Chapter 10

El Furrial Oil Field

A New Giant in an Old Basin
Rodulfo Prieto
Gustavo Valdes
Lagoven, SA., Pefroleos de Venezuela, SA
Caracas, Venezuela

ABSTRACT
In 1978, Lagoven, S.A., an affiliate of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.,
started an exploration program aimed at deeper targets on the
northern flank of the Eastern Venezuelan basin, where the shallow
upper Tertiary section had been explored for more than eight
decades. The quality of the seismic data collected was sufficient
to give indications of thrust faults with associated structures.
From 1978 to 1985, geologic surveying, structural modeling, and
interpretation of seismic data were combined to define the first
prospect: El Furrial. The discovery well, FUL-1, penetrated 276
m (905 ft) of net oil sand and produced up to 7331 bbl of 26°
API oil per day. This is the largest single discovery of medium-
gravity oil in the last 25 years in South America. Folding and
thrusting of the northern flank of the Eastern Venezuelan basin
occurred during the collision of the Caribbean and South American
plates. The evolution began at least by the early Paleocene.
Cylindrical folds associated with thrusts are aligned in series for
a distance of up to 70 km. They constitute a typical foreland
overthrusted basin. The reservoir rock is a shallow marine sand-
stone deposited during the late Oligocene. Gross thickness ranges
from 457 to 518 m (1500 to 1700 ft), and porosities range from
11 to 16%. The El Furrial discovery represents an excellent example
of the prospectivity of a foreland overthrusted area and also an
example of continued successful exploration to pursue deeper
objectives in an area already considered mature.

155
156 Prieto and Valdes
INTRODUCTION
The Eastern Venezuelan basin is the second most impor-
tant oil province in Venezuela, after the Lake Maracaibo
basin. It is located in northeastern Venezuela (Figure 1)
and encompasses the Anzoategui-Guarico and Monagas
states. The northern limit is the Interior Range, and the
southern limit is the Guayana shield. The Eastern Vene-
zuelan basin is divided east-west into two subbasins: the
Maturin subbasin to the east, where El Furrial field lies,
and the Guarico subbasin to the west (Figure 2). This
paper presents the results of an integrated exploratory
campaign that led to the discovery of a giant field: El
Furrial.
The Eastern Venezuelan basin has been developed
over the last 60 years in the traditional fields of Jusepin,
Oficina, Orocual, and Quiriquire, where light oil and gas
have been produced from the northern flank of the basin
and heavy oil from the southern area.
Recent exploratory programs have led to the discov-
ery of deep targets on the northern flank of the Eastern
Venezuelan basin, where the shallow upper Tertiary sec-
tion has produced more than 1.8 billion bbl of oil in the
last eight decades.
The discovery of El Furrial gave renewed strength to
petroleum exploration for deeper targets on the northern
flank of the Eastern Venezuelan basin.
Quiriquire field, which was discovered in 1928 (Figure 3),
has produced over 900 million bbl of oil from Pliocene-
Pleistocene alluvial fans. The development of new geo-
physical reconnaissance surveys (magnetic and refrac-
tion) allowed the discovery of the Jusepin field (1936) and
the Orocual field (1938). The first seismic reflection sur-
vey was carried out during the early 1940s and led to the
discovery of the Manresa, Santa Barbara (Figure 3),
Mulata, and San Joaquin fields. During the 1960s and
1970s, 30 wells were drilled—mostly to obtain geologic
information (Salvador, 1958)—with very little success.
Only seven wells penetrated deeper than 3960 m (13,000
ft). At that time, geophysical data did not have enough
resolution to identify deeper traps.
In 1978, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. started a cam-
paign of exploration for deeper targets. A regional seismic
reflection survey of 916 km was conducted using Vibro-
seis as a source. Although the quality of the data acquired
was average to poor, interpretation of these data allowed

EXPLORATION HISTORY
Oil exploration in the Eastern Venezuelan basin began in
the nineteenth century (1890) in the Guanoco area (Figure
3), where commercial production was established in 1913
with the drilling of the Babaui-1 well in the vicinity of jjjjjjjgj EL rumiM. ME>
Guanoco Lake in the state of Sucre.
Numerous oil seepages along the foothills led to
exploratory campaigns aimed at shallow targets in the
upper Tertiary section (Pereira and Aymard, 1988). The FIGURE 2. Venezuelan oil basins.

FIGURE 1. Location map showing the Eastern Vene- FIGURE 3. History of exploration in the Eastern
zuelan basin. Venezuelan basin (after Pereira and Aymard, 1988).

several prospects to be defined in a structurally complex
area, one of which was El Furrial field. During 1984 and
1987, 5000 km of new seismic data was acquired using
Vibroseis and dynamite in a previously planned testing
program for design of the field parameters. Figure 4
shows a seismic line through El Furrial field. Excellent
resolution of up to 4.5 sec was obtained.
Parallel with the acquisition of the new seismic data,
a drilling campaign was begun with two wells: ORS-52 in
the Orocual field and FUL-1 south of the traditional
Jusepin field. Excellent results were obtained from the
two wells. Condensate was produced from the ORS-52
well, and a giant field with almost 1 billion bbl of oil in
place was discovered in a new area called El Furrial.
STRATIGRAPHY
The sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Eastern Vene-
zuelan basin shows the existence of five sedimentary
cycles (Prieto et al., 1989; Figure 5; Table 1). These cycles
were divided by maximum condensed surfaces (Brown,
1989) as a result of the provinciality of these events. There
are several parasequences (Vail et al., 1984) bounded by
unconformities or their correlative conformities (not
described here).
Cycle I began with a regressive sequence of mostly
sandstones and siltstones associated with a fluviodeltaic
system on a passive margin (Barranquin Formation),
followed by the deposition of mostly deeper water shales
of the Garcia Formation (also described as a basal member
of the El Cantil Formation; Rosales and Claxton, 1969).
During the Albian, the platform stabilized and bio-
genic limestones of the El Cantil Formation were formed.
A major transgression occurred from the Cenomanian to
the Turonian with the deposition of calcareous black
shales that constitute the source rocks for most of the oil
found in northern Monagas (Querecual Formation).
Cycle II began during the Coniacian with a regressive
system. Several submarine fans from this time period
FIGURE 4. Structural interpretation of seismic line
NM-84B-05 through El Furrial field.
El Fin-rial Oil Field 157
have been identified to the north, probably associated
with a relative sea level drop and a type I unconformity
(Vail et al., 1984). The subsequent rise of sea level formed a
retrogradational lowstand wedge of the San Juan Forma-
tion capped by the Vidono Formation without abundant
glauconite and high in gamma ray radioactivity. The
Vidono Formation corresponds to a major condensed
section (Cabrera and Pizon, 1989).
Cycle III began with a regressive sequence of the
Caratas Formation. The tectonic activity probably was
initiated during this period. A major (probably eustatic)
unconformity resulted from the deposition in the El Fur-
rial area of Oligocene sediments (Naricual Formation) on
top of Cretaceous strata. At this time, increased subsi-
dence resulting from the incipient uplifting of the Interior
Range created space on the southern flank of the basin.
The systems retrograded toward the south, and from the
early Oligocene to the middle Miocene an onlap sequence
was deposited. The top of this recessional sequence is a
condensed section represented by the Areo and lower
Carapita formations.
Cycle IV was marked by the sedimentation of the
Carapita Formation, which resulted from the arrival in
the area of a major river system that deposited a thick
shale sequence. Coalescence of several delta systems
associated with the Oficina Formation prograded from
southwest to northeast.
The upper portion of the Carapita Formation is asso-
ciated with tectonic pulses of the uplifting of the Interior
Range. Molasse-type sand lenses are present in the
sequence. The upper Carapita lies unconformably under
the La Pica Formation.
Cycle V is bounded by unconformities formed after
the uplifting of the Interior Range by the deposition of
coarse-grained elastics associated with the tectonic activ-
ity in the area. The upper Miocene-Pliocene sediments
(La Pica and Las Piedras formations) were deposited in
paleolows created by the tectonic activity. The lithology is
mostly shale interbedded with sandstones that have been
FIGURE 5. Depositional systems in the Eastern Vene-
zuelan basin.
158 Prieto and Valdes

TABLE 1. Sedimentary cycles in the Eastern Venezuelan basin.

Cycle Age Formations

I Barremian-Turonian Barraquin, El Cantil, Chimana, Querecual (MCS)

II Coniacian-late Paleocene San Antonio, San Juan, Vidofio (MCS)
III Early Eocene-early Miocene Caratas, Los Jabillos, Naricual, Areo (MCS)
IV Early Miocene-middle Miocene Carapita
V Late Miocene-Pliocene/Pleistocene La Pica, Las Piedras, Quiriquire, Mesa

productive in the Jusepin, Santa Barbara, and Mulata
fields.
Figure 6 shows the stratigraphic chart used in this
report.
STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK
The Eastern Venezuelan basin was formed during the
transcollision of the Caribbean plate with the South
American plate. It represents a wedge of sediments, de-
posited during the Cretaceous to the early Tertiary, that
was folded and thrusted during the late Tertiary. The
transition from a passive margin to a foreland basin
started during the Oligocene (Prieto et al., 1989).
Figure 7 presents a schematic profile of the region
from the EI Pilar fault to the Guayana craton. Three struc-
tural provinces can be differentiated:
1. The allochthonous block.
2. The frontal thrust belt or parautochthonous block.
3. The extensive or autochthonous block.
The allochthonous block outcrops in the Interior
Range. The main structural features are large-scale con-
centric folds oriented N70°E. These folds are continuous,
measuring up to 70 km long by 5 km wide. Surface work
suggests a total shortening for the basin of about 40 km,
which represents 28% (Rossi et al., 1987).
The Pirital fault complex represents the southern
limit between the allochthonous block and the parau-
tochthonous block. The major structural features found in
this area are overthrusted faults identified by seismic
data. Interpretation of seismic data shows three main
thrust faults characterized by concentric folding that are
similar to the t h r u s t faults to the n o r t h but lower in
amplitude (18 to 10 km in width). Figure 8 indicates the
three main thrusts and the location of El Furrial field. The
thrusts are mostly blind thrusts that usually end on mud
volcanos and that can be followed for many kilometers
trending parallel to the main anticlines. The El Furrial
trend includes the Carito, Tejero, Boqueron, and El Furrial
fields. The chronology of deformation has been inter-
preted as decreasing in age toward the south and east.
Toward the south, the autochthonous block is charac-
terized by normal faults trending in an east-west direc-
tion. Traditional oil fields—the Greater Oficina field, the

sw
SYSTEM / SERIES EL FURRIAL OROCUAL QUIRIQUIRE

PLEISTOCENE
PLIOCENE

| > > I ] UPPER TERTIARY

OLIGOCENE
| 1 LOWEH TERTIARY

EOCENE j | UPPER CRETACEOUS

PALEOCENE

r^T? W///A LOWER CRETACEOUS

UPPER

EL CANTIL ? ^

Bbnn&NOUIN 1
JF" ] h , V | BASEMiNT

FIGURE 6. Generalized stratigraphic chart for the FIGURE 7. Regional cross section through the East-
Eastern Venezuelan basin (see Figure 5). ern Venezuelan basin.

FIGURE 8. Regional tectonic framework of the El
Furrial area.
Anaco field, and the Orinoco tar belt area—are present in
this region.
RESERVOIR CHARACTERISTICS
El Furrial field is part of a large anticlinal fold truncated
on the south by a major thrust fault and on the north by
the Masacua thrust fault. The anticline is 10 km long by 8
km wide and has a vertical closure of 915 m (3000 ft; Fig-
ure 9). The most important reservoir rocks found in the
field correspond to the Oligocene Naricual Formation.
The discovery well, FUL-1, penetrated the reservoir
at a depth of 3960 m (13,000 ft) and found a total pay zone
of 276 m (905ft).The Naricual Formation consists of rocks
in a shallow marine environment deposited as a retrogra-
dational sequence that is more marine toward the upper
FIGURE 9. Structural map of top of the Naricual For-
mation. Contour interval = 800 ft.
El Furrial Oil Field 159
Gamma Ray Resistivity
\i
(
i S
^ii4
BARRIER
BAR
LAGOON
BARRIER
BAR
N^
\-3_
LAGOON
BARRIER
I;I
^2 BAR
iii
i
FIGURE 10. Typical lithofacies of the Naricual reser-
voir sands (after Ghosh et al., 1989).
section. The type log and the sedimentological interpreta-
tion are shown in Figure 10.
In addition, the lower sequence of the Upper Creta-
ceous section was drilled by the FUL-4 well, which found
378 m (1240ft)of net pay sand.
Petrophysical and sedimentological analyses of the
reservoir, including the acquisition of 1014 m (3325 ft) of
cores in the 17 wells perforated, allowed subdivision of
the stratigraphic characteristics of the Naricual Formation
into three units: lower, middle, and upper.
The lower unit has the greatest thickness, represent-
ing almost half of the formation. Net oil sand thickness is
about 58 to 93 m (190 to 305 ft). The middle unit is differ-
ent from the upper and lower ones owing to a greater
number of shale breaks. Net oil sand thickness varies from
29 to 65 m (95 to 213 ft). The upper unit has fewer shale
breaks than the other two members. The average porosity
in the Naricual Formation varies from 13 to 17%.
The subjacent Cretaceous rocks are composed of
sands interbedded with shales and constitute a smaller
pay zone varying from 57 to 85 m (187 to 279 ft) thick.
These rocks are of lower reservoir quality, exhibiting
porosities ranging from 9 to 11% and lower permeabilities
(Ghosh et al, 1989).
Table 2 summarizes the reservoir characteristics and
petrophysical parameters. Figure 11 is an isoporosity map
of the upper unit of the Naricual Formation.
PRODUCTION DATA
The results of a regional geochemical analysis show that
the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Campanian) Quere-
cual and San Antonio formations are the source rocks
responsible for the hydrocarbons in the Eastern Venezue-
lan basin. Talukdar et al. (1986) have given estimated TOC
values of 0.25 to 6.6%, maturities from 0.6 to 1.3% R,, (Tmax
between 440 to 550°C), and a hydrocarbon yield content of
454 mg HC/g TOC. The oil found in El Furrial field is
160 Prieto and Valdes

TABLE 2. Reservoir characteristics and petrophysical parameters for El Furrial field.

Water Shale
Net oil sand thickness Porosity saturation volume
Formation m ft (%) (%) (%)

Upper Naricual 58-93 190-306 14-17 11-17 0.8-4.8

Middle Naricual 29-65 95-214 13-16 11-17 0.5-5.8
Lower Naricual 84-126 275-413 13-17 13-21 0.5-6.1
Cretaceous sequence 57-85 188-279 9-11 17-35 6.8-10.7

11 A'

^Hm 11O0'

FIGURE 11. Isoporosity map of the upper Naricual FIGURE 12. East-west stratigraphic cross section
Formation. Contour interval = 2%. correlating three wells in the El Furrial field. See Figures
9 and 11 for location. NOS = net oil sand thickness.

described as mature and was derived mostly from amor-
phous marine organic matter. Geochemical data indicate
that oil was generated from kitchens active from the late
Miocene to the Holocene beneath the main thrusts.
Six reservoirs have been defined: four in the Naricual
Formation and two in the Cretaceous sequence. A corre-
lation of three wells is depicted in Figure 12.
The discovery well, FUL-1, penetrated the upper
Oligocene Naricual Formation at a depth of 3960 m
(13,000 ft) and found a total of 430 m (1410 ft) of sandstone
and 276 m (905 ft) of net oil pay. Initial production tested
7331 BOPD on a Vi-in. choke. The gravity of the oil was
26.5° API.
Seventeen wells had been drilled in the field as of
January 31,1989, with a production rate of 102,000 BOPD
and a cumulative production of 49.553 million bbl. Analy-
ses of production data (PVT and pressure) indicated a
total OOIP of 4.467 million bbl and primary oil recovery of
893 million bbl.
No oil-water contact has been found, and the drive
mechanisms are interpreted as fluid and rock expansion
and gas in solution. The average pressure of the produc-
tive reservoirs is 11,000 psi, and the bubble point pressure
is about 4600 psi. In two wells, FUL-3 and FUL-6, heavy
oil was found, indicating the presence of at least two
different reservoirs in the area. The tar mat represents the
northern and southern limits of the reservoir.
The limits of the field have been established (see
Figure 9). To the north and south, the field is bounded by
a tar mat at depths of -4756 m (-15,600 ft) and -4512 m
(—14,800 ft), respectively, and to the east and west by tear
faults.
The information obtained from the exploration pro-
gram allowed the planning of a development program
comprising 43 wells spaced at 1200 m, with an evaluation
plan that included logs, cores, fluid analysis, and dynamic
testing (RFT, DST, and PVT). The program illustrated in
Figure 13 includes 68 completions with a total of 25 dual
completions. Each dual completion has a potential pro-
duction rate of 13,000 BOPD. The total estimated produc-
tion rate is 180,000 BOPD for 1990, increasing to 220,000
BOPD over a period of four years. The production profile
shown in Figure 14 includes a secondary recovery pro-
gram of pressure buildup starting in 1994.
 El Furrial Oil Field 161

billion bbl for the Eastern Venezuelan basin. It reactivated

the exploration activity in this area, which had been
suspended since 1960.
® Further exploration in an area previously thought to
' •
• be mature led to the discovery of yet another giant field in
• • •1 the Eastern Venezuelan basin. Geophysical data indicate
• o* 0 FUL-1
that the structural trend extends toward the northeast.
\^ • » c
9 •» cy/ ^ u\n
Persistence and new ideas will be required if new giant
4) •© • c %/ • / fields are to be pursued in the adjacent areas.
\ o p» ^ «P
\D ° C
• • * ^> '*^/ LE8EN0

V u ©
#

O
UPPER NARtCUAL
MIDDLE NARICUAL

LOWER NARICUAL
(is)
im
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
in @ CRETACEOUS (31
The authors received support from tl station and
Exploration groups from the Geolo irtment of
Lagoven, S.A. Special thanks go to Ma , Maria de
FIGURE 13. Development program for El Furrial Salazar, and Daisy Perez de Mejia for tl al reading
field. (Parenthetical numbers in legend denote numbers of of the manuscript.
completions.)

FIGURE 14. Production profile of El Furrial field,
including secondary recovery program.
CONCLUSIONS
The discovery of El Furrial field identified a new play in
the upper Oligocene section that holds more than 80% of
the field reserves.
The Oligocene sandstones were deposited in a near-
shore marine environment. Barrier bars are the most
important reservoir facies. The Cretaceous sandstones are
mostly fluviodeltaic.
An early development plan was designed for EI Fur-
rial field to establish a production rate of 220,000 BOPD
by 1994.
The El Furrial discovery opened a whole new per-
spective for the area, with total estimated oil reserves of
5.930 billion bbl for the northern Monagas area and 12.2
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