SPE 75156
Control and Monitoring Techniques of Miscible Gas Injection Project in the Furrial
Field, Venezuela
Miguel Barreto, Luis Itriago, Norelia Millan; PDVSA E&P.
Copyright 2002, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/DOE Improved Oil Recovery Symposium
held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 13–17 April 2002.
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Abstract
The Furrial field is the most important oil field in the East of
Venezuela, with 6880 Millions Barrels of oil initial in place.
The initial pressure is 11.000 psi at a depth of 13.800 ft and it
has an average temperature of 298°F.
To prevent the pressure decline in the reservoir and avoid
asphaltene precipitation problems, flank water injection (450
Mbwpd) project was implemented in 1992 and a miscible gas
injection scheme initiated in 1998, in the crest of the Naricual
Superior reservoir with seven wells injecting a total of 400
MMscfpd. The goal of these projects is to increase the final
recovery from the field.
Due to the large thickness of the oil column (800 feet),
considerable heterogeneity of the reservoir properties and
large damage zones (high skin) observed in the producers and
injectors wells, the gas-injectors exhibit channeling problems
and decrease in injectivity. As a results premature
breakthrough of gas in the producing wells is observed
through sands of high permeability. This put risks to the oil
production and the pressure maintenance program and limits
the sweep efficiency of the displacement process.
In this paper, techniques and tools used to monitor and
control the gas injection are presented. They are used to
diagnostic and to correct the problems of injectivity losses and
gas channeling problems. The techniques are:
1. Control and monitoring at real time of main injection
parameters such as heavy component (C3+) and water (H2O)
content in the gas injection stream, pressure and temperature
of injection stream, injection rates and opening size (%) of
flow valve.
2. Diagnostic: Flow logging tests, saturation logging
tests, chromatographic analysis of produced gas and injection
of chemical tracers.
3. Preventive measures to eliminate channeling and low
injectivity problems such as stepwise perforation, steam tube
stimulation, improving gas conformance by applying Multigel,
use of sand plugs, etc.
Finally, we will present the learned lessons and best practices
of the miscible gas injection project in the hope it will serve as
a world reference for similar projects.
Introduction
The Furrial field is located in the North of the state Monagas,
Venezuela (see Figure 1). The field was discovered in
February 1996, by the well FUL-1 completed in the Naricual
formation, which is of Oligocene age. The discovery well had
an initial production potential of 7300 bpd, while producing an
26 API oil. The Naricual formation has been subdivided in
two members: Naricual Superior and Inferior. The division is
based on the presence a limestone zone indicated by a
waterproof stamp between the two divisions. The initial
pressure was determined to 11,000 psi at a reference depth of
13,800 feet (datum) and an average temperature of 298 °F.
The hydrocarbon column is characterized by a °API variation
with depth, from 29 API oil in the top of the structure down to
an 8 API oil at the flanks. This is a product of a gravitational
segregation process and the presence of heavy components in
the reservoir fluid. A formation of a highly viscous bitumen
layer resulted from this process. This layer is of variable
thickness and hinders the action of the underlying aquifer.
Thereby it is regard as a sub-saturated volumetric reservoir,
where the main production mechanism is rock and fluid
expansion.
The Furrial field is considered one of the most important oil
fields of the East of Venezuela, with 6880 MM Original Oil in
Place.
To prevent the pressure decline in the reservoir and minimize
asphaltene precipitation problems, a flank water injection
project was implemented in 1992 and subsequently a miscible
gas injection scheme in the crest of the Naricual Superior
reservoir initiated in 1998,. (see Figure 2). Laboratory studies
determined that fully miscible displacement would take place
at a pressure of 6.500 psi, injecting an appropriate dry gas.
2 MIGUEL BARRETO
Control and Monitoring of the main injection
parameters
The main parameters of each gas injection well are monitored
directly from the office. This is by virtue of an Automatic
Measurement System installed on each of the 7 gas injectors.
Through this system the engineer can follow from his desktop
all field operations by the field operational information
controller system. It allows observing graphically the
tendencies of various parameters and is used to perform such
plots as e.g. Hall Plots in Excel. The main monitoring
parameters are: valve opening percentage (%V), pressure
before and after the control valve, pressure before and after the
filter, contents of C3+ in the gas (%C3+), gas compressor
discharge pressure, temperature and injection rates. The
control of these parameters in real time allows detecting
anomalies in the system and take immediate actions.
One of the most important parameters for daily monitoring is
the content of heavy components in the injection gas (%C3+).
Small variations in %C3+ can cause severe damages to the
injectivity of the well. An example of this was observed in the
gas injector FUL-71, which lost injectivity from an initial 65
MMscfpd down to 30 MMscfpd. This was due to an increase
in the contents of heavy components in the gas injection
stream (see Figure 3) and it was necessary to do a stimulation
job on the well and thereby reduce the skin-factor.
Diagnostic Techniques
Flow Logging Test. The flow log test is a known technique
and broadly used in the oil industry. These logs are applied in
the gas injectors to determine the vertical distribution of
injection fluid. Due to high heterogeneity in the reservoir
properties, and the presence of high permeability channels, the
flow log tool has proven to be a very useful tool in the Furrial
wells. Every year, two flow logs are planned and runned in
each gas injector well. This allows us to have a good control
of the variations in the gas injection distribution. In the
reservoir, the vertical distribution of gas depends on several
factors. The injection profile changes with time as a function
of oil production in the neighboring wells. A specific example
of this behavior is shown in Figure 4. The injector FUL-72
changed its injection profile abruptly when production from
the high angle producer well FUL-70 was started. This well is
located to the North of FUL-72. The flow logs from both wells
showed a correlation between the production from well FUL-
70 and the gas injection profile from well FUL-72. Since the
gas injection profile changed as soon as FUL-70 began to
produce, the logs showed that the most productive layer in the
producing well now becomes the best injection layer in the gas
injector. In Figure 4 are shown the changes in gas injection
profiles from the FUL-70 well due to the FUL-72 production.
Saturation Loggin Test. One way of knowing if a miscible
process has occurred in the reservoir is by running a saturation
log in the producing wells. El Furrial Field has runned several
saturation logging test and these have shown presence of free
gas in some layers. This is an unfavorable condition for the
miscible process. However, we believe that the presence of
SPE 75156
free gas around the producing well is due to low pressure
conditions in these layers. Thereby miscibility is not fully
obtained. The saturation log displayed in Figures 5 shows the
presence of free gas in particular sand of the reservoir.
Cromatographic Analisys of the produced gas. The
principle of this technique is to take samples of dry gas (gas
from compressor plant) and compare it with the
chromatographic analysis of the produced gas, which has not
been affected by preservatives and only altered during the
process of secondary recovery 1. Composition of the injection
gas was compared against the composition of the associated
gas from the producers, while observing the changes with time
from these samples gathered monthly or biweekly. We
concentrated mainly on the methane/propane relationship that
is present both in the produced and the injected gas. The
advantage of this technique is that we can track the advancing
gas front from the moment it contacts the first line of
producers. We then see an increase in time of the light
components in the producer wells and simultaneously observe
increments in the gas injection rate. This is usually due to a
gas breakthrough in a channel. In this case we are able to
follow and control the work done to improve the injection
profile by this simple technique. Figure 6 shows an application
of this technique.
Injection of Chemical Tracers. A chemical tracer injection
project was implemented in 1999 in order to monitoring the
gas front. This allows us to identify the communication
between producer and injector wells and to estimate accurate
gas breakthrough times. Three chemical tracers were injected:
Hexafluoro Sulfur (SF6), Perfluoromethylcyclopentane
(PMCP) and Perflourodimethylcyclobutane (PDMCB). These
tracers were injected according to the following schedule:
Wells FUC-29 and FUL-67 with SF6; Wells FUC-31 and
FUL-72 with PMCP and the FUL-71 with tracer PDMCB (see
Figure 7).
Until March 2001, 25 oil producing wells were tested and its
gas samples sent to laboratory to detect the tracers present. An
interpretation of these results was only successful in some
cases. In the evaluation a discontinuity was found in the
concentration of the tracer profiles for most of the wells,
which is due to the lack of analytical results which obstructed
the interpretation process. Only 6 wells showed consistency in
the results and allowed to identify the communication between
the injector FUL-71 and the 6 producers located around it and
between the injector FUL-72 and 2 producers and injector
FUC-31 with 2 producers (see Figure 7).
Due to the inconsistency of the previous results, a plan of
extensive monitoring for 6 months, taking one sample
biweekly in selected wells has been employed. This intensive
monitoring program started in May 2001 and finished in
December 2001. Results are not completed yet.
 CONTROL AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES OF MISCIBLE GAS
SPE 75156 INJECTION PROJECT IN THE FURRIAL FIELD, VENEZUELA
Elimination of Channeling and Low Injectivity
problems. Results and Techniques.
The two main problems present in gas injectors wells are
channeling of gas and loss of injectivity. To prevent or solve
these problems we have applied the following actions:
perforation by steps, steam tube stimulations, mechanical
cleanings with coiled tubing, improve gas conformance by
using Multigel and sand plugs. During the years 2000 and
2001 a total of 9 of these actions were carried out. We would
like to highlight that the results from these actions have not
always been successfully, but they have given us valuable
learning for the future. The results of the different actions
applied in all gas injector wells are presented here
Perforating by steps. This technique implies a stepwise
perforation of sands having the same properties. First sands
having the poorest petrophysical properties are perforated
then, after a short injection time, sands of intermediate
petrophysical properties are perforated, also followed by a
short injection time and, finally, the sands of better
petrophysical properties are perforate. This allows all sands to
be subjected to injection and results in more homogeneous
profiles. In Figure 8 are shown the gas injection profiles of
FUC-31 and FUL-84 wells. These wells have homogeneous
injection profiles and this behavior have not changed
with time.
Stimulation with Steam Tube. This technique has been used
in 4 wells with the main objective to increase gas injectivity.
The procedure is the following: preceding the stimulation with
STIMTUBE, 400 barrels of solvent ULTRAMIX are pumped
into the well in two steps. During the pumping of the
ULTRAMIX solvent, the head pressure decrease from 7100
psi to 4000 psi. Then the tool is positioned in front of the
interval to be stimulated and the load is detonated with the
PERCLORATO OF POTASSIUM propelent oxidizer. This is
the well-known "STIMTUBE" technique. The pressure
generated in the formation by the stimulation shock wave is
17,000 psi. Later the stimulation process the well head
pressure decrease to 3700 psi. Then gas injection begins. The
best results were observed in wells FUL-67, FUC-36 and
FUC-29. In these wells, gas injection was found to increase by
50, 40 and 30 MMscfpd, respectively. However, in well FUL-
71 the results were poor and the stimulation process did not
improve the gas injectivity. Results from the stimulation
works in these wells are shown in Figure 9.
Gas Conformance using Multigel and Cement. The first gas
conformance job using Multigel was done in June 2001. The
objective was to isolate the interval 13078'-13090' in the top of
reservoir (see Figure 10) and block the gas flow in this sand.
Around 700 barrels of this product were pumped into 30 feet
of penetration. To carry out this work an expandible pack was
used to isolate the rest of the open intervals and a coiled
tubing was used to inject the Multigel. Finally, after 4 days for
repose, the gas injection could be restarted. A flowing test
3
showed that the Multigel treatment was not enough to block
the flow of gas fully. Therefore, a cement job was applied to
isolate this interval. However, this job was neither fully
successful. Figure 10 shows a sequence of the gas injection
profile observed in this well, before and after this treatment.
Gas Conformance using Sand Plugs. This technique gave us
the best results and has the advantage that it is not very
expensive operation and is of low risk. However, it is a
temporary treatment with the immediate objective to stop the
early gas breakthrough in some producers in order to recover
the production. The effect of a sand plug is immediate. The
case studied for this paper was the FUL-67 injection well,
which had a channeled sand of high permeability which
resulted in premature gas breakthrough in wells FUL-45 and
FUL-30. After the placement of a sand plug, the gas oil ratio
of these wells decreased and they returned their previous
production rates (see Figure 11). We call it a temporary
treatment because sand plugs decrease the net thickness of
injection and put to risk the oil recovery in sands below the
channeled sands. At the moment, the well FUL-67 has two
sand plugs installed and therefore has available for injection
only a third of the total thickness. The plan is to remove these
sand plugs as soon as new improved gel technologies are
available. These applications must take into account
proper safety operations for these high pressure and
temperature wells.
Conclusions and Recomendations
1. The control of the injection parameters (valve opening
percentage (%V), pressure before and after the control
valve, pressure before and after the filter, contents of C3+
in the gas (%C3+), gas compressor discharge pressure,
temperature and injection rates) in real time allows
detecting anomalies in the system and take immediate
actions.
2. Diagnostic techniques as Flow Logging Test, Saturation
Logging Test and Cromatographic Analisys of the
produced gas, should be planned before start a gas
injection project, in order to built a basic profile to
comparing.
3. In a Injection of Chemical Tracers Project, the continuous
monitoring should be started as soon as the tracer is
injected, taking one sample biweekly in selected producer
wells, this allows to detect the tracer presence early.
4. In the reservoir, the vertical distribution of gas injected
depends on several factors, but the most important are
heterogeneity of the reservoir properties and oil
production from neighboor wells. Due to high
heterogeneity of the reservoir properties, and some high
permeability channels, flow logs are useful tool used in El
Furrial field. Every year, at less 2 flow logs are runned in
each gas injector well. This allows to have a better control
of gas injection distribution changes.
4 MIGUEL BARRETO
5. A stepwise perforation of sands having the same
properties, allows to all sands inject and therefore
homogeneous profiles are obtained.
6. The stimulation with Steam Tube technique was used in
4 wells with a main objective; to increase inyectivity. The
best results were observed in the wells FUL-67, FUC-36
and FUC-29, in those which increase gas injection in 50,
40 and 30 MMscfpd respectively.
7. Gas Conformance using Multigel, Cement and Sand Plugs
has been used to improve the vertical distribution in the
reservoir. Sand Plugs gave us the best results, however, it
is a temporary treatment with the immediate objective to
stop the early gas breakthrough in some producers in
order to recover the production. Multigel and Cement
techniques, needs more time for development in the
laboratory due to the high pressure and temperature
conditions of The Furrial field.
SPE 75156
Acknowledgments
Authors would like to thank PDVSA E&P Oriente for
permission to publish this paper. We appreciate the technical
personnel of Reservoir Department of Explotation Team
Furrial for support, colaboration and aplication of this control
and monitoring techniques.
References
1. Smalley, P.C. et al.: "Spatial 87Sr/86Sr variations in
formation water and calcite from Ekofisk chalk oil field:
implications for reservoir connectivity and fluid composition,"
Applied Geochemestry, vol.7 pp 341-350.
 CONTROL AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES OF MISCIBLE GAS
SPE 75156 INJECTION PROJECT IN THE FURRIAL FIELD, VENEZUELA 5

Figures

Figure 1. The Furrial Field.

Figure 2. Water and Gas Injection Schematic.

6 MIGUEL BARRETO SPE 75156

Figure 3. Well FUL-71. Gas Injection Rate & %C3+.

Figure 4. Changes in gas injection profiles of FUL-70 due to the FUL-72 production.
Figure 5. Presence of free gas in a sand of the reservoir.
 CONTROL AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES OF MISCIBLE GAS
SPE 75156 INJECTION PROJECT IN THE FURRIAL FIELD, VENEZUELA 7

Figure 5. Presence of free gas in a sand of the reservoir.

Figure 6. Correlation between % Methane in produced gas & gas-oil ratio. Well FUL-45
8 MIGUEL BARRETO SPE 75156

Figure 7. Chemical Tracers Injection Results.

Figure 8. Gas injection profiles. Wells FUC-31 and FUL-84.

 CONTROL AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES OF MISCIBLE GAS
SPE 75156 INJECTION PROJECT IN THE FURRIAL FIELD, VENEZUELA 9

Figure 9. Results of the stimulation with Steam Tube in 4 injector wells

Figure 10. Well FUL-72. Sequence of the gas injection profile, before and after treatments.
10 MIGUEL BARRETO SPE 75156

Figure 11. Wells FUL-67 & FUL-45. Sand Plugs effects in gas oil ratio decrease.