Optimizing the Reservoir Management of a Mature Oil Field: The Challenge of Shushufindi

摘要

In early 2012, the Ecuadorian state oil company had the vision of creating a joint venture between PETROAMAZONAS EP and CONSORCIO SHUSHUFINDI, with the objective of revitalizing and re-developing one of Ecuador's major mature fields, Shushufindi-Aguarico. Since its conception the alliance has been very effective, increasing the oil production rate by 70% and reaching a peak production of 80 Kbopd until December 2014. This significant increase in production was mainly the result of an active drilling and workover campaign. However, with this paper we seek to discuss whether it is possible to maintain and/or increase production only through the continuation of drilling and workover activities or if there are other areas of opportunity, namely,the optimization of reservoir management, including improvements in the production/reservoir engineering practices and field operation philosophy. In Shushufindi-Aguarico, the reservoirs in the field exhibit good petrophysical properties, strong aquifer pressure support and a favorable oil to water mobility, all of which results in good production rates followed by water breakthrough and rapidly rising water cuts. In this situation, sets the necessity of optimizing the production of total fluids, i.e. oil plus water and gas, which is a novel paradigm for this field and as such must be reviewed, discussed and practices changed where technically appropriate. It is also noted that although this paper will focus on reservoir management, relevant aspects regarding surface facilities and installation requirements/constraints will also be included in order to provide the full context for the development of the subject and its possible implementation at the full field level.