Evaluation of Potential Petroliferous Using from Integrated Basin Modeling 3d in Carupano Basin, Offshore Venezuela

Adriana Pérez and Adrián Vargas
PDVSA-Intevep, Los Teques, Venezuela

Exploration in little explored area represents an important challenge for petroleum industry. Recent studies confirm the 3D basin modeling potentiality to evaluate the functioning of the petroleum systems, estimate the amount of trapped hydrocarbons and reduce risk in exploration.

Evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential in the Carupano Basin, offshore Venezuela, was significantly improved with an integrated 3-D basin analysis. The presence of hydrocarbons in this area had been confirmed by the production data of the wells, which have reported condensate and gas hydrocarbons. The geochemical features of these hydrocarbons, based in the molecular and isotopic composition of some samples of gases, suggest the presence of at least two petroleum systems, thermogenic and biogenic systems.

This work was focused in the evaluation of thermogenic system. Regional interpretation of well data and depositional patterns along with 2-D seismic mapping of key chronostratigraphic horizons provided the structural framework necessary to build a 3-D basin model. A computerized software 2D/3D basin modeling will be used to establish the timing and history of hydrocarbon generation and migration in the area.

Interpretation of the data in Carupano Basin suggest that the fluid accumulated in deep water sandstones of Late Miocene and Pliocene age (condensate and gas) might be correlated with a potential source rocks (shale) of later Eocene, Oligocene or Early Miocene age. Even tough source rock-fluid correlation were not possible, the data suggest that the potential source rocks could have reached the maturity to generate these fluids in the deepest part of the basin, located next to the structural highs where the fluid are accumulated.

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