Casabe: New Tricks for an Old Field
Mauro Amaya
Raúl Amaya
Héctor Castaño
Eduardo Lozano
Carlos Fernando Rueda
Ecopetrol SA
Bogotá, Colombia
Jon Elphick
Cambridge, England
Walter Gambaretto
Leonardo Márquez
Diana Paola Olarte Caro
Juan Peralta-Vargas
Arévalo José Velásquez Marín
Bogotá
Oilfield Review Spring 2010: 22, no. 1.
Copyright © 2010 Schlumberger.
For help in preparation of this article, thanks to José Isabel
Herberth Ahumada, Marvin Markley, José A. Salas, Hector
Roberto Saldaño, Sebastian Sierra Martinez and Andreas
Suter, Bogotá; and Giovanni Landinez, Mexico City.
AIT, CMR-Plus, Petrel, PowerPak XP, PressureXpress,
TDAS and USI are marks of Schlumberger.
Crystal Ball is a mark of Oracle Corp.
IDCAP, KLA-GARD and KLA-STOP are marks of M-I SWACO.
1. Peralta-Vargas J, Cortes G, Gambaretto W, Martinez
Uribe L, Escobar F, Markley M, Mesa Cardenas A,
Suter A, Marquez L, Dederle M and Lozano E: “Finding
Bypassed Oil in a Mature Field—Casabe Field, Middle
Oil production rate, 1,000 bbl/d
Magdalena Valley Basin, Colombia,” presented at the
ACGGP (Asociación Colombiana de Geólogos y
Geofisicos del Petróleo) X Symposio Bolivariano,
Cartagena, Colombia, July 26–29, 2009.
Marquez L, Elphick J, Peralta J, Amaya M, Lozano E:
“Casabe Mature Field Revitalization Through an Alliance:
A Case Study of Multicompany and Multidiscipline
Integration,” paper SPE 122874, presented at the SPE
Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering
Conference, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, May 31–
June 3, 2009.
2. Cordillera is Spanish for range. Colombia has three
ranges: Oriental (eastern), Central, and Occidental
(western). These are branches of the Andes Mountains
that extend along the western half of the country. The
MMVB runs WSW-NNE, and the Magdalena River runs
northward through it, eventually flowing into the
Caribbean Sea.
3. Barrero D, Pardo A, Vargas CA and Martínez JF:
Colombian Sedimentary Basins: Nomenclature,
Boundaries and Petroleum Geology, a New Proposal.
Bogotá, Colombia: Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos
(2007): 78–81, http://www.anh.gov.co/paraweb/pdf/
publicaciones.pdf (accessed February 5, 2010).
4 Oilfield Review
At some point in the operational life of an oil field, natural drive dwindles and
additional energy is needed to sustain production rates. In the Casabe field water-
flooding has been used to enhance oil recovery. However, a combination of sensitive
lithology, structural complexity and water channeling caused hardware to fail and
wells to collapse, disrupting the waterflood efficiency. New techniques in geologic
analysis, waterflooding, drilling and production optimization are restoring this
once-prolific field to its former glory.
Old fields have stories to tell. The story of the of the natural drive period, the operator had
Casabe field, 350 km [220 mi] north of Bogotá obtained a primary recovery factor of 13%. By this
and situated in the middle Magdalena River time, however, production had declined signifi-
Valley basin (MMVB) of Colombia’s Antioquia cantly to nearly 5,000 bbl/d [800 m3/d]. Seeking
Department, began with its discovery in 1941. to reverse this trend, Ecopetrol SA (Empresa
The field was undersaturated when production Colombiana de Petróleos SA) conducted water-
began in 1945, and during primary recovery the flood tests for several years before establishing
production mechanisms were natural depletion two major secondary-recovery programs in the
and a weak aquifer. In the late 1970s, at the end mid to late 1980s.
25 125
Water
Oil
20 100
Waterflood pilot projects
Water injection rate, 1,000 bbl/d
Casabe alliance formed
15 75
10 50
5 25
0 0
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Operational year
> Casabe oil production and water injection. Waterflood pilot projects took place in the late 1970s, but it
was not until 1985 that the first of two major waterflood programs began. During the first three years of
each program, high injection rates were possible; however, water soon found ways through the most
permeable sands. Early breakthrough and well collapse forced the operator to choke back injection.
The steady decline in injection was accompanied by a decline in production, and attempts to reverse
this trend were unsuccessful. In 2004, when the Casabe alliance was formed, production rates were
5,200 bbl/d. By early February 2010, these rates had increased to more than 16,000 bbl/d.
 During the secondary-recovery period, struc-
tural complexities, sensitive shales, heteroge-
neous sands and viscous oils all conspired to
undermine the effectiveness of the waterflood.
And although initially successful at increasing
production, injected water broke through prema-
turely at the production wells, an indicator of
bypassed oil (previous page). Sand production
occurred in a high percentage of wells, contribut-
ing to borehole collapse and causing failure of
downhole equipment. Water-injection rates were
gradually decreased in an attempt to overcome
these issues, and waterflooding became less
effective at enhancing oil recovery; from 1996
onward the production rates declined between
7% and 8% per year.
Spring 2010
In 2004 Ecopetrol SA and Schlumberger
forged an alliance to revitalize the Casabe field.
Using updated methods for managing highly
complex reservoirs, the alliance reversed the
decline in production: From March 2004 to
February 2010, oil production increased from
5,200 to more than 16,000 bbl/d [820 to
2,500 m3/d].1 Also, the estimated ultimate recovery
factor increased from 16% to 22% of the original oil
in place (OOIP).
This article describes the complexities of the
reservoirs within the Casabe concession and the
oil recovery methods employed over the last
70  years, concentrating primarily on the major
reengineering work using updated methods that
began in 2004.
A Prolific Yet Complex Region
The middle Magdalena River Valley basin is an
elongated depression between the Colombian
Central and Oriental cordilleras and represents
an area of 34,000 km2 [13,000 mi2].2 Oil seeps are
common features within the basin; their pres-
ence was documented by the first western explor-
ers in the 16th century. These reservoir indicators
motivated some of the earliest oil exploration and
led to the discovery in 1918 of the giant field
called La Cira–Infantas, the first field discovered
in Colombia. Since that time, the MMVB has
been heavily explored. Its current oil and gas
reserves include more than 1,900 million bbl
[302 million m3] of oil and 2.5 Tcf [71 billion m3]
of gas.3
5
 A Barrancabermeja Nuevo Mundo syncline Rio Suarez A’
anticline
Central Casabe La Cira–Infantas Peroles
Cordillera field field field
m

B a rran
0
5,000

caberm
0 10 20 km
10,000

e
nclin
0 5 10 mi

eja fa
15,000

ndo sy
Barrancabermeja

lt u
Galán

Nuevo Mu
fault

A
illera

Casabe
Palestine

Peñas La Cira–
ord

Blancas Infantas Peroles

A’

e
ticlin
al C

Formation
rez an

Real
ntr

Rio Sua
Ce

Miocene
0 150 m
0 500 ft La Cira shale

e
on
ra

lt z

Upper sands
le

fau

A1 and A2
il

ip
d

-sl
ke
r
o

i
str
C

W
al

Oligocene
-S
nt

NE

B0, B1, B2 and B3

ie

ain

Lower sands
Or

0 50 100 km

C sands

Eocene
0 25 50 mi 5,000 ft Cretaceous

> Casabe structural setting. The Casabe field lies to the west of La Cira–Infantas field in the middle Magdalena River Valley basin (left). The principal
MMVB structures and producing fields are shown in the generalized structural cross section A to A’ (top right). The basin is limited on the east by a thrust
belt, uplifting the oldest rocks. Cretaceous and Paleocene (green), Oligocene (orange) and Miocene (yellow) rocks are shown in the central part of the basin
cross section. The pre–Middle Eocene uplift and erosion have exposed the Central Cordillera on the west (gray). The Casabe field is highly layered, as shown in
the detailed structural cross section (bottom right). (Figure adapted from Barrero et al, reference 3, and Morales et al, reference 6.)

The abundance of hydrocarbon resources in The Colorado, Mugrosa and La Paz forma-
the basin attests to the prolific petroleum system tions that make up the Casabe field were depos-
active in this region. A thick, organic-rich lime- ited during the Paleogene Period. These are
stone and shale succession was deposited in an found at depths of 670 to 1,700 m [2,200 to
extensive pericratonic trough along the north- 5,600  ft]. The reservoir sands in the field are
west margin of the Guyana shield during the classified in three main groups: A, B and C,
Cretaceous Period.4 These underlying source which are subdivided into operational units
rocks are separated from the primary reservoirs (above). Sands are typically isolated by imper-
by an Eocene unconformity. Major fluid-migra- meable claystone seals and have grain sizes that
tion mechanisms to fields within the MMVB con- vary from silty to sandy to pebbly.
sist of direct vertical migration where La Luna Structurally the Casabe field is an 8-km
Formation subcrops the Eocene unconformity, [5-mi] long anticline with a three-way closure,
lateral migration along the Eocene sandstone well-defined eastern flank and a southern plunge.
carrier and vertical migration through faults. The northern plunge is found outside the area of
ORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure 02
4. Pericratonic is a term used to describe the area around a Jones SH, Barker MHS, O’Donoghue J, Mohler CE,
stable plate of the Earth’s crust (craton). Dubois EP, Jacobs C and Goss CR: “General Geology and
5. Although the exact fault locations were not well-defined, Oil Occurrences of Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia,”
by conservatively locating the wells away from the in Weeks LG (ed): Habitat of Oil. Tulsa: The American
fault zones the waterflood planners ensured wells Association of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG Special
remained within the correct block and inside the Publication 18 (1958): 641–695.
western fault closure. 7. For more on undeveloped areas in the Casabe field:
6. For more on historical structural maps from the Casabe Gambaretto W, Peralta J, Cortes G, Suter A, Dederle M
field: Morales LG, Podesta DJ, Hatfield WC, Tanner H, and Lozano Guarnizo E: “A 3D Seismic Cube: What For?,”
the Casabe field in the Galán field. A high-angle
NE-SW strike-slip fault closes the western side of
the trap. Associated faults perpendicular to the
main fault compartmentalize the field into eight
blocks. Drilling is typically restricted to vertical
or deviated wells within each block because of
heavy faulting and compartmentalization.
Throughout the history of the field, develop-
ment planners have avoided placing wells in the
area close to the western fault. This is because
reservoir models generated from sparse 2D seis-
mic data, acquired first around 1940 and later in
the 1970s and 1980s, failed to adequately identify
the exact location of major faults including the
paper SPE 122868, presented at the SPE Latin American
and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference,
Cartagena, Colombia, May 31–June 3, 2009.
8. Peñas Blancas field, discovered in 1957, is located 7 km
[4 mi] to the southwest of the Casabe field. Both fields
have the same operator. The area between the fields was
surveyed because oil indicators were found.

6 Oilfield Review
main strike-slip fault. The lack of a more accu-
rate structural model caused two main problems:
Reservoir engineers underestimated OOIP and
waterflood planners found it difficult to locate
injector-producer pairs within the same reservoir
and, to a lesser extent, within the same fault
block.5 These uncertainties led the managers and
experts of the 2004 Casaba alliance to build a
multicomponent redevelopment plan.
Ecopetrol SA has long-standing experience in
and knowledge of the field and the measures
undertaken to keep it producing decade after
decade. Schlumberger provides new oilfield tech-
nologies to the operator, including seismic sur-
veying, downhole measurements, data analysis
and specialized drilling, as well as domain exper-
tise to decipher the challenges faced. With these
capabilities the alliance was confident it could
obtain results within a year.
The key goals of the redevelopment plan were
to increase reserves, manage the waterflood pro-
grams more efficiently and address drilling-
related problems such as reactive lithology,
tripping problems, low ROP, borehole collapse
and washouts, and completion challenges such as
poor cementing and casing collapse. Tackling
each of these elements involved close collabora-
tion between the operator’s professionals and
technical experts from the service company. The
first stage of the project involved a thorough field-
wide analysis based on existing data and the gath-
ering of new data using the latest technologies,
such as 3D seismic surveys and 3D inversion.
Undeveloped Areas and Attic Oil
Forty years ago it was common to create struc-
tural maps by identifying formation tops from
well data. With hundreds of evenly distributed
wells this task was quite straightforward over
most of the Casabe concession.6 However, a large
undeveloped area near the main NE-SW strike-
slip fault encompassed over 20 km2 [7.7 mi2].
Smaller undeveloped locations also existed.7
A lack of well log data in these undeveloped
areas meant that formation tops were not avail-
able to create structural maps for several key
areas of operator interest. As a result, significant
potential oil reserves were possibly being over-
looked. To improve structural understanding and
help increase reserves, Ecopetrol SA commis-
sioned a high-resolution 3D seismic survey.
Geophysicists designed the survey to encom-
pass both the Casabe and Peñas Blancas fields
and also the area in between.8 WesternGeco per-
formed the survey during the first half of 2007,
acquiring more than 100 km2 [38 mi2] of high-
resolution 3D seismic data; data interpretation
followed later that year. The new data enabled
creation of a more precise and reliable structural
model than one obtained from formation tops,
with the added advantage of covering almost the
entire Casabe concession (below).
In addition to accurately defining the struc-
ture of the subsurface, seismic data can also give
reservoir engineers early indications of oil-
bearing zones. In some cases oil-rich formations
appear as seismic amplitude anomalies, called
bright spots. However, these bright spots do not
guarantee the presence of oil, and many opera-
tors have hit dry holes when drilling on the basis
of amplitude data alone.

Formation Tops Seismic Data

Depth, ft Depth, ft
3,300 3,300
N N
Structural Sketch
with Well Locations

0 1,000 2,000 m
4,050 4,900
0 3,000 6,000 ft

N
4,800 6,500
Area not
drained
or drilled

Well location

0 1,000 2,000 m 0 1,000 2,000 m

0 6,000 ft 0 6,000 ft

> Casabe structural maps and model. Structural maps of the field were
generated using formation tops from well logs (Formation Tops). But
operators avoided drilling along the main strike-slip fault for fear of exiting
the trap; hence, tops were unavailable (Structural Sketch, red-shaded area).
This poorly defined and undeveloped area represented significant potential
reserves. High-resolution 3D seismic data were used to create a refined set
of structural maps (Seismic Data). These maps indicate additional faults in
the field and adjusted positions of existing faults compared to the formation
top maps. Calibration of the new maps from existing well logs further
improved their accuracy. Geophysicists input the maps into Petrel software
to form a 3D structural model of the subsurface (inset, right). (Figure
adapted from Peralta-Vargas et al, reference 1.)

Spring 2010 7
 Typical amplitude signature properties.10 Geophysicists calibrated these esti-
Bright spots
mates using data acquired by a suite of new-
generation logging tools (see “New Wells and
Results,” page  15) in approximately 150 wells.
Offset Using these calibrated rock types, geologists
created a facies distribution map, which they
AVO anomaly
combined with the structural model to create a
model of reservoir architecture.
The architectural model highlighted more
Offset
than 15 reservoirs with an average thickness of
3  m [10 ft] each. Reservoir engineers analyzed
10 of these reservoirs and discovered an addi-
Uncorrected common tional 5 million bbl [800,000 m3] of estimated
midpoint gather
reserves.11 The geologic model was then used dur-
AVO-corrected ing the waterflood redevelopment process to help
amplitude map
improve both areal and vertical sweep efficiency.

Effective Waterflooding
When the Casabe field was switched from natural
drive to waterflood in the late 1970s, the operator
chose to use a typical five-spot pattern with
approximately 500 injector and producer pairs.
To sweep the upper and lower sections of Sands A
and B, up to four wells were drilled per injection
location (next page, bottom). During the initial
waterflood period, injection rates peaked in 1986
Amplitude anomaly and 1991. These dates correspond to the first and
second year after the beginning of the two water-
flood programs for the northern and southern
areas of the Casabe field.
Two to three years after each peak there was
a noticeable drop in the water-injection rates.
This was due mainly to the restrictions imposed
Undeveloped area
on the rates to avoid casing collapse. However,
Offset Hydrocarbons
the reduction in water-injection rates was also
influenced by several other factors. These issues
> Minimizing uncertainty of amplitude anomalies. Bright spots (top left) are high-amplitude features on were identified in the alliance’s redevelopment
seismic data. These features can indicate oil accumulations, although they are no guarantee. One
plan and became a large part of the requirements
technique for understanding bright spots begins with modeling the amplitudes of reflections from
reservoirs containing various fluids (top right). The amplitude at the top of a sand reservoir filled with for reworking the Casabe waterflood programs.
water decreases with offset. The amplitude at the top of a similar reservoir containing gas can
  9. For more on AVO analysis: Chiburis E, Franck C,
increase with offset. The results are compared with actual seismic traces containing reflections from a Leaney S, McHugo S and Skidmore C: “Hydrocarbon
sand reservoir (bottom left) to more accurately characterize reservoir fluid. Combined with other Detection with AVO,” Oilfield Review 5, no. 1
information such as seismic inversion data, AVO-corrected amplitude maps (bottom right) can be a (January 1993): 42–50.
useful tool to confirm the presence of oil (light-blue areas). (Figure adapted from Gambaretto et al, 10. For more on inversion: Barclay F, Bruun A,
reference 7.) Rasmussen KB, Camara Alfaro J, Cooke A,
Cooke D, Salter D, Godfrey R, Lowden D, McHugo S,
Özdemir H, Pickering S, Gonzalez Pineda F, Herwanger J,
Several conditions can create misleading faults is uncertain. Interpretation of the Casabe Volterrani S, Murineddu A, Rasmussen A and Roberts R:
“Seismic Inversion: Reading Between the Lines,”
amplitude anomalies, but careful processing and 3D seismic data clarified field corridors where Oilfield Review 20, no. 1 (Spring 2008): 42–63.
interpretation can distinguish them. Analysis of wells had not been planned because of the uncer- 11. Amaya R, Nunez G, Hernandez J, Gambaretto W and
Rubiano R: “3D Seismic Application in Remodeling
amplitude variation with offset (AVO) corrects tainty surrounding the main fault position. Wells Brownfield Waterflooding Pattern,” paper SPE 122932,
data during the common midpoint gathering have since been drilled along these corridors presented at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean
Petroleum Engineering Conference, Cartagena de
process (above).9 Using AVO-corrected amplitude with successful results (next page, top). Indias, Colombia, May 31–June 3, 2009.
ORSPR10—Michael
maps as an additional verification tool, interpret- Moody—Figure 04
A detailed geologic model provided a better 12. For more on understanding high-mobility ratios:
ers were able to confirm both undeveloped and understanding of the subsurface conditions, Elphick JJ, Marquez LJ and Amaya M: “IPI Method:
A Subsurface Approach to Understand and Manage
attic oil accumulations. which helped during the waterflood planning and Unfavorable Mobility Waterfloods,” paper SPE 123087,
Attic oil is an old concept. Operators know drilling processes. Prestack inversion of the 3D presented at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean
Petroleum Engineering Conference, Cartagena,
there can be oil in these higher zones, but identi- survey data yielded fieldwide estimates of rock Colombia, May 31–June 3, 2009.
fying them is difficult if the exact location of

8 Oilfield Review
 0 1,000 2,000 m Block VIII
0 6,000 ft

Block VII 400

600
New well

Block VI 800

Depth, m
Undeveloped
1,000

Block V
N
Block IV Attic oil
1,200 B sands
Attic oil
Block III C sands
Drilled wells
1,400
Approved locations
Proposed locations
Undeveloped areas
Blocks I and II
1,600

> Attic well. Experts had long predicted a field corridor along the main
strike-slip fault, but the lack of accurate seismic data made the risk of
drilling these zones too high. Interpretation of the 2007 3D seismic survey
enabled geophysicists to identify undeveloped drilling locations (red
ellipses, left) close to the major fault. A new offset well, approved for Block
VIII, was very close to the main strike-slip fault (dashed-green box, left). 3D
seismic data and structural maps (middle) visualized using Petrel software
helped well planners position the well. The trajectory avoided major faults
and targeted a large undeveloped zone and two attic oil zones in the B and
C sands (right). The wells constructed during the first and second drilling
campaigns were vertical; in the third campaign, especially from late 2008
onward, most of the wells drilled were offset wells in target pay zones close
to faults. (Figure adapted from Amaya et al, reference 11.)

Spontaneous Depth, Injection Production

Potential ft Resistivity A1 A2 B1 B2 A B CBA
The operator had recorded early water break- Formation –80 mV 20 Sand 0 ohm.m 20
through in the field’s producers during both La Cira
Shale
waterflood programs. This was a result of injec- 2,500
tion water channeling inside high-permeability
layers. Also, a poor mobility ratio was present
throughout the field: Viscous oils (14.8 to 23.3 API
3,000
Colorado

gravity in the upper sands and 15.4 to 24.8  API

Upper sands

A1
gravity in the lower sands) were pushed aside by
the more freely flowing water, and once break-
through occurred the water influx increased.12 3,500

These conditions caused a poor vertical sweep A2

Oligocene

efficiency average of only 20%.

A3
4,000

ORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure
B1 SUP 05
B1 INF
. Casabe field injection and production scheme. 4,500

Original field-development plans included as B2 SUP

Mugrosa

many as four wells per injection location to flood

Lower sands

the multilayered sands (blue wells). Up to two

wells were used to extract oil, but in some 5,000
B2 INF
locations a single production well commingled
fluids from Sands A and B, B and C, or A, B and C
B3
(green wells). The current string design for new
injector-producer pairs, shown in a later figure, 5,500
limits drilling to only one well per location. This
change has reduced cost and also the incidence
La Paz

C
of proximity-induced well collapse. (Figure
adapted from Peralta-Vargas et al, reference 1.)

Spring 2010 9
 Waterflood Patterns in Block VI Sand production and high-velocity jetting of
sandy water through perforations significantly
eroded casing walls and completion hardware in
1986
the producers. During a critical period of the
3,000 waterflood, numerous wells collapsed and were
abandoned or taken off line. To sustain production
levels the operator chose to convert many injec-
2,400 tion wells to producers, but this drastically
affected the waterflood patterns (left).
Choking back injection rates to mitigate
1,800 well collapses was another factor that caused an
North, ft

uneven water-flow pattern. Areal sweep was poor,

resulting in many areas of bypassed oil. The
1,200 field’s redevelopment team wanted to reestablish
patterns to improve areal sweep efficiency.
Therefore, a large part of the third drilling cam-
600 paign involved planning and placement of new
injectors and producers. These were located to
recreate an evenly spread network of wells
0 throughout the field. However, areal sweep is
0 750 1,500 2,250 3,000 3,750 largely dependent on obtaining good vertical
East, ft sweep efficiency. Waterflood specialists first
Fault traces needed to design better injection control systems
Top of A sands Producers that would improve vertical sweep and also pro-
Top of B sands Injectors vide a mechanism to reduce the damaging effects
Top of C sands of water channeling on the production strings.
Vertical sweep efficiency is determined by the
2003
effectiveness of water, flowing from injector
3,000 wells, at pushing oil through permeable layers to
formation-connected oil producers. The original
multiwell injector design had no injection profile
2,400 control, so water flowed preferentially through
the most permeable formations. This water-
channeling effect is aggravated by several mech-
1,800 anisms: Shallower sands can be unintentionally
North, ft

fractured during waterflooding, significantly

increasing permeability. The injectivity index of
1,200 deeper layers may suffer if low-quality injected
water causes plugging of perforations or deposits
of scale in the production casing. Also, injected
600 water bypasses viscous oil, present in large
amounts in the Casabe field, and breakthrough
takes place in producers. As a consequence,
0 water flows through the layer of highest permea-
0 750 1,500 2,250 3,000 3,750 bility and may not be injected at all in others,
East, ft especially in the deeper sands with skin damage.
> Comparison of 1986 and 2003 waterflood patterns. By 1986 the operator had This has been a distinctive feature during Casabe
established an evenly distributed network of five-spot injection patterns throughout production operations.
the Casabe field (top). Well collapses had occurred in nearly 70% of the wells in To optimize flooding, water management spe-
Block VI, and a significant number of collapses had been recorded in all other cialists recommended selective injection strings
blocks in the field. In 2003 (bottom) many of the collapsed wells remained abandoned
or inactive and numerous injectors had been converted to producers. Experts
using waterflood-flow regulators (next page).
suggested a new drilling campaign to reestablish fieldwide five-spot patterns. These designs would enable the operator to choke
(Figure adapted fromORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure
Elphick et al, reference 12.) 07 back injection rates in specific layers irrespective
of the reservoir pressure, permeability, skin dam-
age or any other factors that would normally
affect flow. Each layer is packed off to prevent any

10 Oilfield Review
fluids within that zone of the wellbore from invad-
ing another zone. An injection nozzle is located
within this section and is controlled from the sur-
face. The new selective-string designs have
improved the vertical sweep efficiency by enabling
the operator to maintain higher injection rates
into layers less affected by waterflood-induced
problems. Conversely, the new designs have miti-
gated issues related to channeling by allowing a
reduction of rates in problematic layers.
Use of a single well designed with packed-off
flow control was also much more cost-effective
than the previous design of up to four wells per
injection location. Up to 16 water-flow regulators
have now been installed in injectors in the
Casabe field. This solution also addressed the
possibility that drilling several injectors in close
proximity to one another was one of the likely
causes of casing collapse.
Overcoming Drilling Difficulties
From first production in 1945 to the end of 2006,
approximately 45% of the production wells in the
Casabe field had at some point collapsed, with
different levels of severity. As a result, wells were
abandoned, left inactive or reactivated only after
costly workovers. The abandoned and inactive
wells represented millions of dollars in capital
investment in the field and in lost revenue due to
lower production rates. The majority of casing
collapses had occurred in Block VI, which also
has the largest proven reserves. It was therefore
the focus of a casing-collapse study.13
In the first stage of the Block VI study,
production engineers gathered casing-collapse
statistics. In 2006 this block contained 310 wells.
A total of 214 showed some degree of collapse.
Slightly more producers than injectors collapsed,
but the difference was minor and indicated no
trend. Of the total number of wells with recorded
collapse events, 67 were abandoned and 80 were
inactive, a factor that the operator knew would
severely impact injection and production rates.
The remaining wells had been reactivated after
costly workovers. The engineers then looked for
a correlation between the 214 collapses and
when these wells were drilled to identify any
drilling practices that were incompatible with
the Casabe field.
Three main drilling campaigns coincided with
the primary-recovery, or natural-drive, period
(1941 to 1975); the secondary-recovery, or water-
flood, period (1975 to 2003); and finally the
waterflood period of the Casabe alliance (2004 to
present). Of the wells drilled during the first
campaign, 78% had casing-collapse events during
Spring 2010
Four-zone injector schematic
Gamma Ray
0 gAPI 150
Spontaneous
Potential Resistivity
Sand –80 mV 20 0 ohm.m 15
A1H
Packer
A2
WFR
A21
Perforations
A3
> Selective injection design. New injection strings in the Casabe field have up
to 16 waterflood-flow regulators (WFRs). WFRs and check valves prevent
backflow and sand production in case of well shutdown. The zone-isolated
injection devices are placed in the highly layered stratigraphic profiles of the
most-prolific producers that commingle fluids from A, B and C sands.
Production logs are unavailable because of rod pumps, but injection logs are
available: Track 1 describes a typical lithology of A sands (yellow shaded
areas); spontaneous potential logs (blue curves) are more accurate than
gamma ray logs (red curve) in the presence of radiation from feldspar, which
occurs naturally in the field. Track 2 shows resistivity response of the formation
at two measurement depths (red and blue curves) and water-injection zones
(green shaded area). (Figure adapted from Elphick et al, reference 12.)
operation. In the second campaign this figure the production engineers to display both models
was slightly less, at 68%. This period, however, in the same 3D window. Using modeling tools,
corresponded to the waterflood programs; hence they could then tag and clearly see the wellbore
many more wells had been drilled. During the depths and the locations along the Casabe struc-
study period there were no recorded collapse ture where collapses had been recorded.
events in Block VI for wells constructed in the The engineers discovered that casing collapse
third drilling campaign. This change was consid- had occurred in all stratigraphic levels. However,
ered to be a result of improved drilling practices, collapse distribution did highlight a strong cor-
which are discussed later in this section.
ORSPR10—Michael relation to the overburden
Moody—Figure 08 and to the water-
To determine a link between casing collapse flooded formations. The analysis of well location
and subsurface conditions, the investigators con- 13. Olarte P, Marquez L, Landinez G and Amaya R: “Casing
sidered the updated stratigraphic and structural Collapse Study on Block VI Wells: Casabe Field,” paper
SPE 122956, presented at the SPE Latin American
models built from the new 3D seismic data. and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference,
Petrel seismic-to-simulation software enabled Cartagena, Colombia, May 31–June 3, 2009.
11
 80

70
Production wells Injection wells
60
Number of collapse events

50

40

30

20

10

0
A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C
Overburden Colorado Mugrosa La Paz Faults

Stratigraphic formation

> Areal and stratigraphic localization of casing collapse in Block VI. Statistical analysis of casing-collapse events within each stratigraphic section (left)
showed collapses in every formation. However, event frequency in the overburden and in the waterflooded zones (mainly Sands A1, A2, B1 and B2) was
several times higher than in other zones, indicating these intervals are more likely to cause collapse. Using Petrel modeling tools, engineers included Block
VI casing collapses in the structural model. A structural map of one reservoir (right) indicates collapses occurred throughout the block and not in any
specific area. (Figure adapted from Olarte et al, reference 13.)

Casing Liners
within the field and well-collapse distribution
7-in. H40 7-in. J55 7-in. K55 7-in. N80 65/8-in. H40 65/8-in. J55 revealed an evenly spread number of events,
20 lbm/ft 20 lbm/ft 23 lbm/ft 23 lbm/ft 20 lbm/ft 20 lbm/ft
0 which indicated no areal localization (above).
The next stage of the study was a probabilistic
500
analysis to evaluate the frequency of events
1,000 based on two variables: number of casing-
collapse events and operational year. Production
1,500
engineers created probabilistic distributions by
2,000 plotting both variables for each drilling campaign
Fluid level, ft

using the Monte Carlo simulation component of

2,500
the Crystal Ball software. The results showed the
3,000 highest number of events (about 30) for the wells
ORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure 09 drilled during the first drilling campaign occurred
3,500
in 1985, coinciding with the beginning of the first
4,000 major waterflood program.
0% wall loss 20% wall loss Interventions were more frequently per-
4,500
10% wall loss 30% wall loss formed on wells drilled during the second drilling
5,000 campaign, which meant that the timing of each
collapse event was recorded with greater cer-
> Critical fluid levels for production casing and liners of the first drilling campaign. Testing using
tainty than for wells drilled during the first drill-
TDAS software determined the critical load condition for fluid evacuation in Block VI wells from the first
drilling campaign. Casing (green box, left) and liners (red box, right) were tested first to obtain critical ing period. Therefore, the probabilistic analysis
fluid-evacuation levels based on original design specifications and again after calculations of 10%, 20% was even more reliable. It revealed that casing
and 30% wall loss. All wells for the simulation were at depths of 5,000 ft; depending on the amount of wall collapse occurred primarily during the first few
loss, a collapse was probable as borehole fluid levels fell. For example, 7-in., 20-lbm/ft API Grade H40
casing strings could collapse even at their installed condition when the fluid was evacuated past 3,200 ft. years of the waterflood project and peaked during
Wells that passed the first simulated test failed when wall loss was increased. This result indicated 1988. Investigators identified a critical period of
that corrosion or general wear-and-tear (causing wall loss) would have weakened casing or liners
to the limit of collapse when the fluid level dropped to values that had been recorded in the field.
(Figure adapted from Olarte et al, reference 13.)

12 Oilfield Review
time during which collapse frequency was high. 30
Critical collapse period
This period coincided with the most intense rates Second drilling
25
of water injection (right). campaign

Number of wells collapsed

The next stage of the study evaluated the 20
mechanical integrity of the wells in the Casabe
field. This evaluation found that for the producers 15
First drilling campaign
in Block VI collapses occurred only in the produc- 10
tion liners and casing. To uncover the root causes
for all these collapses, every event was evaluated 5
using TDAS tubular design and analysis software.
0
The application enables analysis of the mechani-

1947
1949
1951
1953
1955
1957
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
cal performance of a casing in two scenarios.
Operational year
First, an initial installed state considers the origi-
nal casing-design specification and downhole con-
ditions such as temperature and pressure. The
105
next scenario includes subsequent operationally Critical collapse period
induced events such as injection and production

Injection and production rate, bbl/d

that are interpreted as forces on the casing, called
case loads. Engineers analyzed case loads for
compressional, tensional and triaxial stresses. Water injected
104
To begin, engineers needed to define the
installed condition, characterized by tempera-
ture, pressure and casing strength, for casing
Oil produced
designs in Block VI. Then they could apply case
loads to determine when a casing would fail.
103
Pressure and temperature profiles for each well
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
were calculated using logs from the Casabe field.
Operational year
Because corrosion also significantly reduces cas-
ing strength, the USI tool, which measures ultra- > History of casing-collapse frequency. The frequency of collapse events by
sonic acoustic impedance, was used to determine year was plotted for the first and second drilling campaigns (top). In 1985 the
highest frequency (28) of reported events was recorded for wells from the first
the loss of wall thickness attributed to corrosion drilling campaign. For wells from the second drilling campaign, which occurred
(see “Scanning for Downhole Corrosion,” page 42). during the waterflood period, the peak frequency (20) of reported collapses
According to the USI data, wells exhibited wall occurred in 1988. Both values correspond to the beginning of the waterflood
programs in the northern and southern areas of the Casabe field. A critical
losses between 10% and 35%. Engineers defined
10-year period from 1985 to 1995 was identified as coinciding with the highest
four corrosion profiles at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% rates of production and water injection (bottom). (Figure adapted from Olarte
wall loss. These four profiles were combined with et al, reference 13.)
pressure and temperature data to generate the
installed conditions that engineers needed to
begin simulation of operational loads. After analysis of the casing design chosen Once all critical limits and conditions for
Engineers performed hundreds of simulations for wells during the first drilling campaign, the Casabe field had been obtained, production
using the TDAS software. The first analysis con- engineers discovered that the specifications engineers ran simulations for several casing
sidered fluid evacuation, a decrease of fluid level had resulted in casing strings that were not strings with different specifications to find an
in the borehole, which can be a critical load con- robust enough to withstand fluid evacuation optimal design for future wells. The TDAS simula-
dition for casing collapse. Fluid levels in the well- combined with the wall losses observed in tions enabled them to specify an ideal model that
bore may become low during the productive life Block VI (previous page, bottom). would give an estimated service life of 20 years.
of a field for several reasons. These include low The final mechanical analysis was related to This model has been applied to all new wells
productivity, increased extraction during produc- the main operational events leading to casing col- drilled throughout the field, with a successful
tion, sand fill, decreased water injection, and lapse. The reservoir pressure profile within the reduction in the frequency of recorded casing col-
swabbing and stimulation operations, all of which ORSPR10—Michael
formation during water injection Moody—Figure
could impact lapse to less than102% of wells from 2006 to 2009.
had taken place in the Casabe field. When fluid the casing in both producers and injectors. The This is a dramatic improvement compared with
level drops, the internal pressure no longer bal- calculated increase in load from waterflooding events during the previous 60 years, in which 69%
ances the external pressure and the casing must was applied to casing that had passed critical of wells in Block VI experienced collapses.
sustain this force. The critical load condition for load conditions in the earlier simulations; the
casing collapse occurs when the differential pres- new test would determine if the additional pres-
sure is higher than the casing can withstand. sure could cause them to collapse. This analysis
indicated that waterflooding increased the like­
lihood of casing collapse.

Spring 2010 13
Schematic of First Four Sections of the Original BHA with a Concentric Bit Together with the results from the other
major milestones of the field-redevelopment
81/2-in. bit 61/4-in. miscellaneous sub 61/2-in. collar 81/2-in. OD stabilizer plan, the new casing designs enabled the alliance
to begin a new drilling campaign. The third
campaign began in 2004, and by 2007 a total of
37 wells had been drilled. The alliance wanted to
drill as efficiently as possible to improve produc-
tion, but problems were encountered during
drilling. These included stuck pipe caused by dif-
Design Improvements of Bicentric Bits and RWD ferential sticking in depleted reservoirs, prob-
lematic wiper trips resulting from highly reactive
shales and well control issues introduced by
water influx from the waterflooding.
To address the hole-stability and stuck-pipe
problems, the redevelopment team began by
improving the drilling fluid design. Drillers had
been using the KLA-GARD mud additive to pre-
vent clay hydration, but it had little to no
Pilot bit Reamer Pilot bit Reamer success at inhibiting reaction in the troublesome
Casabe shales. Consequently, Schlumberger and
28 cutters 33 cutters 26 cutters 27 cutters M-I  SWACO initiated an investigation to find a
5 nozzles 2 nozzles 6 nozzles 2 nozzles
5 blades 4 blades 4 blades 4 blades more effective shale inhibitor.
13.4-mm cutter 13.4-mm cutter 19-mm cutter 19-mm cutter Laboratory analysis of 13 different fluid addi-
tives was conducted to compare their reaction-
Modification: Stabilization
pad and guardian bearing inhibiting capabilities on Casabe lithology.
to drill out Experts deduced, from core and cuttings sam-
ples, that the clays and shales were highly reac-
tive to water; therefore, the optimal drilling fluid
must prevent water from contaminating them.
Washout log
The KLA-STOP mud system was compatible with
the Casabe shales and had the best properties for
inhibiting these reactions: Its fluid composition
includes a quaternary amine that prevents water
from penetrating target formations by depositing
a synthetic coating along the borehole wall.
When the new system was put to use, however,
it did not meet expectations, and the reactive
lithology continued to affect drilling time. Design
iterations continued until 2008; at this point
experts had increased KLA-STOP concentration
to 2% and added 3% to 4% potassium chloride
[KCl]. However, hole problems persisted and
experts concluded that another contaminant
could be affecting the mud system. Using core
samples from a wide range of wells, analysts mea-
sured pore throat sizes and laboratory specialists
performed mineralogical analysis to determine
Before After the causes.
> New versus old drilling design. Original drilling designs included a traditional polycrystalline diamond
14. For more on bicenter bits and reaming-while-drilling
compact bit (top), but swelling clays caused problems during tripping. Engineers designed a reaming- technologies: Rasheed W, Trujillo J, van Oel R,
while-drilling (RWD) BHA that incorporated a smaller pilot bit and a reamer (tan box). RWD enabled Anderson M, McDonald S and Shale L:
oversized boreholes, which helped compensate for swelling and achieve target diameters for casing. “Reducing Risk and Cost in Diverse Well Construction
Further optimizations included larger cutters and a backup set of cutters to improve ROP (blue box). A Applications: Eccentric Device Drills Concentric Hole
and Offers a Viable Alternative to Underreamers,”
change in the number of nozzles and in the nozzle diameter dramatically reduced the washouts that
paper SPE 92623, presented at the SPE/IADC
were causing cementing problems (bottom). The decision to redesign the bit was made partly to cope Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, February 23–25, 2005.
with clay reactions. A new mud system has successfully inhibited the clay, and engineers are now
reconsidering a concentric bit to improve drilling efficiency.
ORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure 14

14 Oilfield Review
 The tests indicated that concentrations of
smectite, previously identified as the swelling
clay, decreased with depth. But the mineralogical
analysis also revealed the presence of illite and
kaolinite, which were not included as part of the
original mud system investigation. These disper-
sive clays break off into the mud upon contact
with water, causing drilling problems such as bit
balling, and also increase the viscosity of the
mud, making mud-weight curves less accurate. A
more complete understanding of downhole con-
ditions enabled engineers to design a new mud
system with improved KLA-GARD B and IDCAP D
clay inhibitors. KCl was completely removed from
the fluid, helping to reduce environmental
impact and cleanup.
The mineralogy study showed why drilling in
the waterflooded zones was obviously problem-
atic. Existing methods to avoid water influx
involved shutting in several injection wells up to
several weeks before drilling to reduce pressure.
In one extreme case 40 injectors were taken off
line to drill just 2 wells, which ultimately reduced
production rates.
Experts looked into the different ways they
could reduce water influx while also limiting any
effect on the waterflood programs. Instead of
shutting in injectors they could increase produc-
tion in layers that were drilling targets, even if
this meant producing large volumes of water. In
addition, connected producers that were cur-
rently shut in could be reactivated, and if they
had no pump, there was a possibility that enough
pressure had built up for them to flow naturally.
Only after these steps were taken and deemed
insufficient would the alliance consider shutting
in injectors.
Another part of the investigation involved
reducing injector shut-in time. To avoid water
inflow, injectors were taken off line 15 days
before drilling commenced. However, it was
found that to avoid water delivery from the injec-
tor to the drilling location, injectors could be
shut in just before the drill bit penetrated the
connected zone. Also, with the production-based
pressure-reducing measures, injector shut-in
time was reduced from seven days to just two,
depending on the level of production.
The continuing difficulties with stuck pipe and
tripping problems led the alliance to seek other
options. After initial analysis of the drilling-related
issues, engineers selected a bicenter bit and ream-
ing-while-drilling technologies.14 A pilot well,
Spring 2010
CB-1054, was drilled with the new hardware, and New Wells and Results
tripping times were notably reduced. Engineers The sands in the Casabe field have been exten-
used the results from the pilot well to optimize the sively developed, but it is common in mature
bit and BHA designs. Experts ran unconfined com- fields to find oil in unexpected places. For exam-
pressive-strength tests on core samples taken at ple, some zones in the Casabe field were over-
numerous depths from several wells in the Casabe looked because the presence of low-resistivity
field, which returned values from 585 to 845 psi pay is difficult to detect using traditional resis­
[4.0 to 5.8  MPa]. The results from this analysis tivity tools; alternative tools are discussed later
allowed the engineers to optimize the number of in this section. Other zones in the field were inac-
primary cutters and to introduce backup cutters cessible because a lack of structural data made
on the drill bit (previous page). the drilling risk too high. Using structural infor-
Since the introduction of new technologies mation acquired by the alliance, the operator is
and updated practices, the drilling problems now developing the highest section of the Casabe
faced in the Casabe field have been resolved. field’s anticline structure in the B sands within
Better quality holes have increased the effective- Block V.
ness of cementing jobs. Tripping times have been Only one well in this block, the wildcat
reduced by more than 22%. Higher ROPs have Casabe-01 located downdip in the flank of the
been achieved with updated cutter configura- anticline, exhibited oil shows in the thin sands
tions and a PowerPak XP extended power steer- within the attic zones, but these zones had never
able hydraulic motor (below). The majority of been tested. A new well, located updip of the
new wells in the Casabe field have directional wildcat well, was proposed to develop the A
S-type boreholes deeper than 5,200 ft [1.6 km] to sands. After reviewing the new 3D seismic data
avoid collisions with existing and new wells or to and the projected length of the oil leg, geoscien-
reach reserves in fault zones. tists revised the total depth for this newly pro-
posed well and suggested deepening it to reach
the B sands.
18
Average drilling time
for year
15
12
Number of days
Optimized wells in 2009, average depth 5,400 ft
9
2010
6
3
0
2004 to 2006
2007
2008
2009
CB 1125D
CB 1127D
CB 1126D
CB 1271D
CB 1140D
CB 1129D
CB 1251
CB 1110D
CB 1147D
CB 1184D
CB 1137D
Well
> Drilling results. The new RWD and bicenter bit drilling technologies have
had18a considerable impact, improving hole quality, reducing total trip times,
increasing ROP, minimizing stuck-pipe risk, reducing backreaming operations,
and improving the quality of primary cementing jobs. Average drilling-job times
have15been cut15.3
from 15.3 days to 6.8 days.
Average drilling time, days
13.5
12
11.4
10.5
9
6 6.8
3 15
0
 Resistivity Data from this new well included chromatog- LWD tool indicated the compartment was at
Invaded Zone raphy performed on mud from the B sands, original pressure. Interpretation of data from
0.1 ohm.m 1,000
which revealed well-defined oil shows, and log the CMR-Plus combinable magnetic resonance
AIT 90-in. Array
0.1 ohm.m 1,000
interpretation confirmed the oil presence. This logs confirmed movable oil (below). The interval
AIT 60-in. Array oil is due to a lack of drainage from the updip was completed and the well produced 211 bbl/d
0.1 ohm.m 1,000 wells. New data acquired with the PressureXpress [34 m3/d] of oil with no water cut. Historically,
AIT 30-in. Array
0.1 ohm.m 1,000
AIT 20-in. Array New well
0.1 ohm.m 1,000
AIT 10-in. Array Lithology
0.1 ohm.m 1,000 Bulk Density
T2 Distribution Water
3
Permeability 1.65 g/cm 2.65 0 29
Neutron Porosity Oil
Timur-Coates T2 Log Mean
60 % 0 0.3 Sandstone
0.1 mD 1,000 ms 3,000
Schlumberger-Doll Research Small-Pore Porosity T2 Cutoff Bound Water
Depth,
ft 0.1 mD 1,000 Capillary-Bound Fluid 0.3 ms 3,000 Clay 1
4,850

A sands
4,883 to 4,892 ft
MD

B sands

4,900
4,904 to 4,922 ft
MD

4,950

2,000
PressureXpress data Hydrostatic Normal gradient
2,500

3,000
Fault 120 Hydrostatic
5,000 3,500
Depth, ft

Depleted
sands
Fault 130
4,000

4,500

5,000
Original pressure
5,500
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500
Pressure, psi

> Discovering the unexpected in Well CSBE 1069. A new well drilled to reach Sand B in Block V (right) reflected a change in previous practices; in this area
the B sands were considered depleted and invaded by water. After interpretation of mud logs indicated oil shows in two locations, Schlumberger acquired
pressure and nuclear magnetic resonance logs in the low-resistivity intervals. Interpretation of the CMR-Plus log (left) confirmed the presence of oil
(green-shaded areas Track 4). Pressure data (inset middle) indicated the bypassed oil zones were at original reservoir pressure (blue box) along the
normal gradient.

16 ORSPR10—Michael Moody—Figure 12 Oilfield Review

 Density Porosity
40 % 0
Resistivity Free-Fluid Taper Density Porosity
Invaded Zone 40 % 0 30 % 0
0.1 ohm.m 1,000 Free Fluid CMR-Plus Bulk Water
AIT 60-in. Array 40 % 0 30 % 0 Resistivity
0.1 ohm.m 1,000 CMR-Plus 3-ms Porosity T2 Distribution CMR-Plus Bulk Fluid Spontaneous Potential Invaded Zone
AIT 30-in. Array 40 % 0 0 29 30 % 0 60 mV –40 0.2 ohm.m 20
0.1 ohm.m 1,000 Total CMR-Plus Porosity T2 Log Mean Bound Water Computed Gamma Ray AIT 60-in. Array Bulk Density
Permeability 40 % 0 0.3 ms 3,000 0 gAPI 140 0.2 ohm.m 20 1.65 g/cm3 2.65
Moved Water
Depth, Timur-Coates Small-Pore Porosity T2 Cutoff Caliper AIT 30-in. Array Neutron Porosity
ft 0.1 mD 1,000 Capillary-Bound Fluid 0.3 ms 3,000 Oil 6 in. 16 0.2 ohm.m 20 60 % 0

5,200

Free water

5,250

5,300

Free oil

5,350

> Log confirmation of low-resistivity pay. Well CSBE 1060 log interpretation indicated shaly sand zones with
salinities exceeding 50,000 ppm NaCl. Identifying oil in the presence of high-salinity formation water may be difficult
because resistivity measurements cannot be used to distinguish the two (red-shaded area in Resistivity track).
Shaly sands have higher water content than sand alone, and an alternative to resistivity measurements is needed.
The CMR-Plus tool, which measures relaxation time of hydrogen molecules to identify oil and water, uncovered the
presence of oil (Free oil, red-shaded area). Based on these results the interval was tested and returned clean oil,
confirming low-resistivity pay in the Casabe field.

experts did not look for oil downdip in the
Casabe field because the deeper formation had
been flagged as a water zone.
The field provided another surprise during a
routine replacement of a retired well. A produc-
ing well had been mechanically damaged as a
result of sand production induced by the water-
flood. A replacement was planned using improved
design factors garnered from the casing-collapse
investigation. The operator drilled the well into
the C sands for coring purposes. Before drilling,
this zone was considered to be water prone, but
during drilling, mud log interpretation suggested
there might be oil in these deeper sands. Log
interpretation was inconclusive because of the
low resistivity; a new approach was required to
identify movable oil (above).
Interpretation of CMR-Plus data suggested
movable oil corresponding to the oil shows in the
mud logs. Based on these results, the operator
decided to test the well, which produced
130 bbl/d [21 m3/d] of oil with no water cut. After
six months, cumulative production reached
11,000 bbl [1,750 m3] with no water cut. These
values represent additional reserves where none
were expected.
The Casabe field redevelopment project is
now in its sixth year, revitalizing the mature oil
field. Figures gathered at the beginning of 2010
show the Casabe alliance has increased overall
ORSPR10—Michael
production rates by nearlyMoody—Figure 13
250% since 2004. This
improvement is due in part to a fast-track study
that quickly identified the root causes impacting
the efficiency of the waterflood programs in the
field and discovered additional oil reserves using
newly acquired data.
The collaboration between Ecopetrol SA and
Schlumberger has been notably successful and
the partnership is currently scheduled to con-
tinue the Casabe story until 2014. Production
wells are being added in the newly defined south-
ern Casabe field, enabled by the 2007 3D seismic
survey and improved logging methods. The new
drilling practices and waterflood technologies are
expected to achieve commercial production rates
for many years to come. —MJM

Spring 2010 17