ABSTRACT: Compaction and Subsidence in Lake Maracaibo East Coast Field

Z. A. Sancevic, Tito Boesi

The role of heavy crudes, extra-heavy crudes, and bitumens in Venezuelan reserves is presented and the importance of compaction/subsidence related to recoveries of these types of crudes is discussed. A very short review of discovery, development, and different exploitation phases and the geological and reservoir characteristics of the Lake Maracaibo East Coast fields is presented.

Interpretations of the causes of the compaction and subsidence during natural depletion periods is discussion as well as reactivation of compaction/subsidence as a consequence of steam injection.

Subsidence effects on environment are presented, and historical records and subsidence predictions are discussed. The approach to dykes stability multidisciplinary studies is indicated, including seismicity, geotechniques, oceanography, physical-mathematical modeling, and prediction aspects involved.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990