SPE 94941

Well Succeeded Examples of Mature Waterflood Project Revitalization

M.A.F.S. Dria, A.W. da Silva, C.A.C. Franco, M. do S.M.S. Batista, and J.A.M. de C. Jnior, Petrobras S.A.
Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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Abstract
Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo oil fields, located
onshore Northeast region of Brazil, were discovered in the
sixties and quickly put into primary production.
Waterflooding followed in the seventies, trying to restore
reservoir pressure and well productivity.
For more than twenty years, oil production in these fields
was maintainned under infill drilling and addition of new
areas to the waterflood projects. Since production has
reached its technical and profitable limits, oil rates has
reversed to a deep decline.
A strategic IOR project conducted by PETROBRAS
focused on improving waterflooding efficiency in
Carmpolis field, led to significant changes on the
management of that field and Siririzinho and Riachuelo
fields as well, and supported the revitalization process of
these fields.
The results were not only a total reversion but also an
increasing in oil production profile that was declining for
more than ten years. This work presents the results of the
revitalization program in the mature waterflooding projects
of Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo fields, showing the
importance and influence of each decision made during the
project implementations.
Introduction
Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo oil fields are
located in Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, in Northeast Brazil, near
Aracaju (figure 1). Discovered in 1963, Carmoplis field
was quickly put into primary production. In the end of
sixties, oil production started up in Siririzinho and
Riachuelo fields, enlarged the oil production potential of the
area.

Production comes mainly from sandstone and

conglomerates of Muribeca/Carmpolis formation, which
presents a high degreee of heterogeneity. Average oil
density varies from 23 to 28 API and average oil viscosity
from 13 cp to 28 cp at reservoir conditions.
Deep primary production decline of those three fields led
to the implementation of water injection projects in the
seventies, even considering the non-favorable conditions of
rocks and fluids of the producing reservoirs.

BRAZIL

CARMPOLIS
SIRIRIZINHO
RIACHUELO

Figure 1fields

Location of Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo

In the nineties production profile of those fields showed

a deep decline and reservoir pressure presented a significant
depletion. Production forecast pointed to a very long project
life, but low oil prices and the existence of technical
paradigms did not make possible the implementation of any
action to antecipate production.
In 1993, PETROBRAS started a strategic IOR project
(called PRAVAP #1) to improve efficiency of the
waterflood project in Carmpolis field. For five years, this
project targeted the proposal of technical solutions to water
injection profile optimization as well as maximizing

SPE 94941

revenues to match strategic goals in different exploitation

forecasts.
Several existing old paradigms were broken. New
technologies and operational efficiency improvement led to
significant changes on the management of Carmpolis,
Siririzinho and Riachuelo. The result was not only
attenuation but also total reversion and increase of the oil
production profile that was declining for over ten years.
Every forecast from this point on shows a significant
increase in the ultimate oil recovery factor.
This work is a report of well succeeded revitalization of
waterflooding projects in the mature oil fields of
Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo. The importance and
influence of each decision made during the project
implementation, such as increase in injection rates,
improvement in the selectivity of water injection profile,
reducing of well spacing in fields borders and stimulations
in producing wells, will be discussed for each one of those
fields.

Bloco
Principal
Area

Basement
Area

Carmpolis Oil Field

Structural Map

Figure 2 - Structural Map of Carmpolis field

Carmpolis Oil Field

Carmpolis is the largest onshore oil accumulation in
Brazil, with 268 million m of OOIP and a current oil
production of 3,637 m/d in January/2005. Discovered in
1963, Carmpolis field has experienced several pilot
projects for IOR methods in forty years of production, such
as waterflooding, polymer flooding, steamflooding, in-situ
combustion and also Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovey
(MEOR).
Waterflooding and steamflooding are under way in
different zones and areas. Production comes mainly from
waterflooding at present, which comprises 70% of the total
production of the field, with 570 producing wells and 226
injectors in operation. Remaining production comes from
steam flooding projects (20%) and primary production
(10%).
The field is divided into two distincts areas separated by
Carmpolis Fault (figure 2). Basement Area is located in the
Southern, covering an area of 100 km. The production of
this area comes mainly from naturally fractured basement
rocks and represents only 8% of the total production of the
field.
Bloco Principal Area is located in Northeast, covering
an area of around 42 km and comprising 92% of the total
production of the field.
Structurally, Bloco Principal Area is an elongated dome,
oriented from Southwest to Northeast. The main reservoirs
are
sandstones
and
conglomerates
of
the
Muribeca/Carmpolis formation (figure 3), which is divided
into four zones: CPS-1, CPS-2, CPS-3 and CPS-4. The
reservoirs occur at depths from 550 to 800 m, with average
porosity of 17% and permeability of 200 mD.
Waterflooding project comprises all Bloco Principal
Area and targets zones CPS-1, CPS-2 and CPS-3 of
Muribeca/Carmpolis formation.

PETROBRAS

9-CP-564-SE
A

ESCALA: 1/1000
RHOB

GR
0

2
150

550

0,2

ILD

3
2000

CPS1A
1B

B
2

water injection

3A

3B

C
4

BIT
780

Figura 3 Typical log of Muribeca Carmpolis formation

Waterflooding was first initiated in 1968, on a pilot scale

on a 160 acre (0.64 km) inverted nine-spot pattern, located
in the southern part of Bloco Principal Area.
The deep production decline observed led to the
expansion of waterflooding to the central part of Bloco
Principal Area, in 1971, with nine inverted nine-spot pattern
of 40 acre (0.16 km).
Even considering the complexity and heterogeneity of
the reservoirs, represented by faults and lithologic variations
(figure 4), and the adverse fluid mobility ratio,
waterflooding was implemented because of low costs
involved when compared with other methods, and due to the
capacity of pressure maintenance.

SPE 94941

Carmpolis Oil Field

Structural Section

geological structures and rock and fluid properties of each

one of these regions.
These regions present different behavior under
waterflooding. In a general way, regions located in the
central area show better response to waterflooding than
those located in the borders, because of their more favorable
rock and fluids characteristics.

Figure 4 - Structural Section (SW NE) of Carmpolis field

From this point on the project has been experienced

several changes, trying to maintain oil production and to
shorten project life..
In 1978, an infill drilling program was implemented in
the central part of Bloco Principal area, converting the
original nine-spot into a 20 acre (0.08 km) five-spot pattern.
In addition, water injection rate was significantly raised.
After a prompt response, oil production profile showed a
deep decline followed by an elevated WOR in producing
wells. The general perception was that under high injection
rates, water breakthrough was acelerated by the high
mobility ratio of the displacement fluid and high
permeability strikes, which create the belief that high water
rates result in early breakthrough and reduce the ultimate
recovery factor.
Water injection rate was then reduced and a massive
effort in well profile modification, using acidizing and
plugging treatments, was implemented in injectors to
mitigate the problem. Nevertheless, when these treatments
have lost their effectiveness, oil production showed a
significant decline.
In 1983 waterflood was first expanded toward fields
borders, targeting areas to East and West of Bloco Principal
Area, in five-spot patterns of 40 acre (0.16 km). The good
results obtained led to another expansion of the project to
South and Far East areas of Bloco Principal Area.
For more than twenty years oil production was kept
under infill drilling and addition of new areas to the
waterflood projects.
In the nineties combination of low injection rate and the
lack of proper selectivity injection led to a deep production
decline. Significant reservoir depletion was observed and
common pratices used before to maintain production have
reached their technical and profitable limits
In 1993, PETROBRAS started a strategic IOR project
(called PRAVAP #1) to improve efficiency of waterflood
project in Carmpolis field. Many studies were carried out
for five years, with the proposal of technical solutions to
water injection profile optimizations, such as review of
waterflooding operations, improvements in reservoir and
fluid characterization, stratigraphy and structural analysis
and flow simulation.
Waterflooding project of Carmpolis field was then
divided into fifteen regions (figure 5) with the purpose of
helping project management and improving the efficiency
of this method, considering the distinct characteristics of

Figure 5 - Regions of water injection project - Carmpolis field

These regions are also in distinct stages of explotation.

While regions located in central area were in advanced stage
of oil recovery and cumulative injection, regions located in
the borders showed a slow rate of oil recovery and water
injection.
A simplified model based on log (WOR) versus oil
recovery factor (figure 6) was developed with the purpose of
obtaining oil prediction forecasts in waterflooding project of
Carmpolis field. This model consists in history matching a
representative log (WOR) versus oil recovery factor of the
field with one of the four typical curves obtained from
simulation runs, using typical characteristics of rock and
fluid of the field, for different oil viscosities.
The extrapolation of the oil production trend until a
WOR limit of 25 m/m pointed to an ultimate oil recovery
of 29% for waterflooding, higher than the ultimate recovery
previous used of 23.5%. It also indicates a very long project
life, considering current water injection rates of the field.
The low oil prices, the existence of technical paradigms
and the technical and operational limitations, did not make
possible to implement any action to antecipate production, at
this point.
The results obtained during strategic IOR Project
(PRAVAP) have promoted significant changes in the
management of the field and have supported the
revitalization process. Several existing old technical
paradigms were broken, new technologies and operational
efficiency was improved.
Searching for restoring reservoir pressure, attenuating
the deep decline trend, as well as anticipating production,
many actions have been implemented in the field, such as
increase in water injection rates, improvements in the
selective injection, infill drilling and producing well
stimulation.

SPE 94941

100.0

Water injection rate rose from 14,000 m/d to 18,000 m/d,

at this time.
It is important to notice that this significant increase
that has been implemented in water injection rate of
Carmpolis field, since 1995 has been followed by an
intensive effort to promote the proper selective injection and
assure the optimum injection quota for each zone. Oil
producing wells were also converted into injectors,
searching for improvements in waterflooding efficiency of
some patterns.

WOR = 25 m/m

WOR (m /m )

10.0

20000

1.0
15000

oil viscosity = 14,7 cp

oil viscosity = 49,2 cp

Qwi (m /d)

oil viscosity = 26,0 cp

RF = 29%

10000

oil viscosity = 85,9 cp

0.1
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Oil Recovery Factor (%)

5000

Figure 6 - log (WOR) versus oil recovery factor Carmpolis

field

Increase in water injection rates

The results of many reservoir studies carried out during
strategic IOR project (PRAVAP) have made possible the
increase ine water injection rates in Carmpolis field. The
major findings of these studies were:

Water injection rate that was currently used in the

field were far below in comparison with practical
recommended values.

Higher water injection rate do not imply in

significant reducing in final recovery factor.

Water injection selectivity plays an important role

in the results of waterflooding project of
Carmpolis field.

There was not significant effect of capilary

pressure in the final recovery factor, even under
higher water injection rates.

New water injection quota has been calculated for each

injector, based on these conclusions, considering the
cumulative injection of 1.25 pore volume per pattern for
each reservoir and trying to reach the ultimate predicted
recovery at a WOR limit of 25 m/m, until the end of the
concession period (2025).
Increase in water injection rates was implemented in
two stages (figure 7): In the first stage (1995-1999), increase
in water injection rates was implemented mostly in the
central part of the Bloco Principal Area, where the available
injection pressure was high enough to provide the designed
water injection quota. Water injection rate of the field rose
from 10,000 m/d to 14,000 m/d, at this time.
In a second stage (2000-2004), the increase in water
injection rates was implemented mainly in the fields
borders and was preceeded by improvements in operacional
conditions to increase injection pressure of the system.

0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Figure 7 Injection History Carmpolis field

Improvements in selectivity
The high variation observed in permeability profile of
Muribeca Carmpolis formation has affected significantly
the vertical sweep efficiency of waterflooding.
Early efforts to increase water injection rate in
Carmpolis field, without the proper selective injection,
resulted in premature breakthrough.
New reservoirs studies using flow simulation have
showed that selective injection plays an important hole in
the eficiency of waterflooding project of Carmpolis field.
Thus, it has been necessary to a take a great effort to
promote the proper selective injection.
On that purpose, injectivity logs have been run
periodically to evaluate the distribution of water injected
and also to define the best way the injectors must be packed.
These logs also allow evaluating the necessity of performing
any injection profile modification, in order to assure a good
seal between zones, to enhance injectivity in zones with low
permeability and to control injection rates in zones with high
permeability. New technologies and operational efficiencies
were implemented, looking for best results.
Small induced fractures, carefully dimensioned, have
been done by hydraulic fraturing to improve injectivity in
low permeability zones, instead of acidizing, with better
technical and profitable results.
Selective injection completion has been used to promote
the proper selectivity in injectors. Zones with distinct
injectivity index where packed selectivily by using
packers and flow regulators. Selective plugging has been
used only in extreme cases, to isolate a high permeability
zone.

SPE 94941

Hydraulic fracturing in producing wells

In the nineties, the results obtained by hydraulic
fracturing in producing wells were far below forecast
production. Low reservoir pressure was partly responsible
for these poor results. In addition, high costs envolved and
low oil prices, led to a long period without executing any
hydraulic fracturing in the field.
The significant increase in water injection rate that has
been implemented in the field has restored reservoir
pressure and become one of the main factors to restart
hydrauling fracturing in producing wells.
A very successful campaign of hydraulic fracturing has
been done in the field, since 2000, searching for restoring
productivity in producing wells. Figure 8 shows the change
obtained in the production profile of 147 producing wells
that were stimulated by hydraulic fracturing from 2000 to
2004. Oil production has risen almost four times.
Utilization of new techniques, operational optimization
and cost reduction actions, have also contribuited to
economical and technical successful results of these
operations.

an intensive program of infill drilling to reduce well

spacing, followed by an increase in water injection rates,
and improvements in selective injection.
An infill drilling program has been implemented in the
borders since the end of 2001, togheter with an increase in
water injection rate. Figure 9 shows oil production of the 54
wells drilled in Carmpolis from 2001 to 2004. Almost all
drilled wells are located in the borders of the field.
500

400

Qo (m /d)

Cementing corrections were done when necessary, to

assure a good seal between zones with distinct injectivity. A
new technic, called micro-squeeze, was developed to
execute cementing corrections, without damage adjacents
zones, even with a small distance in between.

200

100

0
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Figure 9 - Results of producing wells drilled from 2001 to 2004

in Carmpolis field

Results

1000

Figure 10 presents the excellent results obtained with the

revitalization program of waterflooding project in
Carmpolis field.

800

600

3000

30000

2000

20000

200

0
1990

Qwi (m /d)

400
Qo (m /d)

Qo (m /d)

300

1000

1995

2000

10000

2005

Figure 8 - Results of hydraulic fracturing in producing wells of

Carmpolis field

0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Infill drilling in the borders

Water injection in the fields borders was implemented
using larger well spancing than that used in the central part
of Bloco Principal Area. The combination of worse rock
characterisctics, smaller net-pay of the reservoirs and higher
oil viscosity stopped the implementation of an infill drilling
program in this areas, for a long time. In addition, the low
injection rates led to a very long project life.
New reservoir studies carried out in the 2000s showed
the feasibility of anticipating production in these areas, with

Figure 10 Water Injection and oil production history of

Carmpolis field showing the results of revitalization program.

Increase in water injection rates followed by the proper

selective injection, hydraulic fracturing in producing wells
and infill drilling in the borders were the main reasons for
the increase in oil production rate.
It is also important to notice that technical and
operational improvements play an important hole in this
revitalization process.

SPE 94941

Focusing on the last period of oil production history of

Carmpolis field, one can see that oil production rate has
been raised since 2000, reverting a declining trend that has
been observed for over ten years ( figure 11). Current oil
production is 40% higher than that predicted production
without revitalization.
This revitalization process also provided an enhanced in
ultimate recovery factor (RF) from 23.5% to 29%.
Production forecast shows a reduction of 30 years in the
project life, when compared with previous predictions.
3000

Qo (m /d)

2000

1000

A complete review of geological structural map and cuttoff parameters were carried out in the beggining of ninities,
supported by a 3-D seimic. The results led to an infill
drilling program started in 1996. In the last four years 27
producing wells were drilled.
Oil production forecast based on log (WOR) versus oil
recovery pointed to a very long project life considering
current water injection rate, at this time. Increase in injection
rates was implemented, trying to revert the production
decline and antecipate production.
Hydraulic fracturing, properly designed to generate
small induced fractures in injectors, were largely used to
restore well injectivity and also to improve injectivity in
zones with low permeability.
Progressive cavity pumps (PCP) have been installed in
injectors, when necessary, to provide an injection pressure
above fracturing conditions and thus, promote the injectivity
required to reach water injection quota.
A successful campaing of 54 hydraulic fracturing in
producing wells was done from 1999 to 2004, searching for
restoring productivity in producing wells.
Results

1996

2000

2004

Figure 11 Oil production history of Carmpolis field

showing the results of revitalization program

Siririzinho field
Siririzinho field was discovered in 1964 and
waterflooding project started up in 1972, on a pilot scale,
with eight five spot pattern. The target is the oil of Muribeca
Carmpolis formation with an average density of 25 API
and oil viscosity of 13 cp. The reservoirs occur at an average
depth of 500 m, with average porosity of 18% and
permeability of 230 mD.
Waterflooding project comprises 191 producing wells
and 116 injectors in operation, at present. Current oil
production was 877 m/d and water injection rate reaches
4138 m/d in January/2005.
This project has experienced several changes such as
addition of new areas and infill drilling, in order to oil
production maintenance and production antecipation. As
production has reached its technical and profitable limits, oil
rates has reversed to a deep decline. In the nineties,
Sirizinho field showed a deep decline in oil production.
Injectivity loss, caused by progressive plugging in
perforatings, has frequently been reported in the field.
Frequent workover operations for acidizing, were required
in injectors in order to maintain injectivity and water
injection rate.
In the middle nineties, high cost of acidizing, low oil
price and recurrent problems with reinjected water treatment
led to a high injectivity decline.
Following the results obtained by the strategic IOR
program (PRAVAP) focused on Carmpolis field, a
revitalization program was started up in Siririzinho field in
middle nineties.

Figure 12 presents the results obtained by the

revitalization program of waterflooding project in
Siririzinho field.
The major reasons for these good results were increase
and maintenance of water injection rates followed by the
proper selective injection, hydraulic fracturing in producing
wells and infill drilling program..
1200

12000

800

8000

400

4000

Qwi (m /d)

1992

Qo (m /d)

0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Figure 12 Water Injection and oil production history of

Siririzinho field showing the results of revitalization program

It is also important to notice that the implementation of

water injection above fracturing pressure, using progressive
cavity pumps (PCP) in injectors, plays an important hole in
this revitalization process.
Focusing on the last period of oil production history
(figure 13) one can see that oil production rate has been
raised, reverting a declining trend that has been observed for
more than ten years. Current oil production is four times
higher than that predicted production without revitalization.
This revitalization process also provided an increase of
20% in the OOIP and in oil reserves of the field. Production

SPE 94941

forecast shows a reduction of 30 years in the project life,

when compared with previous predictions.
1000

1000

10000

800

8000

600

6000

400

4000

200

2000

600

200

0
1992

1996

2000

2004
0

Figure 13 Oil production history of Siririzinho field showing

the results of revitalization program

Riachuelo field was discovered in 1961 but was only put

into production in 1968. Waterflooding project has started
up in 1977, targeting the oil of Muribeca Carmpolis
formation, wich has an average density of 28 API and an
average viscosity of 15 cp at reservoir conditions. The
reservoirs occur at an average depth of 400 m, with average
porosity of 19% and permeability of 60 mD.
Waterflooding project comprises 200 producing wells
and 90 injectors in operation, at present. Current oil
production was 437 m/d and water injection rate reaches
2619 m/d in January/2005.
This project thas been experienced several changes all
over the years, as occurred in Carmpolis and Siririzinho
fields, such as addition of new areas and infill driling
programs. In the nineties oil production was showed a deep
decline.
A revitalization program was started up in Riachuelo
field in middle nineties, based on the results obtained by the
strategic IOR program (PRAVAP).
Oil production forecast based on log (WOR) versus oil
recovery pointed to a higher ultimate recovery factor than
that used in previous prediction.
An increase in injection rates was implemented, trying to
revert the production decline and antecipate production.
From 1999 to 2004, 35 producing wells were drilled and
21 hydraulic fracturing were done.
Progressive cavity pumps (PCP) have been installed in
injectors, when necessary, to provide an injection pressure
above fracturing conditions and thus, promote the injectivity
required to reach water injection quota.
Results
The results obtained with the revitalization program of
waterflooding project in Riachuelo field are presented in
figure 14. The major reasons for the good results that have
been obtained were increase in water injection rates,

Figure 14 Water injection and oil production history of

Riachuelo field showing the results of revitalization

Focusing on last period (figure 15) of oil production

history one can see that oil production rate has been raised,
reverting a declining trend that has been observed for more
than ten years. Current oil production is twice higher than
that predicted production without revitalization.
This revitalization process also provided an enhanced in
ultimate recovery factor (RF), from 19.2% to 29%.
800

600

Qo (m /d)

Riachuelo Field

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

400

200

0
1992

1996

2000

2004

Figure 15 Oil production history of Riachuelo field showing

the results of revitalization program

Conclusions
The revitalization process of mature waterflooding
projects of Carmpolis, Siririzinho and Riachuelo field were
supported by the results of a strategic IOR program, which
broke old technical paradigms, implemented new tecnology
and promoted a total review in the development plan of
these fields.
The results obtained were increase in oil production,
antecipation of oil production and improvements in ultimate
oil recovery factor.

Qwi (m /d)

400
Qo (m /d)

Qo (m /d)

800

hydraulic fracturing in producing wells and infill drilling

program.
It is also important to notice that the implementation of
water injection above fracturing pressure, using progressive
cavity pumps (PCP) in injectors, plays an important hole in
this revitalization process.

The major reasons for these successful results that have

been obtained were increase in water injection rates
followed by the proper selective injection, hydraulic
fracturing in producing wells and infill drilling program.

Acknowledgements
We acknowledge Petrobras for authorizing the publication
of this paper.

Nomenclature
OOIP = original oil in place
IOR = improved oil recovery
Qo = oil production rate
Qwi = water injection rate
WOR = water oil ratio
3D = Three dimensional
mD = milliDarcy
cP = centipoise
PCP = progressive cavity pump
Conversion Factors
Meters (m) = 3.281 feet (ft)
Cubic meters (m) = 6.290 barrels (bbl)
Cubic meters (m) = 0,028 cubic feet (ft)

References
1- Mezzomo, R. F., Luvizotto, J.M., Palagi, C.L. Improved
Oil Recovery in Carmpolis Field: R&D and Field
Implementations, paper SPE 59280 presented at 2000
SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, April
3-5.

SPE 94941