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Effective Permeability vs. Drainage Radius, Correlation for the Turbidites Oil
Reservoirs?Chicontepec Paleochannel

Article · January 2009

DOI: 10.2118/120267-MS

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SPE 120267-PP

Effective Permeability vs Drainage Radius, Correlation for the Turbidites Oil

Reservoirs.- Chicontepec Paleochannel
Heron Gachuz-Muro, SPE/Pemex E&P

Copyright 2009, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2009 SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference held in the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain, 15–18 March 2009.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract

Chicontepec is associated to a submarine fan system deposited under complex tectono-stratigraphic conditions. Typically,
between 8 and 16 major reservoirs are present. These set of reservoirs is composed of channel complexes that are flanked by,
and rest on, lobe sandstones that grade into distal fan and basin floor deposits, resulting in high heterogeneity. All the
reservoirs have permeabilities of 0.1 to 10 mD and porosities of 5-15 %. Primary recovery by solution gas drive is less than 5
%. The oil density varies from 18 to 45 oAPI depending on his structural position.

An aggressive number of well tests were conducted to characterize the fields in Chicontepec. Theses include build up, fall
off, drawdown and step rate tests. In recent years, the tests were analyzed to identify well and reservoir factors affecting
productivity as well as to determine the effectiveness of well stimulation by fracturing. The typical models used to adjust the
information were both vertical fracture and radial homogeneous models. The effective permeability, as determined for these
tests and/or advanced decline analysis, ranges from 0.1 to 15 mD. The results seem to indicate that the partial closing of the
fractures is caused during the early exploitation. Further analyses suggest that the reservoir rock quality (facies model) along
the linear and/or bilinear flow periods having a link with good production rates.

This paper presents a relationship found between the effective permeability and the drainage radius. This relationship could
be applied to turbidites oil reservoirs with low permeability and low porosity. In order to avoid the interference problems and
to optimize new wells, we propose an optimal drainage radius obtained of well test data, pressure-production history and
composition fluids.

Reservoir Description

Geology.- Chicontepec Paleochannel, geographically, it is located in east-central Mexico in parts of the states of Veracruz,
Puebla and Hidalgo. Chincontepec system was deposited under complex tectono-stratigraphic conditions. Geologically, it is
part of the Tampico-Misantla Basin and covers an area of 3875 km2 (Figure 1). Aproximately half of the Chicontepec
consists of shales or silty shales with the rest of the formation made up of multiple thin sandstones beds and zones of
sandstones beds. Typically, between 8 and 16 major reservoirs are present. These set of reservoirs is composed of channel
complexes that are flanked by, and rest on, lobe sandstones that grade into distal fan and basin floor deposits, resulting in
high heterogeneity. Facies that are present include channels that can extend from the innerfan to the outer reaches of the fan
complex and unconfined fan deposits (lobes) that grade laterally and distally into shelf and basin-floor mudstones, Figure 2.
These facies have very distinctive well log shapes (motifs) that allow the identification of environments of deposition of the
constructional elements of the fan. Typical facies types are present in fan systems and that have been identified in the
Chicontepec are upward coarsening fan deposits, upward fining and blocky channel deposits, interbedded packages and muds
of the outer fan that have a serrate gamma ray response, and the muds of the basin floor, Figure 3.
2 SPE 120267-PP

Figure 1.- Chicontepec Paleochannel location map.

Figure 2.- Depositional model for Chicontepec Paleochannel.

Figure 3.-Typical submarine fan log facies in the Chicontepec fields.

Throughout a period of several decades some exploration wells were drilled based on 2D seismic and log correlations of the
reservoirs. Since 1997 until now, it was adquired 989 km2 of 3D survey in the area. The 3D seismic allowed the identification
of sand bodies with viable pay thickness. The reservoirs do not have either free mobile water or aquifer support.
SPE 120267-PP 3

It had been obtained by x-ray diffraction analysis that the clay cointains dominantly kaolinite with a content of 1 to 5 %. The
sandstones are immature litharenites consisting of quartz grains, abundant carbonate fragments, and granitic fragments.
Because of the abundance of carbonate in the system, the sediments are highly cemented by ferroan calcite and ferroan
dolomite, in addition to quartz overgrowths.

Wettability.- Imbibition and capillary pressure experiments have been conducted in the laboratory using reservoir crude oil
and cores under room and reservoir conditions. The permeability curves indicated intermediate and oil-wet character. Neither
the gas nor the oil curves demonstrate a significant difference among the depositional facies types. Rivera (2003) agreed with
the results above studied. He analyzed an area from Chicontepec where found a tendency preferentially slight oil-wet to
neutral wettability.

Numerous reports of experimental works relating to the role of wettability in aspects like saturation, distribution and flow of
fluids in porous media have been published. Van Lingen and al. (1996) stated that the wettability plays an important role in
trapping in crossbedded sanstones. They focused on the effects of heterogeneities in wettability and pore-structure on the
residual oil saturation in croossbedded reservoirs (associated with fluvial and deltaic deposits). Robin and al. (1995) pointed
out that the wettability in heterogeneous at the pore scale and is related to both mineralogy and geometric parameters.
Mineralogy (composition and size) largely influences wettability of sandstones. For example, kaolinite was found oil-wet,
quartz and feldspar remained preferentially water-wet, illite and dense conglomerate of fine kaolinite also remained water-
wet. Being Chicontepec with abundance of calcite (44 to 73 %), quartz (10 to 44 %), albite (4 to 13 %), dolomite (0 to 7.4 %)
and clays 0-1.6 %; a fractional wettability is considered to be a better definition for the rock matrix.

Direction of Stress.-The fracture orientation (NE-SW) was indicated by observations of cores, by analysis of anelastic strain
recovery data taken from oriented core samples and finally confirmed by fracturing microseismic monitoring field tests,
Figure 4a. The microseismic network consisted in tubing conveyed geophones installed in the wells to be fractured. Measure
the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing operations and mapping the characteristics of fracture were the central objectives in
designing an intensive field program using microseismic technology. Additionally, it was detected that the epicenters events
were not concentrated in the perforation zones, indicating divergences with the results from hydraulic fracturing. Figure 4b
shows the events above and/or below the perforation intervals.There were not coincidences between the horizontal and
vertical extension of epicenters events and the fracture length reported by the operator company. Finally, channeling and poor
cementing were reported.

Figure 4a.- Location of the analyzed events (left hand plot) and azimuth of the acoustic emissions (right hand plot).
4 SPE 120267-PP

A Distance (m)
B
-150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150
1500

1550

1600
Seismic tool
Depth TVD GL (m)

1650

Frac#3

1700

Frac#2
1750

Frac#1

1800

Event Frac#1 Event Frac#2 Event Frac#3

Figure 4b.-Epicentre cross section of seismic event locations.

Development History

Considering the vast size of the area and in order to efficiently handle reserves and production, it was decided to organize the
the region into 8 sections or areas with 29 fields of which two sectors are being exploited. Chicontepec was placed on
production in 1952. The exploitation of the Paleonchannel was postponed because most of the wells showed poor
productivity. The reasons for the low recovery have never been thoroughly understood. Until 2007, 1313 development wells
had been drilled. Some fields were designed by using a 500 m well spacing scheme. Peak production was of 28 Mbls in 2007.
The oil density varies from 18 to 45 oAPI depending on his structural position (at a depth of around 2500 meters). A
formation volume factor of 1.20 m3/m3 and a gas/oil ratio of 63.8 m3/m3 at original reservoir conditions (227 Kg/cm2 and 75
o
C, approximately) are representative values of theses reservoirs. Primary recovery by solution gas drive is less than 5
porcent of oil in place.

In several of the drilled wells up until now, the initial production rate was around 1200 bopd per each member declining in
very short time. After about few months of production, the wells stabilize at around 40 bopd. Many wells are being exploited
with massive hydraulic fracturing, together with artifical lift systems where it goes on a secondary decline. A variety of
different fracturing designs have been used through of the years. Some multiple reservoirs were fractured within the same
wellbore, staged fractures were achieved. The fractures were isolated while a new fracture was realized. Unfortunately, long
operational times caused damage to the formation generating marginal oil rates. During all these years, a diversity of fluids,
proppants and pumping schedules were used to balance the operational and theoretical design consideration, however,
implementations of these technologies have not permitted maintaining or raising the oil rates. Partial closing of the fractures
with declining reservoir pressure is believed to be a cause of such low oil production rates. Considerable additional analysis
and field testing will be required to identify well and reservoir factors affecting the productivity.

Water Injection Pilot Test.- A short-term pilot injection test was carried out in a selected area of two reservoirs from the
Chicontepec Paleochannel. This pilot water injection area was basically an incomplete inverted seven-spot pattern. The pilot
was located in an upward finig and blocky channel deposits. In the other way, the second reservoir contains an upward
coarsening deposit. A multiple rate injection test was corried out at the beginning of water injection. Six differents increasing
flow rates were injected at the central well. Pressure fall-off and interference tests were designed to evaluate any possible
formation permeability change due to the water injected. A tracer program was considered with three chemical tracers and
one radioactive tracer. The results obtained agreed with fluid flow directions inferred from net sand trends correlations and
facies maps developed for the formations within the tested area. For the pilot area was observed that sand continuity and
reservoir rock quality are good in a northern direction from the injector, decreasing in east and southeast directions, which
has a good similarity from the tracer response.
SPE 120267-PP 5

These anwers seems to indicate that numerous reservoirs could benefit from a long-term water injection program. After that,
a multidisciplinary team helped to define an optimum program of water flooding into the best reservoirs.

Data Analysis and Interpretation.- An aggressive number of well tests were conducted to characterize better the fields in
Chicontepec. Theses include build up, fall off, drawdown and step rate tests. It is appropriate to mention that the effective
permeability based on core analysis is less than 10 miliDarcies. In recent years, the tests were analyzed to identify well and
reservoir factors affecting productivity as well as to determine the effectiveness of well stimulation by fracturing. The latest
drawdown tests show low permeabilities (< 12 mD) whereas fall off tests yield closed values to 8 mD. Positive skins are very
widespread. Partial closing of fracture was validated using early (prior to 1975) and recent build up tests. The well 3 (Figure
5) gave a piece of evindence confirming degradated fractures. Material balance decline type curve analysis (advanced decline
analysis) estimated the Original Oil in Place (OOIP) and the effective permeability to oil (range of 0.01 to 15 mD) by well,
Figure 6.

Chicontepec Paleochannel

Well 30
Well 28
Well 26
Well 3
Well 23 December, 1977

Well 21
Well 19
Well 17
Well 15
Well 13
Well 11
Well 9
Well 7
Well 5 August, 2000

Well 3
Well 1
- 50 100 150 200 250
Fracture Length (m)

Figure 5.- Evaluations confirming degradated fractures and maximum distances of fracturing.

Figure 6.-Typical example of a material balance decline type curve analysis.

6 SPE 120267-PP

In 1998, Cinco Ley employed pressure and production data for interpreting the historical behavior from wells. Taking into
account this method, the data of some wells from Chicontepec was collected and used representing a large radius of
investigation, Figure 7. The typical models used to adjust the information were both vertical fracture and radial homogeneous
models (few cases with radial composite model were obtained), Figure 8. These analyses confirmed the presence of linear
and bilinear flow periods associated to the reservoir rock quality (facies model represented below, Figure 9). In general, each
of the evaluated wells has been stimulated with hydraulic fractures. Pre-frac and post-frac tests provided supplementary
soport to the interpretations. Finally, more than 350 results were obtained from well tests.

Figure 7.- Pressure and production data for interpreting behavior wells, adjusted information.

Models Wells

RC, Radial Composite

RH, Radial Homogeneous
VFFC, Vertical Fracture-Finite Conductivity

Well A Well E
VFFC VFFC
Well F Well G
VFFC RC
Well I
Well H
RH
Well J VFFC
Well K
RH RH
Well L
Well M
VFFC
RH Well Z Well AA
Well B Well O Well BB
Well Y
RH VFFC VFFC RH
VFFC RH
Well EE Well CC
Well II Well FF
Well P RH
RH
Well C RH RH RH Well DD
Well GG
Well Q Well JJ Well KK Well H Well X
VFFC RH
VFFC RH RH RH
N VFFC VFFC
Well R Well S
Well T Well U Well V
RH RH
RH RH
RC

Figure 8.-Typical models used to characterize the information in a field from Chicontepec.
SPE 120267-PP 7

Facies Map 10000

Blocky Wells
100

1/Qo (1/bpd)
Upward fining 1
Bilinear flow period
Upward coarsening
0.01
1/4

Serrate
0.0001
1 10 100 1000 10000
Mud Time (Months)

100

1
1/Qo (1/bpd)

Linear flow period

0.01 1/2

0.0001
1 10 100 1000
Time (Months)

Figure 9.- Associated facies to linear and bilinear flow periods (reservoir rock quality).

Applying a modern technical of analysis, it were inferred any problems of interference between wells. This methodology
proved that; in reservoirs with low oil rates and limited drainage radius; some wells decreased oil rates due to the exploitation
of its neighbor. Figure 10 shows a good correlation between the effective permeability versus drainage radius. Data was
obtained and/or estimated based on the results of well tests.We observed from this figure that for values > 10 mD, a drainage
radius of 600 meters (minimum value) would be suggested. The following correlation was developed for turbidites oil
reservoirs with low permeabilities and low porosities:

re= 272.24Ke0.3266

Where

re, reservoir drainage radius, meters

Ke, effective permeability, mD
8 SPE 120267-PP

Effective Permeability versus Drainage Radius

Turbidites Reservoirs with Low Porosities and Low Permeabilities

10000

1000
Drainage Radius (m)

100

10

1
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Effective Permeability (mD)

Figura 10.- Correlation applied to calculate optimal drainage radius.

This correlation can then be used to estimate an optimal drainage radius using the effective permeability from well tests.
Comparing the historical behavior from wells and their analyses is clear that an optimal drainage radius should be considered
to develop new wells.

Figure 11 exemplifies the variability on reservoir quality in terms of cumulative oil production. Note that the cumulative oil
production (Np) is affected by the description of heterogeneities (facies distribution). Figure 12a and 12b show a trend of
better cumulative oil productions toward channel facies in two fields from Chicontepec. It is evident of these figures that
associated facies to upward fining and blocky channel deposits offer superior cumulative oil productions.

Kh vs Np

10000000

1000000

100000
Np (bls)

10000

1000

Np = 7008.6Kh0.5236
100

10
1 10 100 1000 10000
Kh (mD.ft)

Figure 11.- Cumulative oil production affected by rock quality.

SPE 120267-PP 9

8,000,000

7,000,000

6,000,000

5,000,000
Np (bls)

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

0
Central Channel Channel Proximal Lobe Distal Lobe Mud
Associated Facies

Figure 12a.- Cumulative oil production linked to Facies Map, field A.

9,000,000

8,000,000

7,000,000

6,000,000

5,000,000
Np (bls)

4,000,000

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

0
Central Channel Channel Proximal Lobe Distal Lobe Mud
Associated Facies

Figure 12b.- Cumulative oil production linked to Facies Map, field B.

Project Status.- In recent years, it has been drawn up a development plan in the Chicontepec Paleochannel, with work
started in two sectors where the facilities required exists to handle production. The objectives proposed to develop this area
are to accelerate the expansion of the Paleochannel by increasing the oil rate and helping reduce unit operation costs. New
technologies will be analysed and pilot tests will be implemented in some fields.

Conclusions

• A correlation was developed for turbidites oil reservoirs with high heterogeneity (low porosities and low
permeabilities). This correlation allows calculating an optimal drainage radius avoiding interference between wells.

• Cumulative oil production in Chicontepec is affected by the rock quality. Facies distribution influences directly on
the flow of fluids.

• Dynamic reservoir characterization and facies types confirmed the presence of linear and bilinear flow periods.

• Well tests confirmed partial closing of the fractures during the early exploitation in Chicontepec.
10 SPE 120267-PP

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express his appreciation to Pemex E & P for permission to publish this paper.The names of the
many contributors are too numerous to mention; however, thanks to all of them. A special thanks to Raúl Robbins† for your
support and guidance over the last years.

Nomenclature

2D = two dimensions
3D = tree dimensions
M = meters
mD = miliDarcies
Np = cumulative oil production
OOIP = original oil in place
Ke = effective permeability, miliDarcies
re = reservoir drainage radius, meters

Conversion Factors
o
API 141.5/(131.5+oAPI) = g/cm3
o
F (oF-32)/1.8 = oC
bbl x 0.158 9873 = m3
ft3 x 0.02831 = m3
in x 0.0254 =m
km2 x 247.1 = acres
kg/cm2 x 14.22 = lb/pg2

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