Study of The Initial Conditions of The Super Gigant Akal Reservoir

A Study of the Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Super Giant Akal Offshore Naturally
Fractured Reservoir
Block 1, Forum 3 poster
A Study of the Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Super

Giant Akal Offshore Naturally Fractured Reservoir
Alfredo Leon-G, Pemex
Fernando Samaniego-V, UNAM
Heber Cinco Ley, Pemex and UNAM
Fernando Rodriguez, Pemex and UNAM
Jos Luis Snchez B., Pemex
Fernando Ascencio C., PEMEX
Juan E. Ladron G., PEMEX
Agustin Galindo, PEMEX
Abstract:
The Akal reservoir is located on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, along the coastal
States of Tabasco and Campeche, approximately 50 miles northwest of Cd. del Carmen, in
water depths ranging from 35 to 50 meters. This field has been producing over 1 million
barrels of oil per day since the early 1980s. The Akal reservoir structure consists of an
asymmetric anticline, with maximum net thickness of 980 meters. The oil density in the
reservoir ranges from 20 to 22 API. The Akal reservoir is in calcareous rocks of Cretaceous
age, and is highly fractured, including vugs, interconnected by a complex system of fractures
and micro-fractures. Due to the big reservoir thickness and high permeability in the fractures
ranging typically from 2 to 5 Darcys, once the bubblepoint pressure was reached, a
secondary gravity drainage gas cap began to form in June 1980. After an initial presentation
of the characteristics of this field, this work focuses in a systematic study of the very complete
data set of temperature, pressure and composition of the fluids, with the purpose of
evaluating the gravity segregation, thermal convection and molecular diffusion effects on the
reservoir behavior, under initial and dynamic conditions, which resulted in a conceptual
reservoir model. A discussion is also included of the reservoir behavior starting May 2000,
when the biggest ever 1200 MMscf/D Nitrogen injection project started. This gas injected in
the gas cap is used as a pressure maintenance process, with highly successful results so far,
allowing an important production increase from this field, reading approximately 2.1
MMSTB/D.
Introduction
The Akal reservoir, discovered in 1976 and located about 50 miles offshore in the Bay of
Campeche, Mxico, Fig. 1, is part of the Cantarell Complex, that additionally includes the
Nohoch, Chac and the deeper Sihil block located under the Akal field1. This complex covers
and area of about 41019 acres.
The Akal reservoir structure consists of an asymmetric anticline, bounded on the West by a
normal fault and by an inverse fault on the Northern and Easter sides. The Southern portion
of this anticline presents formation characteristics of low porosity, and it is limited by a water
oil contact.
The exploitation from the Akal reservoir started in June 1979, with the Akal 1-A well which
produced 34000 STB/D, of 22 API gravity. This super giant field has an original oil in place
(OOIP) of 32 billions stock tank barrels. The main pay zones of the Akal field are
hydraulically continuous over a thickness of 1200 m, corresponding to highly fractured and
vuggy carbonate formations, from Jurassic, Cretaceous and lower Paleocene ages; others
less important calcarenite and sandstone formations are from the upper Paleocene and
middle Eocene.
Oil in this reservoir was initially undersaturated, with a pressure at the reference depth of
2300 meters subsea level, mssl, of 270 kg/cm2; all reservoir pressures in this paper unless
otherwise stated, will be referred to this depth. Average porosity in the reservoir is 8 percent;
secondary porosity (micro fractures, fractures and vugs) may account for up to a 35% of this
Copyright World Petroleum Congress all rights reserved
Fractured Reservoir
value; typical absolute permeability for the primary (matrix) and secondary systems of this
naturally fractured reservoir are 0.3 and 5000 md, respectively.
Initially the wells of the Akal field produced at an average rate of 29000 STB/D. As an
example, the 1981 production for the field of 1.5 MMSTB/D was provided by 40 wells, Fig. 2.
However, due to the pressure depletion of the field, the 1995
1MMSTB/D production required 150 gas-lift wells, which gives an average production well of
about 7000 STB/D.
The purpose of this study is to present the results of a systematic study of a complete data
set of temperature, pressure and composition of the fluids of the Akal reservoir, with the aim
of evaluating the gravity segregation mechanism, the thermal convection and molecular
diffusion effects, on the reservoir behavior under initial and dynamic conditions, which
provided a conceptual reservoir model of this naturally fractured macrovugular reservoir.
The Main Production Mechanism of the Akal Reservoir: Gravity Segregation

First, to further describe the characteristics of the main producing formation of this field, Fig. 3
presents a view of a whole core of around 4.5 diameter by 6 length, which includes some of
the secondary porosity features. In addition, Fig. 4 shows a set of tomography images2 for a
typical whole core (Fig. 3) of the main producing formation for this field. The secondary
porosity of this porous medium can be mainly observed as dark portions within the circular
images.
Studies conducted at early exploitation times for this reservoir3, indicated that its
characteristics of high permeability and a big thickness, would most probably result in an
efficient gravity segregation production mechanism. A series of studies have been reported in
the literature concluding that the recovery factor (RF) for reservoirs with similar properties to
those of Akal, where gravity segregation is the main producing mechanism, including the
implementation of an enhanced recovery project (EOR), could be even higher than 80
percent.4,5,6
The initial pressure of the reservoir, referred to the highest structural position of the reservoir
anticline of 1100 mssl, was 167 kg/cm2, and a bubble point pressure of 150 (kg/cm2)7,8 which
results for this part of the reservoir in an undersaturated average pressure difference value of
17 kg/cm2. The early predictions came true, and in mid 1981 the partially completed
productive wells completed in the highest structural position of the anticline9, started to show
a decreasing gas-oil ratio (GOR), due to the gas released from solution once the bubble point
pressure was reached, that was migrating upstructure to form a growing secondary gas cap.
In brief, the Akal field was produced under full gravity segregation conditions10-14 up to May
2000, when a 1200 MMSCFD nitrogen injection process started. As already mentioned, the
reservoir has an associated aquifer, that is shared with other neighboring fields15,16; before the
implementation of the nitrogen injection process, the aquifer moved 480 m from its original
position of 3200 mssl. Fig. 5 shows the variation of the average pressure vs. time for this
reservoir, for primary production conditions prior to the start of the injection process.
Next, the process undergone by an oil reservoir where a secondary gas cap will be formed, is
described by means of the pressure and fluid behavior vs. depth shown in Fig. 6. First, for
undersaturated conditions the pressure through all the formation thickness is higher than the
bubble point pressure (pb)17-19; the initial variation of pressure vs. depth is shown by line A. As
previously described, once the bubble point pressure is reached in the reservoir, gas will
come out of solution and a secondary gas cap will start to form at the upper portion of the
structure, line B. After some time a defined gas-oil contact will appear, with a progressively
downward position.
The hydrocarbon zone between the depth level where the reservoir pressure corresponds to
the bubble point pressure and the GOC depth, physically presents saturations of gas and oil
where the two phases are flowing, the former going upwards to increase the volume (mass) of
the secondary gas cap and the latter flowing downward20; this zone is shown in Fig. 6 as the
upper portion of part (C); it has been called gassing zone (GZ) or oil and gas flowing zone
(OGFZ). In the undersaturated zone indicated by part (D) in this figure, the oil composition is
the original at the corresponding depth. Next the water invaded zone (WIZ) is found, where
Fractured Reservoir
the oil in this portion of the reservoir, that was part of the original oil zone (OOZ), has been
displaced, remaining under residual conditions (Sorw).
Convection of Fluids in a Reservoir

It has been indicated that in reservoirs that present naturally fractured conditions from
medium to high levels, with high relief and intermediate or lighter gravity, may have uniform
PVT properties with depth, indicating that because of the temperature gradient, fluid
convection developed within the fractures before production commenced21. In a naturally
fractured reservoir (NFR), conditions of a high permeability in the fractures cause a
convection velocity, which is due to the geothermal temperature gradient that affects the fluids
in the fractures, in such a way that the warmer lighter fluids at deeper conditions tend to flow
upward, and colder heavier fluids at lower depths flow downward. This process gives as a
result that reservoirs such as Kirkuk22 that presents convection conditions, show a smaller
temperature gradient.
Saidi21 has reported an average temperature gradient of the NFR Iranian Haft Kel field of
1.2C/100m, while the gradient for the upper part of the reservoir was 0.72C/100 m. On the
other hand, the temperature gradient estimated by the author for the non fractured fields of
the Asmari area was 2.5C/100 m.
Peaceman19 concluded the oil in the fractures of the OGFZ contains less dissolved gas and is
consequently heavier than that saturating the deeper undersaturated oil zone, which
generates a convective effect. Jacqmin23 discusses that the vertical temperature gradient in
many reservoirs is not big enough to produce fluid convection; however, he states that
horizontal density gradients may cause convection under the influence of gravity segregation.
In a more recent study Ghorayeb and Firoozabadi24 presented a simulation study for the
evaluation of convection on the fluid composition in a NFR, concluding that well hydraulically
connected fractures favor convection.
Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Akal Field

In the present section the data set of the Akal Reservoir will be discussed.
Variation of temperature vs depth.

Figure 7 presents the complete data set of static temperatures vs. depth for the Akal
reservoir, which clearly show an important dispersion. After a careful evaluation of
temperature measurements from different wells, only data where shut-in times were long
enough were used in a refined analysis: Figure 8 shows the selected data for the different
platforms. Different areal gradients are observed in this figure, with smaller values toward the
North part of the field, and increasing to the south. It can also be observed that for the
shallower central portions of the field above 2000 mssl the gradients are smaller, ranging
between 0.14 and 0.54C/100 m, increasing as we get closer to the flanks of the reservoir,
with a range of 0.90 to 1.89C/100 m. Expressions for the correlations computed for some of
the platforms are included in Table 1.
The low gradient values for the central portion of the reservoir indicate the effect of fluid
convection, while the greater gradient values found in the flanks are associated with mostly
non-existent convection. A more detailed discussion regarding these results has been
presented elsewhere25.
The lower temperature gradient values found in the shallow central portion of the anticline
structure, correspond to the most highly naturally fractured conditions of the producing
formation of this field. The estimated unbalanced areal gradients indicate convective effects
with a North-South orientation.
Variation of the PVT properties and of the oil composition.

A detailed analysis of the PVT results, both conventional and compositional26 found that the
experimental results obtained by three different laboratories based on equivalent oil samples,
Fractured Reservoir
reported differences in some properties and/or parameters that were bigger than the
estimated experimental errors.
With the purpose of analyzing the variation of the PVT properties and of the hydrocarbon
composition with depth, at the original reservoir conditions, the results of five analysis were
used, see Table 2; it should be noticed in this table that the sampling depth range was 1326
m, between the shallowest production interval, for well C-94A, and the deepest for well C-82.
Fig. 9 presents the variation of methane (C1) and of heptanes plus (C7+) vs. depth, for the
samples of Table 2, showing that contrary to what is found in reservoirs where gravity
segregation is the main producing mechanism, the C1 and C7+ compositions decrease with
depth.
Figure 10 presents complementary results of the variation of other components vs depth,
such N2, H2S, CO2, C2, C3, iC4, and nC4 and for iC4, nC5 and C6, showing again as already
discussed for Fig. 9 that the compositions decrease with depth for the former group and
increase for the heavier latter.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 show the variation of the saturation pressure pb, and of the
following properties at this pressure, the solution gas ratio and the GOR, the oil formation
volume factor, and the oil density, vs. (the middle production interval) depth, it is observed
that within the experimental accuracy, these results confirm that the oil composition and PVT
properties of the central shallower part of the reservoir, at original conditions were essentially,
constant which indicates active convection fluid flow conditions.
Special PVT studies on samples collected in 1997.

With the purpose of estimating the PVT properties of the reservoir fluids and its mixtures with
Nitrogen, the fluid to be injected in the year 2000, an oil sampling program was implemented
in 1997: Three different wells were selected with producing intervals, located in a way that
samples from the upper, middle an lower parts of the oil zone could be collected27. Table 3
shows the basic information of the compositional PVT studies conducted on these samples; in
particular, the second and the last columns include the information of the collecting depth,
and the description of these data with respect to its distance to the GOC of the reservoir at
that time, which essentially states that the sample of well C-79 was collected near the GOC,
at an intermediate distance for well C-49 and at a deep (large) distance for well C-285, close
to the WOC.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 show the variation of the bubblepoint pressures pb, and of the solution
gas ratio Rsb and of the oil density at this pressure, previously reported in Table 3; these
ob
results indicate that the first two listed parameters present an increasing behavior with depth
and the last of them show a decreasing sequence, with a range between the maximum and
the minimum value of around 1.5%, that may be within the experimental measurement
accuracy for this parameter; another possible explanation for these results will be next
presented. Table 4 presents the composition of the three oil samples up to heptanes plus,
C7+; it can be noticed that the mole percent for the C7+ for the samples of wells C-49 and C79, taken at a near and intermediate distance from the GOC, increase with depth, in
accordance to what would be expected for alterated samples collected in the gassing zone
(that between the oil zone and the gas cap, Fig. 6); however, for the sample of well C-285, the
C7+ mole fraction is very close to the value estimated at original conditions (see Table 2),
concluding that this sample was collected in the undersaturated oil zone (Fig. 6).
Variation of the PVT properties with the exploitation time.

As briefly discussed previously, a reservoir producing under gravity segregation conditions
would show a characteristic behavior with the exploitation time, in a way that the different
hydrocarbon zones and the WOC (Fig. 6) will be a function of the reservoir pressure, and of
the variation of the PVT properties as related to the fluid composition. A proper simulation of
this behavior is essential, because any deviation with respect to the real behavior would
indicate the influence of other effects in addition to gravity segregation, such as convection
and/or diffusion.
Fractured Reservoir
Figure 18 shows the downward movement of the gas-oil contact (GOC) level vs time,
estimated from TDT and production logs.
With the purpose of estimating the variation of the volumes of the secondary gas cap, of the
gassing zone and of the oil zone, with the exploitation time, a calculation of the variation of
the reservoir pressure vs. depth was made for the years 1980, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 94,
97, 98 and 2000, based on the data of the average reservoir pressure shown in Fig. 5 and of
the pressure gradients computed using the density information. Fig. 19 shows the results
obtained; in this figure the data for the original bubble point pressure is also included, clearly
presenting two different behaviors, a constant (vertical) for the central portion of the field and
the remaining that shows a decrease with depth. Fig. 20 presents the three saturation
pressures reported in the 1997 study24; it can be noticed that the samples collected in wells
C-49 and C-79 have a bubble point pressure practically coincident with the reservoir
pressure, but this is not the case for the well C-285 samples, that has a bubble point pressure
higher than the reservoir pressure, which means that it was collected in the undersaturated oil
zone (Fig. 6).
Figure 21 shows a comparison of the EOS predictions for years 1980, 88 and 97, of the
solution gas ratio Rs vs. depth, using the PVT results of the 1980 study of the sample of well
C-94-A (Table 2); it can be observed that at the initial undersaturated conditions, the ratio Rs
was constant and as the exploitation time increases the Rs decreases for depths below the
GOC, due to the already discussed upward gas flow, and as the upper limit of the saturated
oil zone is reached, the ratio increases until the original Rs behavior, and then follows a
constant value for depths in the oil zone. Also shown in this figures are the values for the
ratio Rs reported in the 1997 study, observing a good agreement between the calculated
(simulated) and measured data for wells C-49 and C-79; however, the deviation previously
described (Fig. 20) for the results of the well C-285 sample, is also shown for the Rs value,
confirming that this sample was collected in the under-saturated oil zone.
Figure 22 presents a comparison of the EOS predictions for years 1980, 88 and 97, as
already discussed for Fig. 21 of the oil density vs. depth; it can be noticed that for the undersaturated 1980 conditions the density increases with depth. The behavior of this parameter
for exploitation times when the secondary gas cap has been formed shows a growing
tendency presenting constant bigger values with respect to that at original conditions for
depths corresponding to this cap, and as the gassing zone is reached, the behavior follows a
decreasing trend, that changes to increasing as we enter into the oil zone. This figure also
shows the results for the oil density obtained from the 1997 study, with similar results as
discussed for Figs. 20 and 21.
Figure 23 shows a comparison of the calculated and measured oil density vs. depth; the
conclusions that can be made are again just about the same to those stated in relation to
Figures 20 to 22, with the only exception that the more recent study did not report values for
the oil density.
The 1200 MMscf/D Nitrogen Injection Project.

Reservoir simulation studies,28,29,30 indicated, that the implementation of a gas cap pressure
maintenance project would yield optimized oil recovery in the Akal reservoir. Predictions
showed that exploitation under natural depletion, the Akal reservoir would have reached an
average pressure of 1180 psi and oil production rates of 3200 STB/D per well by year 2004.
Under these conditions, long times, approximately 80 years, would have been required to
produce the Akal oil remaining reserves30, with the needed replacement of production
facilities. Water influx would have also continued in the reservoir, with poorer oil recovery
factor as compared to gas cap invasion.
The considerations described, along with results from other technical and economical studies,
led to the conclusion that gas cap pressure maintenance by nitrogen injection was required to
optimize the exploitation of the Akal reservoir31. Technical and economical analysis of several
simulated production-injection scenarios28,29 concluded that optimum results would be
obtained for a field oil rate of 2 MMSTB/D for 4 years, which would require a 1200 MMscf/D
nitrogen gas cap injection. This oil production rate would then start declining.
Fractured Reservoir
Estimations for the additional oil and gas recoveries, resulting from this nitrogen injection
project are 2324 MMSTB and 870 MMMcf, respectively.
The gas cap pressure maintenance project started in May 2000 with a rate of 300 MMscf/D
and by same year December, the design 1200 MMscf/D injection rate was reached. Nitrogen
is injected into the gas cap through seven wells, completed at the top of the reservoir
structure. The field behavior has been closely followed up through an implemented
systematic program for the monitoring of pressure, nitrogen concentration and the gas-oil
contact downward movement31.
Discussion of Results
The main finding from the results presented in the last section is based on the fact, that there
is a close agreement between the EOS predictions based on the characterization of PVT
results of original samples, and those measured in the 1997 study, which basically means
that the convection and diffusion effects under the primary exploitation conditions of the
reservoir are negligible. This means that the viscous and gravity segregation forces dominate
the fluid flow in the reservoir. However, as previously discussed in this paper with regard to
the variation of the temperature, composition and PVT properties vs. depth, initially before the
start of exploitation the reservoir presented active convection conditions. Figures 24 and 25
show comparisons of the variations of the measured bubblepoint pressure and of the
percents for C1 and C7+ vs. depth, with the EOS calculated (simulated) values, based on the
PVT results of the oil original sample of well C-94; it can be observed that the differences are
important, because the real measurements are under the effect of fluid convection, while the
simulated results do not consider this effect.
Conclusion
The purpose of this paper has been to present the results of a systematic study of a complete
data set of temperature, pressure and composition of the fluids of the Akal reservoir, with the
main aim of evaluating the gravity segregation, thermal convection and molecular diffusion
mechanisms on the reservoir behavior, under initial and dynamic conditions, which would
provide a conceptual reservoir model of this naturally fractured and vuggy reservoir.
From the results of this study, the following conclusions are pertinent:
1) Based on the measured temperature gradients, important convection effects were acting
at initial conditions in the structurally central upper part of the reservoir. In the lower part
of the reservoir normal gradients were measured, which indicates that convection is not
important.
2) Confirming conclusion (1), the variation of the initial bubblepoint pressure vs. depth was
essentially constant in the central higher part of the reservoir, and increases in the lower
part of the formation.
3) The mole percent of heptanes plus, C7+, for initial conditions decreases with depth,
indicating the effect of convection of fluids.
4) The convection effect prevailing at initial conditions is associated with the main naturally
fractured and macrovugular characteristics of the reservoir. This effect is only acting at
initial conditions.
5) The PVT results of the 1997 study indicates that the Akal reservoir under primary
production has been mainly producing under the effect of gravity segregation, and that for
these dynamic conditions the fluid convection effects have not important.
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Fractured Reservoir
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Fractured Reservoir
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Acknowledgments
The authors want to thank you Mr. Guillermo Ortega G., Head of the Cantarell Assett, and to
Mr. Oscar Jimnez B. and Mr. Alfonso Urriza V. of the Exploitation Design of this Asset, for
their help and permission to present this paper.
TABLE 1. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE CORRELATIONS FOR THE WELLS IN THE DIFERENT PLATAFORMS.
PLATAFORM
GRADIENT
(oC/100m)
EQUATION
(T=C),
H=DEPTH [MBSL]
TEMPERATURE
(at 2300 MBSL)
AKAL I
0.47 UPPER *
1.48 LOWER
T=0.004717H+85.8726
T=0.0148H+66.23
96.72
100.27
AKAL D
0.28
T=0.002849H+92.572
49.01
AKAL B
1.10
T=0.0116H+69.177
95.80
AKAL E
0.54
T=0.0054H+90.129
102.50
AKAL F
0.41
T=0.0041H+92.43
101.80
AKAL G
0.30
T=0.003077H+92.763
99.84
AKAL H
0.36
T=0.0036H+69.735
105.01
AKAL J
1.27
T=0.0127H+73.633
102.80
AKAL M
1.67
T=0.0167H+55.45
93.80
AKAL N
0.14
T=0.001403H+93.313
96.54
AKAL L
0.90
T=0.0090H+76.3509
97.05
AKAL O
1.89
T=0.0189H+54.868
102.00
NOHOCH A
1.20
T=0.0120H+84.000
111.60
NOHOCH B
1.75
T=0.01757H+74.297
112.40
AKAL P
1.71
T=0.0171H+63.714
103.00
AKAL R
1.00
T=0.010H+88.000
111.00
*The temperature measurements followed two approximately linear trends.
TABLE 2. COMPOSITION AND PVT PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT ORIGINAL SAMPLES OF THE AKAL
RESERVOIR CRUDE OIL.
Fractured Reservoir
WELL
C-94A
C-57-A
C-8
C-2011-D
AKAL 2 AKAL 3
DATE OF
SAMPLING
15/9/78
COMPONENT
C-82
AKAL 701
30/9/78 27/4/80
6/5/80
21/4/79
(COMPOSITION (% MOL)
H2S
1.03
1.13
1.32
1.43
1.05
CO2
1.85
2.96
1.64
1.62
1.68
N2
0.28
0.40
0.26
0.20
0.98
C1
28.84
28.20
29.58
26.84
29.52
C2
8.68
8.38
8.63
8.47
8.40
C3
6.22
5.68
6.37
6.47
6.57
IC4
0.96
1.64
1.18
1.03
1.06
NC4
3.34
3.27
3.07
3.44
3.47
IC5
1.21
1.03
1.60
1.49
1.14
NC5
1.29
1.71
2.17
2.31
1.25
C6
2.49
3.78
2.89
4.29
3.45
C7
43.81
41.82
41.29
42.41
41.43
TOTAL
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
MWC7+
315.00
330.00
326.00
328.00
328.79
rC7+
0.929
0.934
0.931
0.930
0.936
Depth (mbsl)
1246
2477
2062
2260
2572
Temp.(oC)
97
101
86
102
101
Pb (kg/cm2)
151
150
147
137
159
Bob (m3/m3)
1.321
1.308
1.306
1.31
1.322
Rsb (m3/m3)
87.6
84.2
86.9
82.3
87.6
ob (gr/cm3)
0.787
0.798
0.790
0.791
0.807
sc (gr/cm3)
0.912
0.913
0.919
ob (cp)
2.32
2.54
2.78
2.27
2.03
GOR (m3/m3)
72.10
68.04
79.61
70.89
75.16
0.914
TABLE 3. PVT PROPERTIES OF THE SAMPLES OF WELLS C-79, C-49 AND C-285,COLLECTED IN DECEMBER
1997.
Fractured Reservoir
WELL
LIGHT
CRUDE
GAS
LIQUID
CRUDE
OIL
OIL
MOLECULAR MOLECULAR
MOLECULAR
WEIGHT
WEIGHT
FRACTION
WEIGHT
N2-C11
HEAVY
CRUDE
OIL
FRACTION
C11+
DEPTH
Rs
(mv)
(m3/m3)
gr/mol
s.c.
Gr/mol
s.c.
gr/mol
(% weight)
(% weight)
79
1967
52
29.66
320
194.56
22.2
63.84
49
2269
65
29.98
316
177.46
23.37
61.18
285
2630
72
30.74
312
169.55
24.56
61.08
pb
Bob
sc
COMMENTS
*
WELL
TEMPERAPRESSURE
TURE
ob
(C)
kg/cm2
kg/cm2
(m3/m3)
gr/cm3
gr/cm3
79
97
91.80
85.68
1.23
0.81
0.92
Taken near
the gas
oil contact
49
101
114.24
114.24
1.23
0.80
0.93
Intermediate
285
102
141.77
126.47
1.28
0.80
0.93
Deep
Related to the oil sample depth
TABLE 4. COMPOSITION OF THE OIL IN WELLS C-49, C-79 AND C-285, COLLECTED IN DECEMBER 1997.
COMPONENT
CANTARELL-79
CANTARELL-49
CANTARELL-285
MOLECULAR
MOLECULAR
MOLECULAR
MOLE
WEIGHT
MOLE
WEIGHT
MOLE
WEIGHT
N2
CO2
H2S
C1
C2
C3
Ic4
NC4
IC5
NC5
C6
C7+
0.03
1.50
1.49
20.60
8.85
7.10
1.12
3.46
1.58
2.15
4.19
47.93
28.02
44.01
34.08
16.04
30.07
44.10
58.12
58.12
71.92
72.15
85.32
357.14
0.06
1.35
1.68
24.21
8.64
6.99
1.20
3.94
1.79
2.35
3.92
43.87
28.02
44.01
34.08
16.04
30.07
44.10
58.12
58.12
71.95
72.15
85.36
357.65
0.20
1.38
1.46
25.18
8.66
7.08
1.26
4.27
2.09
2.84
4.62
40.96
28.02
44.01
34.08
16.04
30.07
44.10
58.12
58.12
71.95
72.15
85.41
363.02
TOTAL
100.00
CORRECTED
MOLECULAR
WEIGHT C7+
100.00
342.00
100.00
333.98
317.63
TABLE 5. COMPARISON OF THE MEASURED AND EOS CALCULATED OIL COMPOSITION WELLS. C-79, C-49
AND C-285 AND C-94A.
Fractured Reservoir
COMPONENT
WELL C-79
WELL C-49
WELL C-285
MEASURED SIMULATED MEASURED SIMULATED MEASURED SIMULATED

PRESSURE
(kg/cm2)
86
86
114
114
126
126
H2S
1.49
1.04
1.68
1.04
1.46
1.03
CO2
1.50
1.65
1.35
1.78
1.38
1.82
N2
0.03
0.15
0.06
0.22
0.20
0.25
C1
20.60
20.33
24.21
25.28
25.18
27.28
C2
8.85
8.44
8.64
8.61
8.66
8.66
C3
7.10
6.57
6.99
6.38
7.08
6.29
IC4
1.12
1.05
1.20
1.00
1.26
0.98
NC4
3.46
3.71
3.94
3.49
4.27
3.41
IC5
1.58
1.37
1.79
1.28
2.09
1.24
NC5
2.15
1.47
2.35
1.36
2.84
1.32
C6
4.19
2.87
3.92
2.65
4.62
2.56
C7+
47.93
51.35
43.87
46.91
40.96
45.16
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
460
500
540
580
620
MALOOBMALOOB-103
BACAB LUMLUM-1
ZAAPZAAP-1
KU
Kutz
2170
EK
BALAM
CANTARELL
Chac
TARATUNICH Kutz
IXTAL
IXTOCIXTOC-1
301 101
201
CAAN
BATAB
TOLOC
POL
OCH
ABKATUN
CHUC
KAXKAX-1
Akal
Nohoch
1 TAKIN
2130
UECH
200 m.
47 miles
SINAN 101A
1A
100 m.
KABKAB-101
50 m.
MISONMISON-1
YUMYUM-2
401
2-B
2090
KIXKIX-1
KIXKIX-2
CIUDAD DEL
CARMEN
MAYMAY-1
25 m.
2050
YAXCHEYAXCHE-1
FRONTERA
DOS BOCAS
30 Km
ESCALA GRAFICA
Fig. 1. Cantarell complex location.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 2. Akal pressure and production behavior.
Fig. 3. Typical whole core of the Paleocene breccia of the Akal reservoir.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 4. Computer tomography images for a vuggy naturally fractured whole core.
Fig. 5. Field and reservoir simulation static pressures for Akal field.
Fractured Reservoir
11
Fig. 6. Pressure and fluid behavior vs. depth for a gravity segregation reservoir .
Fig. 7. Variation of the reservoir temperature vs. depth, as related to the measurement date, for the Akal field.
Fig. 8. Variation of the Akal reservoir temperature vs. depth.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 9. Variation of the mole percent of C1 and C7+ vs. depth for the original oil samples of the Akal reservoir.
Fig. 10. Variation of the mole percent of N2, CO2, H2S, C2, C3, iC4, nC4, iC5 and C6 vs. depth, for the original oil
samples of the Akal reservoir.
BUBBLEPOINT PRESSURE (kg/cm )

100
150
200
DEPTH (MBSL)
1000
2000
3000
Fig. 11. Variation of the saturation pressure vs. depth for the Akal reservoir, from compositional PVT results obtained
based on original oil samples.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 12. Variation of the solution bubblepoint solution gas ratio and of the GOR vs. depth for the Akal reservoir, from
compositional PVT results obtained based on original oil samples.
Fig. 13. Variation of the oil formation volume factor vs. depth for the Akal reservoir, from compositional PVT results
obtained based on original oil samples.
Fig. 14. Variation of the oil density vs. depth for the Akal reservoir, from compositional PVT results obtained based on
original oil samples.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 15. Variation of the bubble point pressure and of the static bottomhole pressure vs. depth, for the oil samples of
wells C-79, C-49 and C-285.
Fig. 16. Variation of the solution gas ratio vs. depth, for the oil samples of wells C-79, C-49 and C-285.
Fig. 17. Variation of the oil density vs. depth, for the oil samples of wells C-79, C-49 and C-285.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 18. Downward movement of the gas-oil contact (GOC) level vs. time for the Akal reservoir.
Fig.19.Pressure behavior vs. depth for different exploitation times, of the Akal reservoir.
Fig. 20. Comparison of the reservoir pressure and of the bubblepoint pressure variation vs. depth, based on PVT
data from the samples of wells C-49, C-79 and C-285.
Fractured Reservoir
Fig. 21. Comparison of the variation of the solution gas ratio vs. depth for well C-94 with results from samples of
wells C-49, C-79 and C-285.
Fig. 22. Comparison of the variation of the oil reservoir pressure and of the bubblepoint pressure vs. depth for well C94 with results from samples of wells C-49, C-79 and C-285.
Fig. 23. Comparison of the variation of the oil viscosity vs. depth for well C-94 with results from samples of wells C49, C-79 and C-285.
Fractured Reservoir
SATURATION PRESSURE (kg/cm2)
0
50
100
150
200
DEPTH (MBSL)
1000
2000
3000
Pb SIMULATED
Pb MEASURED
Fig. 24. PVT and EOS simulated (well C-94) bubblepoint pressure for the Akal reservoir.
COMPOSITION (% mole)
0
20
40
60
DEPTH (MBSL)
1000
2000
3000
C1 SIMULATED
C7+ SIMULATED
C1 MEASURED
C7+ MEASURED
FIG. 25. PVT and EOS simulated (well C-94) mole percents for C1 and C7+ for the Akal reservoir.

Study of The Initial Conditions of The Super Gigant Akal Reservoir

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Study of The Initial Conditions of The Super Gigant Akal Reservoir

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A Study of the Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Super Giant Akal Offshore Naturally

A Study of the Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Super

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The Main Production Mechanism of the Akal Reservoir: Gravity Segregation

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Convection of Fluids in a Reservoir

Initial and Exploitation Conditions of the Akal Field

Variation of temperature vs depth.

Variation of the PVT properties and of the oil composition.

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Special PVT studies on samples collected in 1997.

Variation of the PVT properties with the exploitation time.

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The 1200 MMscf/D Nitrogen Injection Project.

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*The temperature measurements followed two approximately linear trends.

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Related to the oil sample depth

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MEASURED SIMULATED MEASURED SIMULATED MEASURED SIMULATED

Fig. 1. Cantarell complex location.

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Fig. 2. Akal pressure and production behavior.

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Fig. 8. Variation of the Akal reservoir temperature vs. depth.

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BUBBLEPOINT PRESSURE (kg/cm )

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