SPE 39049
The La Rosa Basal Sand, Block I, Venezuela. Strategies and Expectations.
Alfredo Len, Jhonny Casas, Nlida Agostini, Xiomara Bengochea, Lourdes Salamanca, Pedro Muoz, Nstor Parra;
Maraven S.A.
Copyright 1997, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the Fifth Latin American and Caribbean
Petroleum Engineering Conference and ; Exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 30 August
3 September 1997.
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Abstract
The La Rosa Basal Sand (Miocene), known in some areas as
Santa Barbara Member, was discovered in 1954 as a pool for
Block I area in Lake Maracaibo basin,with a relatively poor
success during the next 40 years of production.
Since 1993 however, an aggresive policy of workovers and
drilling was undertaken increasing by over 300 % the total
production of medium and light oil. These activities were
based upon the recommendations of several multidisciplinary
team projects.
The La Rosa Basal Sand is a 5-60 ft thick sandstone deposited
in a fluvio deltaic environment overlaying an unconformity
which truncated Eocene succesions (Pauji and/or Misoa
formations). Lateral continuity varies from south to north and
it is feasible not only to observe new sand bodies but also
coalescent effect with the underlying Eocene productive
sands. The La Rosa Basal Sand is overlain by a 100-200
thick marine shale, known as La Rosa Shale.
Change of paradigm in the reservoir management was
mainly a consequence of the result of well VLA- 1185, upon
the west flank of the Block which also demanded a revision
of the petrophysical parameters. Its initial production of 1,300
BPD and 0.3 % water, was difficult to explain considering
resistivity values of only 8-10 Ohm-m, a parameter which had
been long considered to indicate high water saturation. Such
parameter subestimated remnant reserves and in some cases
supported rejection of some well locations. Additionally new
core data has helped to better understand reservoir behaviour
and predict future activities. During the last four years
seismic interpretation, stratigraphic well by well correlation,
structural and isopach maps and production history matching
have been updated by information from new wells which
have acted as a support for a slimhole campaign.
Consequently, geologically targeted infill wells and no
conventional workovers, increased production from 4000
BPD to 18400 BPD (Mid, 1996).
Introduction
Block I area, located in the middle of Lake Maracaibo
basin, is considered one of the more prolific fields in
Venezuela (Fig.1). By January 1996 oil production of this
block has reached 2,158 MMSTB of medium and light oil
from reservoirs of different ages: Miocene, Eocene, Paleocene
and Cretaceous.
The La Rosa Basal Sand reservoir, of Miocene age, is
characterized by a succesion of sandstones and shales with an
average thickness of 25 feet (Fig. 2) and commenced
production on April 1954, with well VLA-13. The initial
production was 1,874 STB/D, GOR of 700 SCF/STB and
1.2% of water cut. Gravity of the crude: 28.9
API.
In December 1996, 650 wells had been drilled in the area,
most of them aimed at eocene targets. Nowaday the reservoir
is producing from 75 wells; other 24 wells had been closed
due to operational problems and two were abandoned because
of high water cut.
Physico-chemical analysis proved that water production
was coming from underlying eocene reservoirs which had
communicated with La Rosa Basal Sand through either the
casing or coalescent eocene sands.
Calculated Original Oil in Place (OOIP) was 434.0
MMSTB. By December 1996 the reservoir had a cummulative
production of 59 MMSTB.
Block I is divided by Icotea fault trend into two flanks:
east and west. Initial pressure for wells of the west flank was
2900 psi and 3100 psi for wells of the east flank. (Fig.3).
Update of the reservoir properties was obtained by
interpretation of new 3D seismic (1991, 1993),
sedimentological analysis of three new cores and an
aggresive campaign for pressure data adquisition.
Total costs were diminished by drilling 8 slimholes wells,
changing casing design and improving on coil tubing
2 A. LEON, et al.
orkovers. Oil rates increased by applying commingled
production and reducing skin damage.
History of the reservoir
The La Rosa Basal Sand started its production on 1954
(Fig.4). In 1956 the reservoir reached a rate of 9,000 STBPD
from 10 wells. The primary production mechanism is
controlled by solution gas drive.
During a period of 31 years (1960-1991) activity was low
mainly due to changes in internal policies to produce from
eocene targets. Only five wells were producing from this
reservoir having an average oil rate of 2,000 STBPD. At the
end of 1992 a new campaign of workover and drilling was
started based on production rates up to 700 STBPD/well.
This campaign was supported and complemented with a
policy of drilling slimholes in order to reduce costs.
At the end of 1996 eighteen slimholes had been drilled.
Adding up the results of the workover and the slimholes
increased the production to 19,000 STBPD.
Structural Geology
Block I is defined by an anticline produced as a result of
the effect of a fractured system known as Lama-Icotea fault.
This major fault trend of Jurassic origin has a reverse
character and an average northeast-southwest strike and west
dip. This fault was reactivated during the Eocene and
Miocene time (Lugo J. 1991).
Interpretation of new 3D seismic (175 km in 1990 and
120 km in 1993) has proved that in the Miocene section fault
heaves increase from south to north where have been
observed values of up to 200 feet. Sets of antithetic faulting
parallel to this major trend complicated the structural
framework and produce sealing effect in most of the cases
(Fig.5).
Taking Lama-Icotea fault as a structural reference, Block
I has been divided into two major areas: west flank and east
flank. East flank is also divided into the attic, horst and VLA-
68/96 Areas.
Area VLA-68/96 is separated from the rest of the east
flank by a fault parallel to Lama-Icotea, named the East fault.
This block, however, has no production from La Rosa Basal
Sand reservoir. All the wells of thist area are producing from
eocene horizons. A new campaign to produce from La Rosa
Basal Sand from this block is in progress.
In the west flank average dip is 5
to the west. In the east
flank dip ranges from 3 to 6
in the direction south-southeast.
These features are as a result of compressive stresses
northwestwazzu -southeast, produced during the end of the
Eocene. Later on they were reactivated in the Miocene.
Isopach maps of La Rosa Basal Sand has shown an
important influence of the tectonic regime on sedimentation.
Sediments were deposited in a fluvio-deltaic environment, but
reactivation of faulting during sedimentation and the presence
of an irregular paleotopography by erosion, controlled the
accumulation of very important volumes of sediments.
SPE 39049
Thicker sections are observed at the east of Lama-Icotea
fault and in some cases coincides with good values of
production.
This scenario has pointed out very specific areas where
changes in thickness from 60 feet to 5 has been observed. In
some cases local depressions were filled out and presence of
another litostratigraphic unit, Icotea Formation (Oligocene),
is possible. This unit is located in some small areas of the
west flank and consists mainly of fine grain sands with thin
levels of shale.
Stratigraphy
The La Rosa Basal Sand has been considered as a unique
reservoir with an almost absence of important structural
features. The reservoir used tobe said as a beach(smooth dip
and very few sedimentary changes).
Interpretation of new 3D seismic, correlation well by well,
application of modern stratigraphic models and new pressure
data showed that the reservoir was, stratigraphically
speaking, very heterogeneous. Changes in facies, thickness
and quality of rock were very distinctive, also in very short
distances.
The La Rosa Basal Sand is the bottom part of La Rosa
Formation, which has an average thickness of 25 feet. These
sands represent the deposition during a Lowstand System
Tract and probably during the early stages of the Transgresive
System Tract (Cramez, C. 1993). La Rosa Formation also
includes, at the top, La Rosa Shale, a deep marine unit
deposited during the Transgressive Sistem Track and the
High System Tract event. This unit is characterized to be an
overpressurized sucession which risks operational activities.
In the other hand, La Rosa Basal Sand is characterized by
the presence of bodies of medium and very fine grain sands
separated by shale layers, with various thickness.
La Rosa Basal Sand is overlying the Eocene unconformity
of the Eocene (SB 39.5) and as it was explained previously,
in very specific cases is overlying Icotea Formation
(Oligocene).
Recent research of the area has shown that sand bodies of
La Rosa Basal Sand change from south to north and from east
to west throughout the field. The reason was not only the
sedimentary effect of a meandering and anastomosing
environment but again, also because of changes on the
paleotopography. The overall result of all these variables has
been a very complex clastic system that has produced quite a
few controversies.
Results of the core analysis from well VLA-725, located
in the south of the east flank, indicated presence of non
marine facies with some coaly intervals for La Rosa Basal
succession (Casas, et al, 1996) In this core the transgresive
surface of erosion is overlain by a thin layer of sideritized
mudstone with oolites which probably represents the
transgresive marine lag.
North of the study area the core VLA-1246 indicates
SPE 39049 THE LA ROSA BASAL SAND, BLOCK I, VENEZUELA. STRATEGIES AND EXPECTATIONS
presence of very fine-grained marine sandstones acting as the
La Rosa Basal Sandstone with only one foot of non-marine
facies (rroted mudstone) preserved at the base of the
succesion as the remnant of the Lowstand System Tract
(Casas, J. et al 1997). New wells will be cored in the next
future to test and complement the sedimentary model (Leon,
A. et al,1997).
Detailed electrofacies evaluation has pointed out that the
average tendency of the sedimentary bodies is northwest-
southeast which is consistent with  and K trends.
In some cases these sands are piled up on eocene sands
producing a coalescent effect. Isolythic map showing
thickness of shale interval between the bottom of La Rosa
Basal Sand (unconformity of Eocene, in most of the cases)
and the first sand of the Eocene (Misoa Formation) was useful
to determine those areas where communication of fluids from
different horizons is possible. A good example is the area of
the wells VLA-256, 86 and 628 where production from La
Rosa Basal Sand has been twice the estimated value. It
indicates that the additional part of the production is coming
from eocene sands (Fig. 6).
Petrophysics
Old data and analysis results from cores located far away
from Block I have produced an erroneous estimation on
petrophysical parameters for Block I La Rosa Basal Sand
reservoir.
It was considered that the main factors which affected
evaluation were:
 Thin layers of shale.
 Difference on sedimentary facies.
 Different kinds of clays.
 Presence of conductive minerals (3D syderite)
 Presence of coal.
 Old physico-chemical analysis.
 Low resolution logs.
One specific case ocurred on well VLA-1185. Resistivity
logs of this well showed values below 10 ohm-m (Fig 7).
These values were considered as high water saturation, based
on the traditional petrophysical cut-off of the area.
Initial production, however, up to 1,300 STBPD and 0.3
% BWS, demanded a revision of the petrophysical parameters
supporting by the adquisition of new cores.
Change of paradigms not only for the geological model
but on petrophysical parameters was mandatory.
Information from two new cores in La Rosa Basal Sand
(VLA-1246 and VLA-1255) contributed with valuable data to
update petrophysical parameters.
These recent core analysis has showed the following
results:
Porosity: 25-30 %, Permeability (Klinkenberg): 100-1129
md, Grain density: 2.6-2.7 gr/cc, So:30-53 %, Lithology:
Brown sandstone, fine to medium grain, conglomeratic in
very few cases, well/moderate sorting, quartz crystals,
3
carbonaceous traces.
Those new results obligated to recalculate remnant
reserves and define a new reservoir management policies as
well as the action plan for the next future.
Strategies and Expectations.
Return on Investment (ROI) for Block I reservoirs is
around 15%. (Fig. 8). In order to make feaseable the drilling
activity of La Rosa Basal Sand reservoir it is neccesary to
develop programs that make it more economic and safer,
either by reducing operational costs and risks or by increasing
production per well. The first one was achieved by drilling
slimholes and geologically targeted infill wells.
The second goal was possible by reducing skin damage
and by commingled production. One third strategy might be
increasing production and costs by drilling horizontal wells
and reentries.This strategy however, has not been applied on
this specific reservoir.
The oil production from this reservoir is estimated at the
end of the century at 26,000 STBPD, based on the projection
of the existent production.
Reduction on operational costs
Cutback on operational costs,has been achieved by drilling
slimholes ang changing casing design.
Conventional 9-5/ surface casing was changed to 5-1/2
Additionaly, 5- 1/2 production casing was substituted for 3-
1/2 casing and 2-7/8 production tubing was replaced for 1-
1/4 diameter tubing (Fig. 9).
In this manner savings up to 30 % have been obtained on
drilling time, cementation slurries and equipment.
Geologically targeted infill locations
Based on the updated geological model an aggresive
campaing of geologically targeted infill drillings was also set
in motion. New wells were located on poorly drained areas,
looking for sand bodies containing oil left behind. Most of
them were within the 300 meters spacing required by the
official grid for Miocene age reservoirs.
Success has been impressive. Since 1992, forty five new
wells were drilled by applying this new paradigm. Production
increased by 5,000 BPD. Seven of the wells were drilled in
the west flank, close to the concession boundary The rest
were drilled in the horst zone.
Differences in pressure and production indicate that La
Rosa Basal Sand is composed of reservoirs with different
characteristics through the Block Y field. Results are
consistent with the model.
Additionally. a water injection program has been planned
to mantain the energy level of the reservoir. A pilot area of
the east flank was selected and it is expected to start this
campaing at the end of 1997 (see map).
4 A. LEON, et al. SPE 39049

Increasing for production Analisis de oportunidades estrategicasen la Formacin La Rosa

Increasing of production was accomplished through two Area Norte del Bloque I. Maraven internal report.
different ways: first, reduction of skin damage by drilling 2. Cramez C., Letouzey J., 1993 Direction Exploration basin
under balance. Actual pressures below 1,200 psi do not justify principles in tectonics (Geology). Total 4 Volumens
3. Len, A., Medina M., Agostini, N., Salamanca, L., Bengochea, X.
mud weight over 61 pounds per gallon. Production rates
Casas, J. 1997 Propuesta de la perforacin de las
increased over 20 % compared to neighboring wells drilled localizaciones AWO-1, AVP-1, AWQ-1, AVQ-1, AUQ-1
with over balance mud system. AVQ-2, AXP-1 y AXQ-1 en el Area 6, Pilar norte y flanco este
The second approach was commingled production. The con objetivo el yacimiento Basal La Rosa, Bloque I. Maraven
use of this technique was possible because of the following internal report.
reasons: 4 Lugo, J.,1991 Cretaceous to Neogene tectonic control on
- Similar pore pressure between La Rosa Basal Sand and sedimentation: Maracaibo basin, Venezuela (Thesis Ph.D),
Eocene reservoirs. The difference on this pressure is not over University of Texas at Austin, Austin-Texas, 219 p.
500 psi. 5. Medina, M. Muoz, P. Agostini, Bengochea X. and Casas J.
1996. Revision de reservas Yacimiento Basal La Rosa VLA-6,
- Low water cut from both Miocene and Eocene horizons.
Bloque I. Maraven internal report.
- Thin rock section between the different productive
zones. Thickness differences are not over 800 feet.
Prediction for commingled production was obtained by
using software that considered the following data: pore
pressure, individual production, porosity, permeability,
average thickness, well design and possible operational
damage.
Results were very close to the predicted values. Production
improvement was over 40% considering possible results for
individual reservoirs (Fig. 11).
Some of the mandatory parameters to have in mind during
the process are: calibration, monitoring on witness wells,
taking of especial logs, evaluation of finger prints for each
fluid, contribution of each interval and updating of pressure
data in order to have a rigorous control of the results

Conclusions
As a consequence of all the programs developed in the
area, oil production in La Rosa Basal Sand is undergoing a
radical transformation.
Since 1992 oil production of the entire block has
increased from 59,000 STBPD to 84,000 STBPD. La Rosa
Basal Sand has been the greater contributor to this result with
an output of 19000 STBPD.
There is a close relationship between the well design and
the operational procedures.
Change of paradigms in geological model, drilling
techniques and production processes has become a mandatory
rule in this field and mainly in La Rosa Basal Sand reservoir.
Application of new technology is the key to reactivate
mature fields and the La Rosa Basal Sand case is a good
example of such an affirmation.

Acknowledgments
We thank Maraven C.A. for permission to publish this
paper.. We also thank Jhonny Vivas for drafting the figures.

References
1. Casas J., Medina M., Len, A., Bengochea X., Parra, N., 1996
SPE 39049 THE LA ROSA BASAL SAND, BLOCK I, VENEZUELA. STRATEGIES AND EXPECTATIONS 5

BLOCK I

EAST FLANK

N
WEST FLANK

LT
FAU
I

EA
II

OT
XII

ULT
- IC

T FA
A
LAM

EAS
VLA-1246
(CORE)

LT
FAU

EAST FAULT
EA
OT
Fig. 1
Location Map for Block I.

A C
LAM
VLA-1255
(CORE)
INJECTION
VLA-725
(CORE)
PILOT AREA

VLA-1185 VLA-256 VLA-678

LAGUNILLAS

LAGUNILLAS
FORMATION
LOWER
MIOCENE

LA ROSA SHALE
LA ROSA FORMATION
LA ROSA
BASAL
SAND

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
MISOA FORMATION

SANDS C
EOCENE

Fig. 3
Structural and isopach maps of La Rosa Basal sand..

Fig. 2
Type Log. Well VLA-257.

6 A. LEON, et al. SPE 39049

3500 VLA-13
VLA-16
VLA-256 VLA-036 VLA-628
VLA-22
3000 VLA-24
SP ASN SP ASN SP ASN
VLA-56
VLA-59
2500 VLA-80
ROSAF
6200 6200 6200
VLA-83
VLA-97
2000
PRESSURE, PSI

VLA-128 6300 6300 6300

VLA-154 BASLS
1500
VLA-160
6400 ER-EO 6400
VLA-172 6400
VLA-199
VLA-200
1000 6500 6500 6500
VLA-215
VLA-348
500 VLA-495 6600 6600 6600
VLA-498
VLA-396 C-5-L
0 VLA-649 6700 6700 6700
VLA-650
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1993 1997
VLA-829
6800 6800 C-6-U 6800
YEAR

Fig. 4
Declination of pressure behaviour in La Rosa Basal Fig. 6
Coalescent effect between miocene and eocene sands.
Sand.

GR 1:200 LLD SW
VLA-861 VLA-408 VLA-246 VLA-006 0 GAPI 150 0 OHMM 501 FRAC 0
LSS
0 OHMM 50
6550

UNCONFORMITY

DATE OIL BWS GOR

(B/D) (%) (PC/BN)
78

28/1/96 1326 0.3 1507

94
6600
02/2/96 1281 0.3 2106

PETROPHYSICAL EVALUATION

RES. NET PAY So

B.L.R. 14 18% 65%

6650

Fig. 5
Structural framework of Block I. Fig. 7
Anomalous case of resistivity values compared with
production Well VLA-1185.
SPE 39049 THE LA ROSA BASAL SAND, BLOCK I, VENEZUELA. STRATEGIES AND EXPECTATIONS 7

700 500

10%
LAGOMAR

%
NPV (MMBs): 718

= 15
%
600 TYPE WELL

ROI =
10
400 R O I: 70%
% HORIZONTAL

ROI
I=
15
I= WELLS /

O
R
500 O REENTRIES REDUCTION AVERAGE:
R VERTICAL WELL COST
300 COST: 30%

*1 US$ = 500 Bs
COST (MMBs)*
* 1 US$ = 500 Bs
COST (MMBs*)

400 TIME: 20%

GAS LIFT: 50%
COMMINGLED 200
300 PRODUCTION

200 100

100 SLIM HOLE SLIM HOLE/COMMINGLED PROD. 0

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
0 INITIAL PRODUCTION (STBPD)
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
INITIAL PRODUCTION (STBPD)

Fig. 8
Opportunities to improve rentability in Block I.. Fig. 10
Economic indicators..

20

CONVENTIONAL SLIM HOLE 19 MBPD

16

24 CONDUCTOR 200
12

12 1/4 6 1/2
Qo, (MBPD)

9 5/8 SURFACE 5 1/2 1500

CASING
8
4

8 1/2 4 3/4

PRODUCTION
0

2 7/8 TUBING 1 1/4

60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

PRODUCTION
(YEARS)
5 1/2 CASING 3 1/2 8000

Fig. 9
Conventional well design and slim hole well. Fig. 11
Boom of production La Rosa Basal Sand.