Improving the recovery factor of heavy oilfields of Marañón Basin by using new completion and EOR technologies

Alexei Huerta Quiñones V.; Moran Quiliano A.; Adriano L. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2024) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2024.1.1.1370

Resumen

Mature heavy and light oilfields in the Northern Peruvian Jungle have produced oil for more than 40 years under primary recovery mechanisms (cold production methods). According to production performance and subsurface engineering analysis, reservoirs are exploited by a strong flank, and eventually bottomhole water drive mechanisms assisted with ESPs; cumulative oil production in mature heavy oilfields has exceeded more than 430 million barrels of oil with 20% current average recovery factor. In addition. The ultimate recovery factor is expected to account for an average of 25% at an economic limit of approximately 98% water cut, by extending oil operations with conventional technology.. This study explores the technology options to increase production and recovery of heavy oil resources at commercial rates. Technology options assessment include selective completion technologies and/or autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) for new horizontal infill or extended wells, as well as the application of enhanced oil recovery techniques such as polymer injection and cycling steam stimulation (CCS), which also contributes with decarbonizing production operations by reducing water production with less energy consumption. A workflow is proposed starting by modelling water encroachment mechanism by using analytical methods such as WOR vs. Np, Chan's curves, and Ramos' method; this analysis is well complemented with numerical simulation modelling to determine the influence of either flank or bottomhole waterdrive (or both). Then, a hybrid screening process combining rock and fluid properties with statistics of worldwide EOR projects has been used to select the most appropriate technologies to optimize production performance and increase recovery efficiency in Peruvian heavy oilfields; 7-parameters related to petrophysical properties, fluid behavior, drive mechanism and completion system were included for a pattern analysis in the screening model run by a machine learning algorithm. Preliminary results shows that primary recovery factor in heavy oilfields would rise from 20% (with traditional cold production technologies) to 30% with horizontal and multilateral drilling with new completion technologies (by using AICDs or selective production) as it is expected in Bretaña oilfield, a green field whose production history started by 2018. On the other hand, enhanced oil recovery methods such as polymer flooding, cycling steam stimulation and HASD would at least double production rates and increase recovery factors by 10% to 15%. Lab and Numerical simulation studies, as well as pilot tests of thermal recovery methods are strongly recommended for some fields with low recovery factors such as, Bartra field in Block 192, and the Raya and Paiche fields in development stage, situated in Blocks 39 and 67 respectively.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería