The 50th Anniversary of the first official summarized evaluation and publication of the Orinoco Oil Belt

January 10, 2020
Actus Veritas Geoscience
Report about the 50th anniversary of the first publication about a giant accumulation of heavy oil in the Eastern Venezuela Basin. The Venezuelan geologists Jose A. Galavis and Hugo Velarde presented and published their work "Geological Study and Preliminary Evaluation of Potential Reserves of Heavy Oil of the Orinoco Tar Belt, Eastern Venezuela Basin", at the 7th World Petrol. Congress, Mexico, 1967. The Orinoco Tar Belt was defined as the zone about 600 kilometers long [365 miles] and 53 kilometers wide [31 miles], with a volume of heavy oil "in situ" estimated at 693 x 10^9 barrels.
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The concept of a giant accumulation of heavy oil in the Eastern Venezuela Basin was born during the 7th World Petroleum Congress, heldin Mexico City, April 2-9, 1967. The Venezuelan geologists Jose Antonio Galavis S. (Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Caracas) and Hugo Mario Velarde Ch.(Corporacion Venezolana Del Petroleo, Maracaibo) presented and published their work "Geological Study and Preliminary Evaluation of Potential Reserves of Heavy Oil of the Orinoco Tar Belt, Eastern Venezuela Basin".

The Orinoco Belt takes its name from the Orinoco River,since is located along the northern margin of the river, to the North of Bolivar State - Guayana Shield-, spanning from East -West of the southern portions of the states Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Anzoategui and Guarico. The publication defined the Orinoco Tar Belt as the zone about 600 kilometers long[365 miles] and 53 kilometers wide [31 miles], with a volume of heavy oil "in situ" estimated at 693 x 10^9 barrels.

Currently, the State-owned PDVSA extended the width to 70 kilometers [44 miles], and maintain an estimated of 235 billion barrels of recoverable oil [3.74x10^10 cubic meters], applying EOR.

Galavis and Velarde summarized 30 years of exploration after the first well was drilled and tested in Jan 1936, ~ 25 miles west of the Soledad town in the State of Anzoategui. The well is the Canoa-1, T.D. 3855 ft.[1176 m], and oil gravity of 7 (API), from sands, but was no commercial. During 1938, the Suata-1 was drilled and tested, ~ 87 miles to the northwest of Soledad, near the town of Zuata, at the limit between the states of Anzoategui and Guarico. The Soledad town is a small port at the Orinoco River, in front of Ciudad Bolivar. The eastward Cerro Negro field was discovered in 1939, after the first two wells tested were dry.

The Orinoco Oil Belt is delimited to the north by the following giant oil fields, from west to east:

  • Greater Las Mercedes area to the West, Guarico State. Discovered in 1941. Average API is 25-35. To the North-East of Las Mercedes are located the Yucal-Placer gas fields, discovered in 1948.
  • Greater Oficina area, Anzoategui State.Discovered in 1937, average API gravity oil is 34, but 34-57 were reported, and a trend to have heavy oil to the South.
  • The Anaco oil fields are located immediately to the north of Oficina, discovered by the Santa Rosa field in 1937; API gravities are in the range of 33-47. Associated gas is very important in these trend of fields.
  • Greater Jusepin area, to the North of Monagas, was discovered in 1938, with average oil API gravity of 31.5. This is an area with associated gas.
  • Greater Temblador area, to the East of the state of Monagas and discovered in 1936, includes the fields Uracoa (1937) and El Salto (1936). They are gas rich, and the API ranges between 18 -22, 22-28 to the West.
  • The Tucupita field discovered in 1945. It's located to the East, at the limit between the Monagas and the Delta Amacuro states. The API oil gravity varies between 10-22.

In 1977, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., divided the Orinoco Oil Belt into 4 regions, and assigned them for E&P to the former affiliates(West -East): Corpoven, S.A.- Machete; Maraven, S.A.- Zuata; Meneven, S.A.- Hamaca; and Lagoven, S.A.- Cerro Negro. An intense exploration and production program was carried out, and during the official program called Apertura, in 1995, several projects started as Strategic Associations between private international/national sectors and Petroleos de Venezuela. The Sincor (Zuata area), Petrozuata, Ameriven in Hamaca, and the Cerro Negro were established in the Orinoco Oil Belt. However, a presidential decree in 2007 nationalized the extra heavy oil production and new Mixed companies were formed with PDVSA as the main associate, and the Oil Belt blocks got new names and mainly state-owned companies as partners of PDVSA.

From West to East the new names are Boyaca (former Machete), Junin (former Zuata), Ayacucho (former Hamaca), and Carabobo (former Cerro Negro). In that way, nearly 26 small blocks were separated and some of the former associations changed partners and names: Sincor is now PetroCedeño, Petrozuata is now Petroanzoategui, Cerro Negro is now Petromonagas, and Ameriven is now Petropiar. New Mixed Companies are formed nowadays after some initial partners sold their stakes.

Maps and summaries of this changes can be obtained via PDVSA's website or searching the net. Some publications with information related to the geology, exploration and production data are listed below.Notice only a few publications in Spanish, to reach a wider audience.

References
  • Hedberg, H.D., Saas, L.C., Funkhouser, H.J. 1947. "Oil fields of Greater Oficina Area, Central Anzoategui, Venezuela". AAPG Bull., 31(12):2089-2169.
  • Corfield, G.S. 1948. "Recent activities in Venezuela's petroleum industry". Economic Geography, 24(2):114-118.
  • Mencher, E., Fichter, H.J., et al. 1953. "The Geology of Venezuela and its oilfields". AAPG Bull.37(4):690-777.
  • Gonzalez de Juana, C., Iturralde de Arozena, J.M. & Picard Cadillat, X. 1980. "Geologia de Venezuela y de sus cuencas petroliferas". Ediciones FONINVES, Caracas.
  • Perrodon, A. 1983."Dynamics of oil and gas accumulations". Elf Aquitaine. Comment: Figure 201 is the map of fields in the Central part of the Orinoco basin,Venezuela.
  • R.F. Mayer, Editor, 1987. "Exploration for Heavy Crude Oil and Natural Bitumen". AAPG Studies in Geology # 25. Papers by: De Audemard, N.M., Chirinos, ML. & Layrisse, I. Fiorillo, G. Taheri, M. & N.M. De Audemard. The papers contain data about Crude properties, API gravity values, Cut Off values parameters for calculation of Net Oil Sand, ranges andaverage values of reservoir data, fluid properties of heavy oils, estimates ofrecovery factors and recoverable oil in Stock Tank Barrels (STB).
  • Journal of Petroleum Geology. 1987. 10(2). Papers by Martinez, A.R. Isea, A. Don Kiser, G. Vega, A. & I. De Rojas, Santos, A. & Frontado, L. The papers contain data about Orinoco Oil Belt, geological synthesis, exploration results in Machete area, evaluation of Zuata area, and reservoir geology of the Cerro Negro Steam injection area.
  • Trebolle, R.L. et al. 1993. "The Orinoco Heavy oil belt pilot projects and development strategy". OnePetro #25798-MS.
  • James, K.H. 2000." The Venezuelan hydrocarbon habitat, Part 2. Hydrocarbon occurrences andgenerated-accumulated volumes". Jour. Petrol. Geology. 23(2):133-164.
  • Uzcategui, E.2001. "Reservoir characterization and exploitation scheme in the Orinoco Oil Belt". OnePetro#69698-MS.
  • Martínez, A.R.. 2004. "La Faja Del Orinoco". Editorial Galac, Caracas.
  • Goddard, D. 2006."Venezuela Sedimentary Basins: Principal Reservoirs and Completion Practices. academy.edu.
DOMAINS
Reserve Reports
Geology
Petroleum Systems
Heavy Oil
Geography
Venezuela
Eastern Venezuela Basin
Orinoco Tar Belt
Faja del Orinoco
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The purpose of this study is to provide a pore pressure prediction from seismic data targeting unconventional gas plays (i.e., the Qusaiba Member hot shale and the underlying Sarah Formation). The area of interest (AOI) located in NW Saudi Arabia, and is covered by 1,600 km2 of 3D pre-stack time migrated (PSTM) data. The resulting pore pressure maps for the Qusaiba Member hot shale and Sarah Formation highlight potential drilling hazards. Importantly, areas of higher pore pressure may ultimately represent potential areas of higher gas production (i.e., sweet spots).

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The purpose of this study is to provide a pore pressure prediction from seismic data targeting unconventional gas plays (i.e., the Qusaiba Member hot shale and the underlying Sarah Formation). The area of interest (AOI) located in NW Saudi Arabia, and is covered by 1,600 km2 of 3D pre-stack time migrated (PSTM) data. The resulting pore pressure maps for the Qusaiba Member hot shale and Sarah Formation highlight potential drilling hazards. Importantly, areas of higher pore pressure may ultimately represent potential areas of higher gas production (i.e., sweet spots).
The Cretaceous source rocks from East Venezuela - Trinidad - Guyana - Suriname basins, NE South America
Jan 7, 2020
Francia Galea Álvarez

The Cretaceous source rocks from East Venezuela - Trinidad - Guyana/Suriname basins, NE South America Stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and geochemistry data of Cretaceous source rocks from Eastern Venezuela Basin, South Trinidad, Guyana.

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The Cretaceous source rocks from East Venezuela - Trinidad - Guyana/Suriname basins, NE South America Stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and geochemistry data of Cretaceous source rocks from Eastern Venezuela Basin, South Trinidad, Guyana.
Supporting renewed interest in exploration of South Atlantic Margin: New Best Fit Plate Tectonic Model for South Atlantic Opening
Feb 20, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

There is a renewed interest in exploration for oil and gas in deep and shallow waters of South Atlantic. The hopes are high especially with recent exploration success offshore Guyana and Mauritania. Delineation of the basins and mapping the extents of the pursued plays are two out of several critical components of the comprehensive geologic analysis and are fundamental to exploration success. During the last decade, deepwater drilling in South Atlantic proved multiple assumptions of the earlier geologic models of continent-ocean transition inadequate.

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There is a renewed interest in exploration for oil and gas in deep and shallow waters of South Atlantic. The hopes are high especially with recent exploration success offshore Guyana and Mauritania. Delineation of the basins and mapping the extents of the pursued plays are two out of several critical components of the comprehensive geologic analysis and are fundamental to exploration success. During the last decade, deepwater drilling in South Atlantic proved multiple assumptions of the earlier geologic models of continent-ocean transition inadequate.
Insights into Geological Framework of Northeastern South America
Dec 2, 2019
Marel Sanchez

The Northeastern South American margin is defined by Eastern Venezuelan and Guyana Basins bound to the south by the Guayana Shield and Demerara Plateau. The Margin is emerging as a potential major petroleum province with recent discoveries made in the new play types in Guyana basin with a prolific Cenomanian-Turonian source rock and mostly clastic reservoirs of Cretaceous age. Hydrocarbon production from mostly clastic reservoirs exists in the Eastern Venezuelan Basin onshore for more than 100 years but there was no recent exploration activity offshore.

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The Northeastern South American margin is defined by Eastern Venezuelan and Guyana Basins bound to the south by the Guayana Shield and Demerara Plateau. The Margin is emerging as a potential major petroleum province with recent discoveries made in the new play types in Guyana basin with a prolific Cenomanian-Turonian source rock and mostly clastic reservoirs of Cretaceous age. Hydrocarbon production from mostly clastic reservoirs exists in the Eastern Venezuelan Basin onshore for more than 100 years but there was no recent exploration activity offshore.
The lessons of Silicon Valley and why the model doesn’t fit Houston
Nov 21, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

There is so much talk about building new Silicon Valley in Houston but I think there is very little understanding of what it really is and what should be built in Houston.

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There is so much talk about building new Silicon Valley in Houston but I think there is very little understanding of what it really is and what should be built in Houston.
Digital Transformation or Digital Maturation
Apr 15, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

Steven Zobell in his article published by Forbes magazine in March of 2018 estimates that in 2018 enterprises will invest $1.3 trillion USD in Digital Transformation projects to “improve efficiencies, increase customer value and create new monetization opportunities”. In the same research, Steven analyses the reasons why 70% of these initiatives will not reach the objectives. AVGeo specialists were involved in digital workflow improvement projects in 2018 and would like to share our experiences and see if the predictions of Steve Zobell were correct.

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Steven Zobell in his article published by Forbes magazine in March of 2018 estimates that in 2018 enterprises will invest $1.3 trillion USD in Digital Transformation projects to “improve efficiencies, increase customer value and create new monetization opportunities”. In the same research, Steven analyses the reasons why 70% of these initiatives will not reach the objectives. AVGeo specialists were involved in digital workflow improvement projects in 2018 and would like to share our experiences and see if the predictions of Steve Zobell were correct.
Human Capital In a World of Analytics and Big Data in Exploration Workflows
Apr 1, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

In this presentation, I've discussed human cognitive learning while working with different sets of Big Data in Petroleum Exploration workflows. An effective reduction in the volumes of Big Data without information loss, AI in seismic interpretation and spatial analytics, and a visual aggregation of the single-threaded evaluations into a comprehensive multithreaded business decision are required for delivery of successful exploration programs

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In this presentation, I've discussed human cognitive learning while working with different sets of Big Data in Petroleum Exploration workflows. An effective reduction in the volumes of Big Data without information loss, AI in seismic interpretation and spatial analytics, and a visual aggregation of the single-threaded evaluations into a comprehensive multithreaded business decision are required for delivery of successful exploration programs
My Take on Forecasting of Oil Prices
Aug 1, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

I think the biggest driver in oil price vulnerability is a human factor once again and people tend to overreact to the bad news. They do not take the time to take a step back and to look at a longer trend.

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I think the biggest driver in oil price vulnerability is a human factor once again and people tend to overreact to the bad news. They do not take the time to take a step back and to look at a longer trend.
Opening a white page of 2019
Jan 1, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

The New Year had started, and it's time to take an objective look at lessons learned in 2018, and the new opportunities ahead in 2019.

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The New Year had started, and it's time to take an objective look at lessons learned in 2018, and the new opportunities ahead in 2019.
Solving the Passive Margin Play Map Paradox offshore Uruguay – The Value Density Proposition
Oct 25, 2019
Katya (Ekaterina) Casey

Presented at First HGS/EAGE Conference on Latin America, November 2019 The existing perceptions of the offshore Uruguay petroleum system assessment may be challenged by an analysis of the failure modes of three exploration wells drilled in the basin. This is an underexplored basin with a poor exploration record. Arguably, the wells tested prospect-specific locations but left other plays of interest untested.

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Presented at First HGS/EAGE Conference on Latin America, November 2019 The existing perceptions of the offshore Uruguay petroleum system assessment may be challenged by an analysis of the failure modes of three exploration wells drilled in the basin. This is an underexplored basin with a poor exploration record. Arguably, the wells tested prospect-specific locations but left other plays of interest untested.
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