Development Plan for Block 67: First Production from the Heavy Oil Belt, Marañfrom Basin, Peru

James S. Dean, Benjamin J. Schulein, and Alex Galarraga
Barrett Resources (Peru) LLC, Lima, Peru

Recent delineation drilling in Block 67 of Peru and exploration success in adjacent blocks has confirmed the presence of significant heavy oil reserves along the eastern platform of the Marañon basin. The Block 67 fields of Paiche, Dorado and Piraña were discovered by Barrett Resources (Peru) and partners in 1998 but it was not until 2006 that improving economic conditions prompted the drilling of confirmation wells.

All oils correspond to the Chonta Petroleum system and range from 12° to 20° API. Trap geometries include drape structures over wrench-cored paleohighs and forced folds associated with the inversion of basement faults during Andean compression. Reservoirs are sandstones of Cretaceous and Tertiary age, which due to their maturity and shallow depth of burial, exhibit excellent petrophysical properties. The combination of high permeability, high reservoir temperatures and active water drive allow production rates from horizontal wells of up to 5,000 bopd.

An offshore-type development is proposed for the Block 67 fields in order to minimize environmental impact in the sensitive rain forest setting. 98 horizontal production wells and 16 vertical injection wells will be drilled from 10 production platforms. One platform in each field will function as a central processing center where surface facilities for dehydration, power generation, and water injection will be located. At peak production, Block 67 is expected to produce over 100,000 bopd. The heavy oil will be transported via a heated 30” pipeline to Andoas where it will be mixed with diluent brought from the Peruvian coast via a separate 12” pipeline. The 18° API blend will be evacuated to the port of Bayovar using the existing North Peruvian Pipeline System and commercialized.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas