig. 4). This resulted in a drastic decline of
the pressure, and affected the reservoir mainly by the
asphaltene floculation which occur at approximately at 6500
psi, and, consequently, the production of the wells
declined markedly.
Results from early analysis between 1989 to 1991
gave top-priority, to maintain the reservoir pressure above
6500 psi in order to sustain field productivity and avoid
asphaltene precipitation.
Secondary Recovery
• Naricual Formation
Based on the studies carried out during the years
1989 to 1991, it was concluded that the most practical and
economic development plan to maintain the pressure was a
water injection scheme.
Many factors were considered in to design the
project, reservoir geometry, lithology, fluid properties and
relative permeability relationships, reservoir continuity, rock
properties and the fluids available for injection (water quality
and treatment). At this moment the laboratory test showed the
reservoir was water wet. These factors are very important
because they influence considerably the economics of the
water injection operations.
A peripheral line drive water injection scheme was
designed for each reservoir unit (see Fig. 5). On each flank the
injection interval is just above the tar-mat in the oil-zone.
A rate of 450 MBWPD is injected in 32 injectors to
provide voidage replacement of an oil production of 250
MSTBD. The individual injection rate per well is around 15
MBWD. This water injection project was started in 1993, after
a successful welltest of injectivity using 5,000 BWPD,
followed by a field pilot program injecting 50,000 BWPD.
Based on the studies carried out during 1995 – 1996,
it was found necessary to increase the water injection rate to
550 MBWPD in order to stabilise the reservoir pressure at
3
approximately 6500 psi. This would maintain the production
plateau near 400 MBOPD and improve the total recoverable
reserves by around 2%. This required drilling additional
injection and production wells. The pressure behaviour of the
reservoir has regularly been monitored using static pressure
measurements, multiple probe logs of formation (RFT) and
pressure-production tests.
The main focus for the last 6 years has concentrated
on the necessity to maintain field productivity and prevent the
deposition of asphaltene.
• Cretaceous Formation
As a result of the continuos monitoring of the
pressure and production behaviour of the reservoir from July –
87 to October –97, a pressure depletion rate of the reservoir of
84 psi/MMSTB produced was observed.
The pressure declined from 11,006 psi to 6,720 psi
after producing 56 MMBLS.
These informations together with detailed reservoir
studies have proven that the reservoir is producing under
natural depletion without an active aquifer. The fast pressure
decline, the reduction in well productivity and the possible
asphaltene precipitation made it clear that a pressure
maintenance project in this reservoir was also needed.
As in the Naricual units a peripheral water injection
was implemented with an injection rate of 50 MSTBD, in
order to re-pressurise the reservoir to 7300 psi.
A total of 6 injector wells were drilled and when the
pressure goal of 7,300 psi was reached 5 new producers were
drilled. Under water injection an additional oil recovery of 189
MMBLS is expected, adding to the original primary reserves
87 MMBLS. The total expected reserves are 277 MMBLS.
The water injection began with the well FUL-66 in
October 1997 with an average injection rate of 8 MBWD.
Today the project has 12 active producers and 6
active injectors.
Enhanced Oil Recovery
• Naricual Formation
As early as in 1992, studies (see ref. 2) showed the
benefits of a high-crestal gas injection project as an efficient
mechanism for:
Increasing the plateau production rate
Increasing total field reserves.
4 I. ARAQUE, AND G. AUXIETTE
These studies have demonstrated that a highly efficient
miscible displacement could be obtained by the injection of
dry gas at current operational conditions (6500 psi and
280ºF).
In 1995, a multidisciplinary team was set-up to study (see
ref. 6) the technical and economic potential of a miscible gas
injection project (see refs. 4 and 5). The objectives of this
integrated study were to:
Identify the optimum injection gas composition
Determine the incremental production profile and reserves
Define the optimum reservoir pressure and the well head
pressure of the gas injectors
Analyse the various alternatives of increased water
injection, with and without gas injection
Additionally, extensive laboratory work,
geostatistical and deterministic reservoir descriptions and
black-oil miscible and compositional simulation were
performed, to define the implementation of a miscible gas
injection plan.
The crestal miscible gas injection in the El Furrial
Field is better than other processes for increasing production
rate and recoverable reserves. Associated gas injection results
in significant increase in the recovery and the productivity
mainly due to the miscible displacement mechanism. This
mechanism has been identified as a vaporisation process under
multiple contacts.
A development plan of the miscible gas injection
project has been outlined based on the studies and the
economics, with 5 gas injectors and 16 new producer wells in
the Upper/Middle Naricual units. The gas injection started in
October 1998 at a rate of 450 MMSCFD.
Additionally laboratory tests were done by Intevep
(see ref. 3) to validate the miscibility of the injected gas at
reservoir pressure. A slim tube test program was performed
and EOS and compositional simulation results confirmed the
laboratory results. The minimum miscibility pressure was
estimated to be around 6,000 psi – 6,500 psi. A compositional
model was also calibrated to match the Intevep slim
tube results.
A black-oil full field simulation model using Todd
and Longstaff parameters was constructed to simulate the
combined gas and water injection project. Associated gas is
injected at the crest and water on the flanks to obtain full
voidage replacement. The model demonstrated an
improvement of the reserves under this process of around 7%
to 10% OOIP (see Fig. 6) compared to water injection only.
Due to the success of the gas injection process further
studies were carried out between 1997 and 1998. However,
there is not enough gas available for a full gas injection project
instead focus have been on investigating a downdip water-
SPE 75201
alternating-gas (WAG) processes in both the Naricual and
Cretaceous reservoirs. By injecting gas with water downdip,
we have the potential of reducing the oil saturation to the
miscible gas residual in the water-invaded region of the
reservoir. The simulation study predicted that a downdip
WAG process could enhance oil recovery to between 7% to
10% OOIP compared to the previous process (see Fig. 7).
Additionally we performed some preliminary studies
to evaluate the feasibility of injecting Nitrogen behind the
hydrocarbon gas already injected into the Naricual reservoirs.
These studies showed that if the Nitrogen is injected into the
Naricual after several years of injecting the hydrocarbon gas,
as is now considered, the displacement would be a miscible
solvent slug / drive gas process where the miscible solvent is
the associated gas and the drive gas is the Nitrogen.
• Cretaceous Formation
Based on the previous studies it was decided to do a
mechanistic pilot in the Cretaceous reservoir for the WAG
process with the following objectives:
1. Observe the displacement performance of the gas
injection processes in the reservoir environment
2. Calibrate and validate the parameters for the simulation
model in order to have a good that description of the
displacement process.
We drilled two wells: FUL-86 as an injector and
FUL-87 as an observer. They have an interwell distance of 62
meters. In the observer well we monitor the reservoir pressure,
the temperature and the saturation evolution during the
alternating water-gas-water injection cycle. In the injector we
monitor the bottom hole pressure and the injection profile.
The initial water cycle started in June 2001 at a water
rate of 8,000 BWPD. This rate was increased to 15,000
BWPD in August 2001. The gas cycle started in December the
6th at a gas rate of 5 MMSCFD increasing to 25 MMSCFD. In
March 2002 we switched to the final water cycle (see Fig. 8).
Management of the El Furrial Field
PDVSA diligently takes each step of the development
based on carefully identified programs using integrated study
techniques that combine as much available data and resources
as possible.
As additional data become available, the reservoir
management plan is refined and implemented with appropriate
changes. The knowledge of the geology, rock, and fluids
properties, fluid flow and recovery mechanisms, drilling and
75202 RESERVOIR MANAGAMENT OF THE EL FURRIAL FIELD – VENEZUELA UNDER ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS
well completions, as well as past production performance,
permit a greater understanding of the reservoir behaviour.
Black oil (solvent option), compositional cross
sections, and enhanced oil recovery simulators are used for
analysing reservoir performance and estimating reserves.
History matched reservoir simulations of the El
Furrial Field have played a very important role in formulating
the development plans. It is used as the primary decision tool
and as a mean to optimise future production and to plan and
design all development projects.
Until now eight versions of numerical simulation
models have been constructed, using different simulation
software; e.g. Eclipse 100, Eclipse 200 (solvent option),
Athos, and Multiflood.
In 1998 we acquired a new 3D seismic which
extended to flanks of the structure and covered 370 km2. We
decided to build a new version based on this new structural
model. We are including all the new additional data available
as well as our past experience from the previous model. The
work on this model is now in progress.
Until now, three integrated study teams have been
established working with different companies. The basic idea
has been to unite the talents, experience and knowledge to
benefit the development of the El Furrial Field and looking for
a better understanding to optimise current operation strategies.
At the same time transfer of technologies,
methodologies, and expertise to the PDVSA teams has
been achieved.
Regarding field management and monitoring the
following main activities are presently carried:
• Testing programs to provide additional pressure data
• Injection profile surveys to detect formation damage,
identify target zones and under-injected zones
• Build-up tests to evaluate well productivity
• RFT tests on each well
• A radioactive tracer project to monitor the water
displacement and determine the origin of the
breakthrough water
• 3D seismic interpretation in depth
• Well testing
• Produced-water analysis
• Changes in the injection profiles
• Drilling of high-angle wells
• Fluid sampling and laboratory PVT programs
• Carbon/Oxygen tools to follow the water and
gas saturation.
• Continuous reservoir simulation studies
• Chemical tracer project
5
Present State of the El Furrial field
Today the field produce through 113 production wells
(163 production strings), and have 44 water injection wells
and 7 gas injection wells.
In December 2001 the water injection rate was
around 458 MBWPD and the cumulative injection around
1,315 MMBLS. The gas injection rate was around 393
MMSCFD and the cumulative injection 348 MMMSCFD. The
production rate was 396 MBOPD and the accumulated
production 1,504 MMSTB (see Fig. 9). The average reservoir
pressure is 6,500 psi (see Fig.10).
Conclusions
1. More information and analysis is required to fully define
the reservoir and its characteristics.
2. Reservoir studies are more effective when geoscientists
and engineers work together.
3. High precision production testing of oil, water and gas,
especially for wells producing water.
4. Optimise data gathering and careful evaluation is required
for the design and implementation of projects.
5. Success of projects depends on continued monitoring
and evaluation.
6. More reservoir definition and development optimisation is
required to access the upside reservoir potential
7. A continuing monitoring program of measuring bottom-
hole, static pressure, build-up tests, water cuts and other
production information is needed.
8. Additionally mechanisms of water – alternating – gas
(WAG) injection should be studied in detail.
9. It is essential to have an INTEGRATED RESERVOIR
MANAGEMENT approach to maximising the economic
recovery from the EL FURRIAL FIELD.
References
1.-Isea, A., Aguado, B., Parnaud, F., Pascual J.C., Teran, L.,
Truskowski, I., (1990).
Caracterización del yacimiento en el área El Furrial-Musipan :
Sección Oligocena. Informe Final. Intevep, S.A.
6 I. ARAQUE, AND G. AUXIETTE SPE 75201

2.T.C.A. (1992) Inc. Preliminary Investigation of Enhanced

Oil Recovery by gas injection in the Furrial Reservoir.

3.-Pedroza T. Key E., Calderon G. Intevep S.A (1993).

Pruebas de Miscibilidad en crudos del Furrial. Los Teques.

4.-Lagoven S.A, (1995) Estudio de Ingeniería de Yacimientos

para la Implantación del Proyecto de Inyección agua/gas
miscible – Campo El Furrial.

5.-I.R.M. (1995) El Furrial Field. Implementation Study

Miscible Gas and Water Inyection Project.

6.-Lagoven, Corpoven, Intevep, BP-Exploration, IRM (1995).

El Furrial Water and Miscible Gas Injection Project.

7.-BEICIP-FRANLAB. (1996 – 1997). Estudio de

Yacimiento - Modelo Estático y Dinámico.

8.-T.C.A. (2000) Preliminary Mechanistic Study of Nitrogen

Displacement in the Naricual Formation of the Furrial Field.

9.-T.C.A (1999) Mechanistic Study of Alternatives for

Enhanced Oil Recovery in the Naricual Formation Field.

10.- PDVSA (2000) Integrated Asset Management Furrial

Reservoir Explotation Unit.

11.-Uroza C., Arostegui G, Machillanda C., Mauregui J.,.

Estudio Sedimentologico Integrado del Campo El Furrial.
Informe Interno PDVSA Producción, Pto La Cruz.

12.-Gou Ives. Beicip Branlab, Carneiro V. Acuña C. PDVSA,

Estudio Sismico Integrado (2001).
75202 RESERVOIR MANAGAMENT OF THE EL FURRIAL FIELD – VENEZUELA UNDER ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS 7

Sucre
Edo. Monagas

VENEZUELA Anzoátegui

RíoOrinoco

N Furrial CampoEl Furrial

Carito
Boquerón
Corozo
Maturín

Tejero

Fig. 1 El Furrial Field Location Fig. 2 Stratigraphy Section of El Furrial

P re s ió n d e B u rb u je o c o n P ro fu n d id a d

-1 1 0 0 0

-1 1 5 0 0

-1 2 0 0 0

-1 2 5 0 0

-1 3 0 0 0
P ro f. (T V

-1 3 5 0 0

-1 4 0 0 0

-1 4 5 0 0

-1 5 0 0 0

-1 5 5 0 0

-1 6 0 0 0
5
5000
0 1
1000
000 1
1550
000 2
2000
000 2
2550
000 3
3000
000 3
3550
000 4
4000
000 44550000 5
5000
000 55550000
P b (lp c a )
N S N I C re t.

Fig. 3 Bubble Pressure vs Depth

12000

11000

10000

9000

P 8000

7000
6500 PSI
6000

5000

4000
d-85 d-86 d-87 d-88 d-89 d-90 d-91 d-92
Fig. 4 Pressure Behaviour during Natural Depletion
8 I. ARAQUE, AND G. AUXIETTE SPE 75201

Water and Gas Injection in Naricual Water Injection in Cretaceous

AGUA
AGUA
GAS

Fig. 5 Pattern Injection in Naricul and Cretaceous

Fig. 6 Simulations Results

Fig. 7 Simulations Results for including WAG

75202 RESERVOIR MANAGAMENT OF THE EL FURRIAL FIELD – VENEZUELA UNDER ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS 9

INJECTOR OBSERVER

Qw = 15 MBWD Pressure
Temperature
Qg = 25 MMSCFD
Saturatión

Water GAS Water OIL

K1
K2 K2 > K1 > K3 > K4

K3 OIL

K4
62 meters

Fig. 8 Schematic of Cretaceous WAG pilot

El Furrial Field
Production and Injection Behavoir

500 2000
Oil Rate (MBls)
400 Oil Cumulative (MMBls) 1600

300 1200

200 800

100 400

0 0
1986 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01

1500 400
Water Injec Cum (MMBls)
1200 Gas Injec Cum (MMMcf)
320

900 240

600 160

300 80

0 0
1986 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01

Fig. 9 Production and Injection Behaviour

10 I. ARAQUE, AND G. AUXIETTE SPE 75201

Fig. 10 Pressure Behaviour of Furrial Field

Table 1 Reservoirs Properties