A. S. Barroso¹, M. K. Mihaguti¹, D. D. Castro¹, C. V. Stank¹, D. J. Sarzenski¹, T. Adams¹
(1) Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract: Roncador giant oil field: exploration and production from a heterogeneous Maastrichtian turbidite reservoir in ultra deep water Campos Basin, Brazil

Roncador field has represented a production challenge since its discovery in 1996 because of the ultra deep water location (1500 to 2000 m), the high reservoir complexity, the different types of oil (31 to 18 API) and the large oil volumes: oil in place of 9.2 billion bbl, reserves of 2.6 billion bbl.

The Maastrichtian Roncador reservoir comprises 13 sandstone units (30% porosity and 400 mD permeability) and five high-continuity mudstone beds that can be grouped into three sequences. The lower sequence is composed of channel-fill conglomerates and coarse sandstones. The middle sequence is dominated by fine to medium sandstone deposited in a wider and shallower trough as confined sand lobes. The upper sequence comprise unconfined turbidite lobes of fine to medium sandstones and interbedded mudstones.

Rafting and major growth faults related to salt tectonics generated four structural blocks: northern block with light oil and two water oil contact; eastern block with light oil and thick oil column (205 m); western block with heavy oil and a southeastern block in deeper water. Production module 1 is being implemented to produce oil from the northern and eastern blocks, including 21 subsea production wells and 5 subsea water injection wells. Present production from the wildcat RJS436 is 20,000 bopd. Module 2 will develop the western block (heavy oil); two production units are planned (one SPAR and one FPSO). Peak production is expected to reach 150,000 bopd from 31 wells. Module 3 is being planned to produce light oil from the southern block depending on the exploratory results. A FPSO is considered to produce more than 100,000 bopd from 15 wells.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90914©2000 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana