SPE-184932-MS

Increasing Production by Diagnosing Well Productivity: A Case Study for

Other Mature Fields

Francis Peretti, Antonio Montilva, and Lenin Rodriguez, Halliburton; Omar Rosario, Julio Torrealba, and Mauro
Martinez, PDVSA

Copyright 2017, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin America and Caribbean Mature Fields Symposium held in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 15–16 March 2017.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
of the paper have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect
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consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may
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Abstract
The workflow for mature-field redevelopment requires a multidisciplinary team to analyze, select, and
rank well candidates for intervention and production optimization. An objective evaluation of the well's
productivity and reserves is essential for identifying possible alternatives to increase production. For this
study, an analysis was conducted on 152 wells from the Carito field. As the second-largest oilfield producer
in the Maturin sub-basin of eastern Venezuela, the Carito field encompasses approximately 150 km2 and
comprises the El Carito and Carito south reservoirs.
The Carito reservoir presents a high degree of heterogeneity resulting from complex, compressional
faulting and varying sediments and includes hydrocarbons containing gas, condensate, volatile, black oils,
and tar mat (oil mixed with wet sand). The Carito south reservoir behaves like a black-oil reservoir.
The workflow presented in this study identified 20 candidate wells ranked by their potential to increase
production. An intervention plan was then defined and ranked according to technical and economic criteria.
This paper presents the successful application of this methodology in the Carito field to improve well
productivity by approximately 7,000 bpd, proving that the method can be easily adapted to other areas.

Introduction
The Eastern Venezuela Basin is the result of complex interactions that involved the breakup of Pangea, the
South American drift, and the development of the Caribbean plate (Di Croce 1995). This basin is a flexure-
related, foreland basin that developed during the Neogene era in the late Mesozoic passive margin of the
South American craton (Gonzalez de Juana et al. 1980). The Eastern Venezuela Basin is the second-largest
producer of hydrocarbon resources in all of South America. Located in northeastern Venezuela, the basin is
subdivided into two sub-basins: the Guarico to the west and the Maturin to the east. The Carito-Mulata field
is a giant, deep, high-pressure, onshore reservoir located in eastern Venezuela, just north of the Maturin
basin. As the second-largest producing oilfield in the northern Monagas, the Carito field contains a complex
hydrocarbon column, with depth-varying composition ranging from free gas to condensate, volatile, black
oil, and a tar mat zone.
2 SPE-184932-MS

The methodology presented in this paper applies best practices, concepts, and new technologies,
and requires specialists from multiple downstream and reservoir areas, including geology, petrophysics,
production engineering, completions, workover, reservoir engineering, and economics, to improve well
productivity, decrease cost, and improve quality. The process considers all opportunities for increasing
production by evaluating open and/or closed wells and identifying early risks and uncertainties. A quick
identification of early values must include an adequate number of wells, and dynamic evaluations and
corrective procedures must be conducted daily to reduce risks in each well.
For this case study, 152 closely spaced wells (both active and inactive) were screened, which identified
40 active wells for preliminary evaluation in the Merecure, San Juan, and San Antonio reservoirs. This study
presents a detailed methodology aimed to accomplish the following:

• Consider all opportunities

• Enable early identification of risks and uncertainties

• Help to ensure that all technical works add value as an objective

• Minimize project cycle time by reducing redesigns

• Move quickly from the identification of a candidate to obtaining a value

• Analyze reservoir risk and uncertainty variables

• Transfer knowledge to the team regarding the best practices for use of technical applications and
workflow
• Analyze and diagnose problems in candidate wells and identify possible integral solutions

Recommendations were made based on gas shutoff in which the goal was to reduce the focus of GOR on
gas production, with a total of 20 identified wells and approximately 7,000 BOPD of incremental production.

Geological Setting
The Eastern Venezuela Basin is the second-richest hydrocarbon providence of South America after the
Maracaibo Basin (Venezuela). The total area of the Eastern Venezuela Basin is approximately 200,000 km2.
Elongated and asymmetric, the basin contains Tertiary sediments up to 8 km thick (Gonzalez de Juana et al.
1980). The Eastern Venezuela foreland basin is the collective name given to two foreland sub-basins (Fig.
1) in the northeastern part of Venezuela: the Guarico sub-basin in the west and the Maturin sub-basin in
the east (Erlich and Barrett 1992).

Figure 1—Major Structural Features of the Eastern Venezuela Basin (ModifiedE rlich and Barrett 1992).
SPE-184932-MS 3

The Eastern Venezuela Basin resulted from complex interactions involving the breakup of Pangea, the
South American drift, and the development of the Caribbean plate (Di Croce 1995). Four major geodynamic
events contributed to the formation of this basin: the Paleozoic orogeny, Jurassic and early Cretaceous
rifting associated with the breakup of Pangea, Cretaceous-to-Paleogene passive margin development, and
the Neogene oblique collision between the Caribbean and South American Plates, which generated the
Maturin sub-basin (Jacome et al. 2003).
The Maturin sub-basin is located in a compressional tectonic setting that involves the oblique subduction
of the South American plate under the Caribbean plate. The Maturin sub-basin was formed because of the
tectonic loading associated with the Serrania del Interior thrust sheets and the pulling down of the South
American plate owing to continental subduction (Jacome et al. 2003).
The El Pato, Tacata, Aguasay, Onado, Santa Barbara, Mulata, Carito, and El Furrial oil fields are located
along the southern deformation front of the western Serrania Del Interior in eastern Venezuela and form
an east-to-west trend of fields in the Maturin sub-basin (Manceda 2005). The area of the "Furrial trend" is
highly complex and has been the subject of extensive seismic and geological studies (Helwig et al. 2002;
Marquez et al. 2003). The model presented here is the result of a full-scale integration of all petroleum
engineering disciplines (production seismic, geology, geochemistry, and reservoir engineering).
Four major tectonic phases have been recognized in the Furrial trend. The first phase of deformation from
the northwest is best expressed by three sets of observations: 1) low-angle fault planes parallel to the present-
day structure in the Carito field that are locally associated with a large amount of pressure solution and
quartz cement, indicating tectonic activity while the structure was water bearing (Chatellier et al. 2001); 2)
trapped water locally present in the southern part of the Furrial trend, in the complex area of the deformation
front where the replacement of the migrating oil had not succeeded in pushing away all of the residing
water; 3) all of the major older structures located to the north have a WSW-ENE strike direction, indicating
a NNW-SSE stress direction.
The second phase of deformation corresponds to a compression from the northeast, as indicated by a
common N220 direction of high dips observed by a dip meter and confirmed by the structural contours
based on well data. It also has been identified by a very large isopach jump (thousands of feet) oriented
NW-SE and has been corroborated by the geometry of various stacked compartments well expressed by
the API vs. depth trends (Chatellier et al. 2003). Porosity depth trends also indicate tectonic activity post-
oil emplacement, and the geometry of the displacement corroborates the existence of the second phase of
deformation (Chatellier et al. 2002a). The obliquity of the second phase has induced geological anomalies,
such as reverse faults associated with missing sections (Chatellier et al. 2002b). Tear faults (NE-SW) have
been identified from seismic and confirmed by mapping the structure.
The third phase of deformation corresponds to an out-of-sequence compression involving and inverting
the deep-seated Pirital fault, a major structural feature located at the north of the deformation front.
This phase of activity has been associated with important backthrusting, horizontal detachments, and the
reactivation of faults. The lateral variation in tectonic response between the Furrial, Carito, and Santa
Barbara fields is at its maximum during this phase and is related to the distance of the Pirital thrust. The
Furrial field, which is the farthest away from the fault, corresponds to a simple fault-bend fold. The Carito
field is more complex, especially in its western region, where thrusting and fault propagation breakthrough
had occurred. Santa Barbara has been the most affected field and exhibits strong evidence of deformation
typical of triangle zones. Thus, numerous horizontal detachment levels intersect the stratigraphy and alter
the reservoir properties of the field, the best example being a tectonic klippe in the northwestern part of
the field.
The extensional fourth phase is of limited importance for field development and may be related to the
gravity gliding of the eastern Venezuelan thrust belt in the upper Pliocene to Pleistocene (Chatellier 2003).
The map of the Santa Barbara field (Fig. 2) summarizes the effects of the various tectonic phases that have
affected the area.
4 SPE-184932-MS

Figure 2—Major Structural Elements of the Santa Barbara Field, North of Monagas.

Study Area of the Carito Field Location

The area of interest for this study is the Eastern Venezuela Basin, which is north of the Maturin sub-basin of
the Carito field and located within the complex thrust belt system of the north Monagas state of Venezuela.
This field covers an area of approximately 284 km2 and is subdivided into four work areas: north (MUC-2),
central (MUC-1), west (MUC-3), and south (SBC). To maintain a constant reservoir pressure and to avoid
asphaltene precipitation, the central and western work areas produce under a natural-gas-injection project,
while the northern work area undergoes water injection. Field exploitation began in 1986 and has been
subject to a large high-pressure gas-injection project since 1996 to maintain 100% fluid replacement as the
optimal exploitation strategy (Fig. 3).

Figure 3—Carito Field.

SPE-184932-MS 5

The stratigraphic column is approximately 17,000 ft and ranges from Cretaceous to Pleistocene. This
study is focused on the production section sediments from the Cretaceous to Miocene era. The 3,500 ft of
sediment comprises the bulk of the section in the field and includes most of the petroliferous intervals. A
total of 152 wells, both active and inactive, were used for this study.

Methodology
This study began by organizing and validating data obtained from the evaluation of 152 wells drilled
in the Carito field. All information gathered from the analysis was carefully checked for consistency
and value (Fig. 4). A review of the geological model included stratigraphic/structural correlations and
petrophysical data, historical records of mechanical interventions, and work stimulation, among others.
With the information gathered, decline curves were created for reservoir pressure, oil rate, water rate, gas
rate, and cumulative production for each fluid. Results were interpreted and modeled before water and gas
injection occurred.

Figure 4—Integrated Productivity Model – Subsurface – Surface and Economy.

To accelerate the process of identifying opportunities, a preliminary hierarchy was determined based
on the Delphi method. As a structured communication technique, the Delphi method enabled a systematic
discussion on well selection between all specialists in the multidisciplinary team. After multiple rounds of
discussion and constant feedback, options were narrowed to a final well selection. One of the parameters
discussed was the revision of mechanical diagrams with conditions, as fish and completion problems were
considered to be critical in well selection. The analysis continued for both active and inactive wells, with a
mechanical possibility of reactivation. A petrophysical analysis was conducted on all prospective reservoirs
to determine the reservoir rock parameters. A detailed revision of net pay vs. perforating intervals, as
well as the gas/oil ratio (GOR), enabled the visualization of all possible intervention scenarios to increase
production.
The field discussed in this paper was divided into four areas for well analysis. Results obtained from the
Delphi method were evaluated for 40 wells. Behavior and current status were analyzed for those wells with
higher scores (and their neighboring wells). Parameters, including oil production per day, water cut, gas/
oil ratio (GOR), head pressure, temperature, measured reducer, secondary perforation intervals, mechanical
cleaning, etc., were analyzed (Figs. 5 and 6).
6 SPE-184932-MS

Figure 5—Integrated Productivity Model – Certainty vs. Uncertainty.

Figure 6—Hierarchical Analysis of Opportunities for Oilwell Production.

After the candidates had been selected and ranked, a well-by-well multidisciplinary study was conducted.
The team of experts analyzed the mechanical status of each well, along with the petrophysical and geological
data to look for new zones or undeveloped resources. Reservoir characteristics and dynamics were also
studied to obtain the most accurate interpretation of the production data.
SPE-184932-MS 7

When the reservoir and production consultants had developed their diagnostics, details of candidate wells
were discussed, including problems, opportunities, and low production. As result of the analysis, a group
of candidate wells with potential to increase production was selected. These wells were then presented and
discussed with the operator's team leaders.
Once the list of candidate wells was defined and each had an intervention plan, a deeper analysis was
performed to estimate the possible increase in production for each well. With these results, an economic
study was performed, and the final ranking was defined based on both technical and economic criteria.
Three categories were defined: major repairs without a drilling rig, minor repairs without a drilling rig, and
optimization procedures.
The objective of this case study was to highlight the development of a workflow for mature-field
redevelopment, with a focus on quantifying and reducing uncertainties in production. The workflow
included the following critical tasks:

• Integrating and analyzing existing models of the reservoir, wells, and the surface, which includes
mechanical condition, perforations, producing zones, and reserves
• Analyzing historical and forecast data from the wells, reservoir, and field, including the position
of original fluid contacts, which are key to estimating reserves and developing steps to revitalize
the field
• Assessing production efficiency and existing artificial-lift systems

• Evaluating the drilling and completion histories, including neighboring wells, and identifying
candidate wells for intervention
• Diagnosing problems in candidate wells and identifying possible integrated solutions

• Formulating a field-redevelopment strategy to enhance oil recovery

The "Early Victory" productivity phase aimed to create opportunities for the immediate execution of
maintenance and increase of production to maximize the NPV of the asset over time (Fig. 7).

Figure 7—Incorporation of Production with Short-term Actions by Well Productivity.

Productivity Evaluation
The Carito field is characterized by a thermodynamic complex resulting from pressure and temperature
conditions and compositional fluid distribution. The reservoir contains condensate gas at the crest of the
8 SPE-184932-MS

structure and black oil at the bottom. Field production is primarily focused on the black-oil zone related
to Cretaceous and Oligocene units. Subsaturated conditions have been observed from 1,500 to 2,000 psi
above the saturation pressure. For the productivity evaluation, a deterministic and probabilistic estimation
for incremental well production was executed by a multidisciplinary team formed by engineers from the
Geosciences of Petróleos de Venezuela-Punta de Mata using the following diagnostic flowgram (Fig. 8).

Figure 8—Diagnostic Flowgram.

Based on reservoir definitions, the Carito field is classified as a producing reservoir containing black oil,
volatile, and condensate. Relevant factors from a nodal analysis include the following:

• Zone I: Qo < 1,500 BND; RGP < 15,000, oilwells without mechanical damage

• Gas contacts defined by zone intervals, GAS TVDSS −14,300 ft, and zone intervals with volatile
crude oil, TVDSS −14,800 ft
• Reservoir pressures: 4,700–5,500 psi

• Bubble-point pressures: 3,300–3,500 psi

• Solubility ratio: 1,058 fcd/stb

• Production tests (BOI, QG, GOR, API, BSW, etc.)

• Wellbore schematics and directional surveys

• History of interventions and identification of wells with asphaltene problems

In addition, the following equations, correlations, and other points were considered:

• Fluid model: black oil

• State equations: obtained from Carito values

SPE-184932-MS 9

• Petrophysical evaluations (average values)

• Relative permeability (Ko, Kw)

• Reservoir model: Fertckovich (deterministic evaluation)

• Reservoir model multilayer in wells with updated PLT evaluation

• Stochastic model with the use of Vogel equation for probabilistic evaluation

• Gas-coning correlations were considered for those wells in which open intervals were already in
the gas zone

Nodal Analysis Methodology

Nodal analysis combines each of the different components associated with the well to rate and optimize the
compounds of the system (Fig. 9).

Figure 9—General Methodology for Nodal Analysis.

The following factors should be considered when there is high uncertainty: reservoir pressure,
formational damage, relative permeabilities, volumetric factor, solubility rate, gas-offending zones,
10 SPE-184932-MS

established gas contacts, or zones influenced by gas injection. These variables are important because they
clearly have high incidences in the deterministic evaluation; thus, incorrect estimations could generate
distortions and result in economic losses.
High-uncertainty variables for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing include permeability, PWS, skin
factor, and RGP. The low-uncertainty variables for the simulation of hydraulic fracturing include fracture
length, FCD, and fracture height.
The customer provided the chemical and physical composition values of the fluids in the Carito field for
the simulation models. Because these values (as shown in Fig. 10) have different conditions that cannot
be adjusted, it is necessary for each well to have a unique composition to adjust the model using the state
equation.

Figure 10—Fluid Composition (State Equation, Carito Field).

Running Variables in the Probabilistic Productivity Analysis.

For different projects, it is necessary to consider the margins of probability for success or failure in order
to make the best decisions. This must be accompanied by an operational risk assessment and economic
evaluation. Probabilistic evaluation is an important tool.
When a numerical simulation model is not available to represent the initial production behavior in well-
drilling proposals, evaluating zone changes, perforating and incrementing new intervals, or by improving
the conditions of formation damage, the reservoir engineer relies on nodal analysis to conduct productivity
studies. Nodal analysis primarily consists of the evaluation of the reservoir-well system, performing an
adjustment of production flow parameters, and the system's energy condition. This is, in a nutshell, a
comparison of the inflow condition and the appropriate fluid-lifting curve (VLP) for the system.
Program packages currently on the market only allow for establishing a deterministic result; thus,
different scenarios were run to obtain a range of parameters through sensibility estimations. A productivity
estimate under this evaluation scheme, however, may be inaccurate, as many reservoirs may present areal
and vertical variability of their parameters (geological heterogeneity, types of fluids, and energy). To
SPE-184932-MS 11

strengthen this type of analysis, various probabilistic methods can be used to evaluate a wide range of data
and to obtain several scenarios (pessimistic, more probable, and optimistic) when proposing a new well.
Probabilistic productivity analysis models must be used to determine the probabilistic parameters that
present the greatest uncertainty. It is important to ensure that each parameter or variable is characterized
with the correct probability distribution curve, some of which are mentioned in Fig. 11.

Figure 11—Parameters and Probability Types Used in the Carito Field Case Study.

The primary assumption of the model is that the reservoir presents a complex fluids column
(compositional variation with depth) in which the production basin is highly compacted. The following
software packages were used to develop the model:

• Prosper v10.4 (Petroleum Experts)—used for motor-productivity calculations

• Crystal Ball 2000 (Decisioneering Inc., now Oracle)

• Visual Basic Macro (Microsoft Corp.)

Data Source.
Permeability (K)
Derived from basic rock analyses applied to all wells in the field, as well as neighboring wells that presented
the same depositional and depth characteristics. Data was adjusted using a log-normal distribution curve.
Thickness
Determined through net oil-bed thickness from petrophysical evaluations in neighboring wells and the
consideration of sedimentation parameters. The data were adjusted using a normal distribution curve. The
thickness distribution for a clastics formation usually takes a normal shape.
Reservoir pressure
Expert criteria. Because the well was within the probable reserves zone, there was no accurate data referring
to pressure in the area. Data was adjusted using a triangular distribution curve.
12 SPE-184932-MS

Wellhead Pressure
Data obtained from wellhead pressure recorded during surface production tests carried out at all wells in
the field. Data was adjusted using a normal distribution curve.
Skin Factor
Commonly used to measure formation damage in a well associated with drilling and/or completion
operations. Skin factor is a dimensionless pressure drop caused by a flow restriction in the near-wellbore.
Data was adjusted using a probabilistic distribution curve.
Gas/Oil Ratio
This variable presents the greatest impact in the analysis, because the initial flow rate in the well is directly
proportional to the gas/oil ratio. Therefore, the selected depth for a well completion is a decisive factor.
Data was obtained through surface production tests and adjusted using a probabilistic distribution curve.
The number of iterations used in the simulation run was 10,000. The surface production-test data used for
the determination of GOR was obtained from a model well.

Results Obtained from the Carito Field—Expectation of 20 Technical

Proposals for Intervention
The first phase of the study involved the evaluation and selection of 40 candidate wells with the potential to
increase production. Information was gathered from monobore, single, and parallel-string completions. The
identification of wells with asphaltene production and the extent of available technologies for the Carito
field were evaluated. Additional information provided by the client was also validated.
The study aimed to analyze opportunities for increasing production in both active and inactive
wells. Based on the evaluation, 20 technical proposals for well intervention were developed to improve
productivity. Because of the high percentage of inactive wells, 17 of the wells were determined to have no
chance of reactivation in the short term. Available opportunities for the Carito field in the medium to long
term were subject to risk and economic analysis for rig use, snubbing, and other services, such as:

• Drilling for deeper, undrained sand units and in cases when increasing productivity was required

• Recovering isolated sands with a presence of gas

• Isolating zones with unwanted fluids

• Workovers for isolating gas or water

• Re-entry, CTU, wireline, slickline, and drilling radial wells

The chart in Fig. 12 ranks the wells in this study according to their intervention opportunities.
SPE-184932-MS 13

Figure 12—Ranking of Wells with Opportunities.

Based on the reviewed wells and opportunities for intervention with available equipment and quick
execution, we obtained the following:

Table 1—Proposals for workovers/interventions.

Well Diagnostics 16

PLT 4

Perforation Shoots (additional intervals) 8

Zone Isolation 3

Stimulation – Cleaning 14

Fracturing 3

Based on the 20 technical work proposals and using historical data on the costs, CTU, wireline, and
slickline, estimated costs for similar works were based on net present value (NPV) vs. investment and the
availability of resources, equipment, and materials.
Oilwell investments were calculated using historical data provided by the client. Based on the information
on cost per activity, the proposed technical activities were evaluated for each well. Fig. 13 summarizes each
technical intervention considered.
14 SPE-184932-MS

Figure 13—Proposals for Workovers/Interventions.

Because all of the information provided by the client for this case study was considered valid, the next
step was to perform an information capture for short- and long-drillstring proposals (Fig. 14).

Figure 14—Evaluation Example: Short and Long Drillstring for the MUC 43 Well.
SPE-184932-MS 15

An evaluation for open intervals was then performed, as shown in Fig. 15.

Figure 15—Open Intervals for the MUC 43 Well.

Figure 16—Production Behavior of the MUC 43 Well (Short Drillstring).

16 SPE-184932-MS

Decline Analysis, Reserves, and Oil-Production Option Assessment

Fig. 16 shows a major decline in production beginning in 2013 for the MUC 43 well. These production
decreases are correlated with rapid rises in GOR and WOR. This rapid decrease in oil production is most
likely associated with the precipitation of asphaltenes in the production liner (MUC 43 short drillstring).
A nodal analysis was performed based on the previous evaluation and available reservoir data. The
following steps were then taken:

• Populated data from the directional survey

• Populated data from the thermal gradient

• Populated the reservoir database, without considering damage (first IPR curve without formation
damage)
• Populated details of bottomhole equipment

• Populated characteristics of surface equipment

• Populated production data to be collated

• Obtained the PWF (most important data); this pressure is defined as inlet pressure in two-phase
flow vertical piping

Figure 17—Results of the MUC 43 Well (Short Drillstring).

Once the PWF was defined, runs were made to draw a comparison with the most representative
production test; the system was sensitized with the variables of greatest uncertainty and highest incidence
according to the model applied (in this case, the Fertckovich model).
Based on the run (Fig. 18), it was determined that apart from possible formation damage, there appeared
to be an additional problem that largely impacted the decline in production. According to the mechanical
configuration of the well, it is possible that there was an obstruction by the precipitation of asphaltenes in
the holes of the production liner (short drillstring). By design, each orifice was ¼–1/8 in. These holes can
SPE-184932-MS 17

have equivalent diameters of 2–2.5 in. By adjusting the model, fluid passage could be achieved through an
equivalent orifice of 0. 4–0.5 in.

Figure 18—IPR Curve from the MUC 43 Well (Short Drillstring).

Evaluation of the MUC 43 Long Drillstring

For this evaluation, the following deterministic results were obtained.

Figure 19—IPR Curve from the MUC 43 Long Drillstring.

18 SPE-184932-MS

For the probabilistic evaluation, the following were applied:

• Vogel equation (Stochastic model)

• Definition of variables with the highest incidence: permeability (k), thickness, reservoir pressure,
header pressure, skin factor, and GOR (variable of greatest impact)
• Because of the limitations of the stochastic model (no mechanical obstruction can be simulated),
only determinist results were presented

Figure 20—Probabilistic Evaluation of the MUC 43 Long Drillstring.

Finally, a summary was generated with the conclusions and final results of the estimated production in
light of the initial production.

Figure 21—Conclusions and Results for MUC 43 (Short and Long Drillstring).
SPE-184932-MS 19

Evaluation and Cost Hierarchy

Based on the deterministic and probabilistic evaluation of the twenty (20) work proposals, as well as the
evaluation of the major activities to be carried out and their cost estimation, a hierarchy was developed
according to available resources and the reserves recovered in a period of 24 months (Fig. 22).

Figure 22—Estimated Production Increment.

With the values of production already estimated, technical proposals for intervention were generated.

Figure 23—Workover Types and Production Assessment of the Selected Wells.

20 SPE-184932-MS

An execution scheme was then presented in terms of available and accumulated production resources.

Figure 24—Np Recovery vs. Investment.

Figure 25—Np Pseudo-Frontier Efficient.

SPE-184932-MS 21

Conclusions
• Twenty (20) technical proposals for intervention and production optimization were developed for
oilwells in the Carito field by a multidisciplinary team comprising experts in the following fields:
geology, petrophysics, production engineering, completions and workover, reservoir engineering,
and economics.
• On the first two wells to which the conclusions from this paper were applied, an incremental
production increase of 900 B/D was observed.
• The multidisciplinary team identified medium- to long-term rig activities.

• The methodology used allowed for screening 152 wells, which identified 40 wells for preliminary
evaluation.
• This methodology used visualization activities as a quick way to define opportunities for short-
term intervention with production increases.
• The methodology allowed for sharing operational experiences, methodologies, analyses, and
evaluations.
• The Carito field is a high-pressure reservoir with high production potential, which allowed for
natural-flow production with relatively low production costs. As a result, it was not necessary
to explore new technologies to maintain and improve field production; however, given the
current decline of reservoir parameters, several new technologies are being considered to improve
production profiles. These technologies include:

◦ Fracking work and SURGE FRAC, which are low-rise directional fractures

◦ Monobore well work using a pacing system

◦ Use of chemicals to minimize fluid loss in stimulation work

◦ Radial drilling work

◦ Hydro-acoustic technology for stimulation

Recommendations
The following recommendations have been made:

• Communication and team work are essential to accomplishing project goals. Technology
workshops can be an effective tool to keep team members informed on recent project data.
• Criteria for well selection is key for this type of project. Proper selection of candidate wells for
possible intervention is crucial, as it will drastically affect the return on investment.
• For fields containing high-production wells with high pressures, a field development plan is
recommended before drilling new wells.
• To obtain faster and more accurate results, update gas/oil contacts through numerical simulation.

• Evaluate the presence of gas injection and perform a new screening based on the analysis of fluid
markers.
• Create a worktable to determine the characteristics of the reservoir near the MUC 143 well.

• Create a worktable to define and outline medium- and long-term opportunities for technical
evaluation and production with regard to cost, risk, and estimated time.
• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of rig intervention or the snubbing of the assessed potential
for improving run times. Re-evaluate operations to mitigate risks of operating procedures.
22 SPE-184932-MS

• Gas shutoff in which the goal is reduce the focus of GOR on gas production will permit incremental
production.

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Emplacement. Extended Abstract presented at the AAPG Annual Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah, 11–14 May.
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geometry and quality. Search and Discovery, Article # 40062 (www.searchanddiscovery.com).
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reservoir model for the Santa Barbara field, Venezuela. Extended Abstract presented at the AAPG Annual Convention,
Salt Lake City, Utah, 11–14 May.
Chatellier, J-Y., Hernandez, P., Porras C., Olave, S., and Rueda M. 2001. Recognition of Fault Bend Folding, Detachment
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