Reservoir M of the Boko de Jaruco (the Republic of Cuba) field is a unique object that does not have a real equivalent anywhere in the world and has large potential reserves of hydrocarbons that are estimated to exceed hundreds of millions of tons. Reservoir M presents carbonate reservoir, high viscosity saturated oil, which should rather be viewed as bitumen. The development of this object can have a revolutionary impact on the Republic of Cuba, is comparable with the importance of development of deposits of bitumen in Canada. The development of reserves of the object will make a significant contribution to the achievement of energy security of the Republic of Cuba, and will ensure the development of the petrochemical industries. In this regard, Zarubezhneft JSC has initiated pilot projects to find effective technologies for the development of the reservoir M.
The first results of the pilot cyclic steam stimulation on the M formation, some peculiarities of behavior of the wells and the reaction of the reservoir to the steam injection are discussed. Based on the hypothesis that the fractures are opening under certain injection pressure was carried out the adaptation of the hydrodynamic model to the history, which showed a good convergence of calculated and actual data. Further model improvements are envisaged on the basis of rheological properties of oil and water-oil emulsions, further values of permeability of fractures and matrix. Zarubezhneft JSC prepared a program of prolongation of field and research work to improve the energy performance of stimulation and technology in general.References
1. Afanasiev I.S., Yudin E.V., Azimov T.A. et al., Technology for the thermal treatment
of the productive formations of the Boca de Jaruco field: challenges,
opportunities, prospects (In Russ.), SPE 176699-MS, 2015.
2. Anfanas'ev I.S., Yudin E.V., Fedorchenko G.D. et al., Ozhidanie i real'nost'
razrabotki karbonatnykh kollektorov (Expectation and reality of the carbonate
reservoirs development), Proceedings of V International scientific symposium
“Teoriya i praktika primeneniya metodov uvelicheniya nefteotdachi
plastov” (Theory and practice of EOR application), Moscow, 16–17 September
2015.
3. Butler R.M., Thermal recovery of oil and bitumen, Prentice Hall, 1991, 528 р.
4. Nosal M., Thimm H.F., Ehlers P.F. et al., A statistical analysis of the early peace
river thermal project performance, The Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology,
1993, V. 32, no. 1, pp. 48–53.
