SPE 123068

Definition of Reservoir Compartmentalization Applying Compositional

Gradients: Mugrosa B Formation in Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, Lisama
Field, Colombia
R.H. Castro, W. Canas-Marin, R. Osorio, and C. Soto, Ecopetrol

Copyright 2009, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2009 SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference held in Cartagena, Colombia, 31 May–3 June 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

Lisama is an oil field operated by ECOPETROL S.A. located in the east side of Middle Magdalena Valley basin in
Colombia. The reservoir is a stratigraphic-structural combined trap and the oil comes from the Tertiary, mainly from the
formations Mugrosa and Colorado.

A methodology of Integrated Fluid Analysis is applied. The methodology includes fluid sampling analysis, PVT test quality
control and reservoir fluids representativeness. Then, a cubic Equation of State is developed to match the best PVT data.
Finally, compositional gradients are built so that they can describe properly the variation of PVT properties with depth.

There are 16 PVT studies in Lisama Field. However, after applying the procedure described above, only the results from
four PVT reports are found to be both reliable and representative. Afterwards, Peng-Robinson Equation of State is fitted
against PVT depletion data applying a non linear regression technique in order to change systematically internal parameters
of the equation of state such as binary interaction coefficients, critical pressures, critical temperatures, volume shifts, and
critical Z factors. Finally, isothermal compositional gradients based on reliable compositions are built and a gas-oil contact
(GOC) analysis is developed.

The results obtained by applying this methodology indicate that fluids in Lisama field’s northwest sector, known as the
Corridor of Gas, have a different behavior in comparison with those of the remaining area, particularly in relation to the
location of the respective gas – oil contacts. That is, the two GOC values predicted for the fluid system in the Corridor of
Gas are located within the Mugrosa formation, while the GOC value for the fluids of the remaining area are predicted out of
this formation. Therefore, this would mean that the corridor of Gas is isolated from the rest of the Lisama area.

This study is a fundamental support for the initialization of the reservoir simulation model and the prediction of new
development strategies that would lead to optimize the recovery of fluids in the area.

Introduction

Lisama Area is located in the department of Santander, Colombia, about 45 km from Barrancabermeja, in the eastern margin
of the Basin of the Middle Magdalena Valley (Figure 1). The area has four fields known as Lisama, Tesoro, Nutria and
Peroles.
2 SPE 123068

Middle Magdalena Valley Basin PAVAS

BONANZA
CRISTALINA
San Alberto GARZAS

Sabana de Torres
YARIGUI
Cantagallo CANTA GALLO

PROVINCIA
Pto. Wilches SOGAMOSO

AGUAS
CLARAS
SALINA

LLANITO

GALA
LISAMA

GALAN
CASABE

Barrancabermeja TESORO

PEÑAS Yondó LA CIRA NUTRIA

BLANCAS INFANTAS

PEROLES
TENERIF
E

AGUAS
BLANCAS COLORADO

SAN LUIS

Fig. 1 Location of Lisama Area

Geologically, Lisama has a mixed entrapment of hydrocarbons, both structural and stratigraphic type, due to the facial
architecture that is developed within the fluvial environment. In the area there are numerous sand bodies of significant size,
insulated by rocks of sealing capacity. The producing formations belong to Tertiary age: Colorado and Mugrosa. 80% of
original oil in place (OOIP) and the accumulated production are from the Mugrosa formation. The fluid produced from this
last formation is black oil type with ºAPI gravity between 32- 38, with an original bubble point of 2550 psi. Nowadays the
area has 248 drilled wells of which 105 are in production. The area began its commercial development in 1967.

It is necessary to know the structure and connectivity for developing an oil field. Continuity must also be taken into account
if a new well is drilled or if new data and relevant information is obtained for determining a possible compartmentalization.
A deposit may be laterally compartmentalized by faults that generate seals and/or lateral variations in the reservoir quality
(Figure 2). Ideally, the compartmentalization of a reservoir should be considered during the initial stage of production, as it
is a key factor for taking decisions related to marketing, development plans, surface facilities design, and it also allows to
select or modify the field’s production strategy.

Reservoir 1

Reservoir 2

Fig. 2 Reservoir compartmentalization

To identify compartments in a reservoir it is necessary to have information of production and good PVT data, in addition to
geological and geochemical information. In this work a methodology of Integrated Fluid Analysis (IFA) is applied for
determining compartments in geologically complex reservoirs using the compositional variation with depth.
SPE 123068 3

Methodology Used

The methodology used is as follow:

1. Check representativeness of the fluids

2. PVT data quality control and selection of those PVTs representative and reliable
3. Thermodynamic modeling
• Heavy fraction characterization
• Fitting of PVT information using nonlinear regression
• Calculation of composition versus depth variations

Representativeness of the fluids

There are misconceptions about representative fluid sampling in both gas condensate and volatile oil reservoirs. In this study,
a sample of fluid is representative of the original fluid if that sample is obtained from an area where the original conditions
have not been altered at the time of sampling.

PVT data quality control and selection of those PVTs representative and reliable

To define the quality of a PVT report a detailed comparative analysis between production data at the time of sampling and the
information obtained in the PVT laboratory should be carried out.

The first test of quality is to compare the flooding bottom pressure and static reservoir pressure obtained during the tests of
pressure (PBU, DD, and MDT) against of the bubble point pressure reported in PVT laboratory. At the same depth, the
bubble point pressure must be less than the other two pressures to ensure a single phase sample of the fluid reservoir.

The Second one is comparing the density of reservoir fluid measured at bottom conditions, or inferred from static pressure
gradients and MDT tests, with that density obtained from the PVT laboratory. Third, compare the temperature of the
reservoir with the temperature reported in the PVT laboratory. Finally, compare the GOR (Gas-Oil Ratio) reported in the
PVT laboratory with that reported from the well at the time of sampling. An acceptable error in these tests should be of 3%,
approximately.

Lisama has 16 PVT analyses. The areal location where the fluids were obtained is shown in Figure 3. The Lisama field has
12 PVTs: LISA0005(2), LISA0008, LISA0045, LISA0048, LISA0049, LISA0082, LISA0095(2), LISA0120, LISA0160 and
LISA0165 (the only one from the Colorado formation). The Tesoro field has 2 PVTs: TESO0031 and TESO0035; one PVT
for the Nutria Field: NUTR0031; and one PVT for the Peroles field: PERO0001. 13 PVTs were obtained using bottonhole
samples and the others three were from surface samples. Only 9 PVTs have composition.

LISAMA

NUTRIA
TESORO

PEROLES

Fig. 3 Location of Samplig Fluids for PVT Analysis

4 SPE 123068

The methodology of screening above mentioned was applied to the Lisama area’s PVTs before the thermodynamic analysis
was carried out. This procedure showed that: 12 PVTs are representative, 7 are reliable in the density test, 4 are reliable in
the GOR test and, finally, only four are both representative and reliable. Table 1 shown the results obtained applying the
screening procedure. In this Table the four fluids, both representative and credible are shown in green. These fluids are
LISA0048, LISA0095 zone I, LISA0095 zone II and NUTR0031, and their main properties are presented in Table 2.

Table 1- Results of checking the Lisama Area’s

PVTs
START OF GOR INITIAL
DATE OF TYPE OF ρ @Pyto gr/cc ρ @Pyto gr/cc Rs
WELLS RESERVOIR PRODUCTION Pb (psig) Pyto (psig) PRODUCTION COMPOSITION REGRESSION EOS
SAMPLING SAMPLING (TEST PRESSURE) (PVT) (cf/Bbl)
WELL (scf/stb)

LISA0005 LOWER MUGROSA 10/04/1965 01/02/1967 BOTTOM 2534 2647 0,8041 0,7366 494 478 NR
LISA0005 UPPER MUGROSA 10/04/1965 01/02/1967 BOTTOM 2339 2488 0,8006 0,7907 494 409 NR
LISA0008 MUGROSA 01/11/1966 01/02/1967 BOTTOM 2742 2477 0,9581 0,7462 456 485 NR
LISA0045 MUGROSA 20/12/1976 01/12/1976 BOTTOM 2450 3066 0,8041 0,8049 418 446 OK
LISA0048 MUGROSA 19/12/1976 01/06/1976 BOTTOM 2550 2982 0,6926 0,7113 565 574 OK OK
LISA0049 MUGROSA 07/12/1976 01/08/1976 BOTTOM 2180 2228 0,8041 0,7855 788 577 OK
LISA0082 MUGROSA 03/10/1992 01/02/1981 SURFACE 1422 NR 0,6716 0,7629 1000 298,63 OK
LISA0095 ZONE I MUGROSA 17/03/1981 01/03/1981 BOTTOM 3268 3552 0,6926 0,6464 1052 1079 OK OK
LISA0095 ZONE II MUGROSA 12/03/1981 01/03/1981 BOTTOM 3050 3610 0,6926 0,6703 1052 999 OK OK
LISA0120 MUGROSA 19/08/1985 01/09/1985 Fondo 1051 1114 0,6926 NR 2647 NR NR
LISA0160 MUGROSA 15/05/2006 01/12/2005 SURFACE 1500 NR 0,8041 0,8031 126 339 OK
LISA0165 COLORADO 15/05/2006 01/11/2005 SURFACE 1010 NR 0,8842 0,8917 2017 111 OK
NUTR0031 MUGROSA 10/06/2007 01/06/2007 BOTTOM 2474 2785 0,6926 0,7647 556,05 500,01 OK OK
TESO0031 MUGROSA 21/11/1986 01/11/1986 BOTTOM 2285 3083 0,8041 0,7427 1096 587 NR
TESO0035 MUGROSA 15/10/1986 10/10/1986 BOTTOM 2545 2823 0,8041 0,7319 1455 703,11 NR
PERO0001 MUGROSA 31/10/1977 01/10/1977 BOTTOM 2000 2228 0,8727 0,7666 620 580 NR

Table 2- Some Physical Properties of the chosen Fluids

LISA0095 LISA0095
COMPONENT LISA0048 NUTR0031
ZONE I ZONE II
CO2 0 0 0 0,064
N2 0,04 0,05 0,13 0,196
C1 44,3 45,06 42,15 38,283
C2 6,71 8,14 7,72 6,556
C3 3,53 6,39 6,17 5,16
IC4 0,77 1,63 1,46 1,223
NC4 1,01 3,25 3,29 2,545
IC5 0,43 1,35 1,56 1,339
NC5 0,41 1,4 1,74 1,252
NC6 1,04 1,19 2,01 1,652

C7+ 41,76 31,54 33,77 41,73

Density @ 60°F (C7+) 0,8875 0,8489 0,8533 0,8875
MW (C7+) 267 198 205 264

DEPTH TVDss (ft) 6241 7521 7631 6376

P Yto (psi) 2982 3552 3610 2785
T° Yto (°F) 156 170 170 153
°API 30,5 37,5 36,3 29,38

Pb (psi) 2550 3268 3050 2474

μo @Pb (cP) 0,95 0,582 0,613 1,6722
Βo @Pb (resbbl/STB) 1,3752 1,605 1,555 1,2592

Thermodynamic Modeling

The phase behavior of Lisama field’s fluids was described using Peng-Robinson cubic equation of state [6]. Cubic equations
of state (CEOS) have been widely used to describe the volumetric and phase behavior of reservoir fluids.

Heavy Fraction Characterization. Heavy fractions were splitted from C7 up to C45+ by using the three-parameter gamma
function proposed by Whitson [7]. This procedure allows to obtain initial values of molecular weight, critical temperature,
critical pressure, critical Z-factor and acentric factor for each SCN (Single Carbon Number) and the lastest fraction, in this
case C45+.

Nonlinear regression. Equations of state such as Peng-Robinson cannot accurately predict the volumetric properties and
phase behavior of reservoir fluids, particularly because these fluids are composed of thousands of components, which does
prohibitive an exact description of each component present in the mixture and to assign it exact properties such as critical
ones. Obviously, the EOS itself is only an approximate model. The initial predictions for the four PVTs showed
unacceptable deviations in comparison with the experimental data, being then necessary to calibrate the EOS by using a
nonlinear regression routine. The parameters used as regression variables were the C7+ fractions’ critical properties and
theirs volume shifts and the binary interaction parameter (BIP) between the CH4 and each C7+ fraction. Viscosity data were
SPE 123068 5

also fitted using the Lorenz-Bray-Clark (LBC) model by modifying the C7+ fractions’ critical z-factors. The PVT data used
during the step of regression were obtained from CCE, DL, saturation pressure and separator tests.

Results. Figure 4 shows experimental versus calculated relative volume data for the CCE test. The overall error was
between 0.08-0.68 percent. The error bars represent about of 3%.

CCE CCE
Relative Volume (V/Vs) DATA LISA0048 Relative Volume (V/Vs)
CALC LISA0048 6
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 1

6 CALC LISA0095 ZONA 1

DATA LISA0095 ZONA 2 5
CALC LISA0095 ZONA 2
5 DATA NUTR0031

CALCULATED DATA
CALC NUTR0031 4

3
LISA0048
2
LISA0095 ZONA I
2 LISA0095 ZONA II
NUTR0031
1

0
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Fig. 4 CCE’s Relative Volume Data

Figures 5-7 present experimental versus calculated data for the DL test. The error in reproducing the formation volumetric
factor (Bo) was between 1.88-3.44% (Figure 5). The error in solution gas-oil ratio (Rs) was between 1.13-4.83% (Figure 6)
and the oil density between 1.08- 2.85% (Figure 7).

DL DL
Bo (res-Bbl/STB) Bo (res-Bbl/STB)
1.8 1.7

1.6
1.6

1.4
1.5
CALCULATED DATA

1.2

1.4
1
DATA LISA0048

0.8 CALC LISA0048

1.3
LISA0048
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 1
0.6 LISA0095 ZONA I
CALC LISA0095 ZONA 1 1.2
LISA0095 ZONA II
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 2
0.4 NUTR0031
CALC LISA0095 ZONA 2 1.1

0.2 DATA NUTR0031

CALC NUTR0031 1
0 1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Fig. 5 DL’s Bo Data

DL DL
Rs in solution (scf/STB) Rs in solution (scf/STB)

1200 1200

1000 1000
CALCULATED DATA

800 800

600
600
LISA0048
DATA LISA0048 LISA0095 ZONA I
400
400 CALC LISA0048 LISA0095 ZONA II

DATA LISA0095 ZONA 1 NUTR0031

CALC LISA0095 ZONA 1 200

200
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 2

CALC LISA0095 ZONA 2

0
DATA NUTR0031
0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 CALC4000
NUTR0031 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Fig. 6 DL’s Rs Data

6 SPE 123068

DL DL
OIL DENSITY (gr/cc) OIL DENSITY (gr/cc)

1 0.9

0.9
0.85
0.8

0.7

CALCULATED DATA
0.8

0.6
0.75
0.5
LISA0048

0.4 DATA LISA0048 LISA0095 ZONA I

0.7
CALC LISA0048 LISA0095 ZONA II
0.3
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 1 NUTR0031
0.65
0.2 CALC LISA0095 ZONA 1

DATA LISA0095 ZONA 2

0.1
CALC LISA0095 ZONA 2 0.6
0 0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
DATA NUTR0031
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 EXPERIMENTAL DATA
CALC NUTR0031

Fig. 7 DL’s Oil Density Data

Finally, Figure 8 shows experimental versus calculated oil viscosity data. The overall error is between 0.69- 2.45%.

OIL VISCOSITY (cP) OIL VISCOSITY (cP)

6 2
DATA LISA0048
CALC LISA0048 1.8
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 1
5 1.6
CALC LISA0095 ZONA 1
DATA LISA0095 ZONA 2 1.4
DATOS CALCULADOS

4 CALC LISA0095 ZONA 2

1.2
DATA NUTR0031
CALC NUTR0031 1
3 LISA0048

0.8 LISA0095 ZONA I

LISA0095 ZONA II
2 0.6
NUTR0031

0.4

1 0.2

0
0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 DATOS EXPERIMENTALES

Fig. 8 Oil Viscosity Data

After calibrating the equation of state, isothermal compositional gradients were calculated. Figure 9 presents the respective
compositional gradients. The prediction of the gas-oil contact (GOC) based on isothermal compositional gradients indicates a
GOC within the Mugrosa formation for samples taken within the Corridor of Gas and a GOC above the Mugrosa formation
for samples taken outside the Corridor (Figure 10), indicating that Corridor of Gas’s fluids are from a different compartment
to the rest of the area.
SPE 123068 7

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
6000 6000
RESERVOIR MUGROSA RESERVOIR MUGROSA

6500 6500

7000 7000

7500 7500

DEPTH (TVDSS)
DEPTH (TVDSS)

8000 8000

8500 8500

9000 9000

9500 9500

10000 10000
LISA0048 NUTR0031
10500 10500

PRESSURE SAT PRES PRESSURE SAT PRES

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000

6000 6000
RESERVOIR MUGROSA RESERVOIR MUGROSA

6500 6500

7000 7000

7500 7500
DEPTH (TVDSS)
DEPTH (TVDSS)

8000 8000

8500 8500

9000 9000

9500 9500

10000 10000
LISA0095 I LISA0095 II
10500 10500

PRESSURE SAT PRES PRESSURE SAT PRES

Fig. 9 Compositional Variation versus Depth

Fig. 10 Prediction of Gas-Oil Contacts

8 SPE 123068

Discussion of Results

To verify the results obtained the oil and gas production data were analyzed. Figure 11 presents a map of the cumulative oil
production in the area.

3000 MBO
2800

L-13 2600
2400
L-19 2200
2000
L-5
1800

L-48 1600
1400
L-95 1200
1000
L-102
800
600
400
200
0

Fig. 11 Cumulative Oil Production

Wells LISA0084, LISA0074, LISA0095, LISA0085, LISA0073 and LISA0091 have produced 20% of the cumulative gas
production from the entire area, the location of these wells are in the Corridor of Gas. Figure 12 shows a map of the
cumulative production of gas in the area.

L-71 6000 MMCF

5600
L-74
5200

L-84 4800
4400
4000
L-85
3600

L-91 3200
2800
L-95 2400
2000
1600
1200
800
400
0

Fig. 12 Cumulative Gas Production

SPE 123068 9

A mapping of the API gravity measurements of the producing wells in the area since 2005-2008 was carried out. In Figure
13 the behavior of this property is presented, the Corridor of Gas shows a higher API gravity than the rest of the area.

API

Fig. 13 Lisama Area’s °API Gravity

Conclusions

The methodology presented in this paper allows to determine compartments by calibrating the equation of state and realizing
predictions of compositional gradients.

By implementing a fluid integrated analysis it was found that only a quarter of the PVT analyses available for the Lisama
area were representative and reliable. These analyses were compositionally modeled with commercial software, matching the
Peng-Robinson EOS’s parameters for subsequently predicting compositional gradients.

The results of the prediction of the compositional gradients in the Lisama area indicate that the fluids present in the Corridor
of Gas exhibit a different behavior of those from the rest of the area. A GOC within Mugrosa formation for fluids from the
Corridor of Gas and a GOC out of Mugrosa formation for fluids sampled outside the Corridor were obtained; this indicates
that the Corridor of Gas is a different compartment to the rest of the area.

The behavior of the production of gas and ºAPI gravity of the fluids produced in the area confirm the existence of two
compartmentalized reservoirs, which must be exploited with different recovery strategies.

References

1. AHMED, Tarek. “Hydrocarbon phase behavior, Contributions in Petroleum Geology and Engineering “Gulf Publishing,
Houston, 1989.

2. HOIER, L. y WHITSON, C.H. “Compositional Grading Theory and Practice”, 2001.

3. McCAIN, Jr. William. “The properties of Petroleum Fluids” Second Edition, Pennwell Publishing Company, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, 1989.

4. McCain, W: “The Properties of Petroleum Fluids”, PennWell Books, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, 1973.

5. McCAIN, William. “Analysis of Black Oil PVT Reports Revisited” paper SPE 77386, 2002.

6. PENG, D.-Y and ROBINSON, D.B. A new two-constant equation of state, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 15, 59-64, 1976.

7. WHITSON, Curtis. “Characterizing hydrocarbon plus fraction” SPE J., 23, 683-694, 1983.