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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
2012. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
DOI:10.1306/08101111019
Hydrodynamic stagnation zones: A new play concept for the Llanos Basin, Colombia
Mark Person,1 David Butler,2 Carl W. Gable,3 Tomas Villamil,4 David Wavrek,5 Daniel Schelling6
1New Mexico Tech, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico 87801; [email protected]
2New Mexico Tech, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, New Mexico 87545; [email protected]
3Earth and Environmental Science Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico; [email protected]
4Grupo C and C Energia, Carrera 4 N 72 35 Piso 8-Bogota, Colombia; [email protected]
5Petroleum Systems International Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 84111; [email protected]
6Structural
Geology International Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 84103; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Hydraulic heads from a calibrated, three-dimensional, constant-density, ground-water-flow model were used to compute Hubbert oil potentials and infer secondary petroleum migration directions within the Llanos Basin, Colombia. The oil potentials for the C7 reservoir show evidence of the development of two hydrodynamic stagnation zones. Hydrodynamic effects on secondary oil migration are greatest in the eastern Llanos Basin, where structural
slopes are lowest and local hydraulic-head gradients drive ground-water flow westward down
structural
dip. The Rubiales field, a large oil reservoir within the eastern Llanos Basin with no
structural
closure, is located at the edge of one of these stagnation zones. This oil field hosts heavy oils (12
API) consistent with water washing and biodegradation. The best agreement between model results and field conditions occurred in an oil density of 12
API, suggesting that the Rubiales field position is in dynamic equilibrium with modern hydraulic and oil density conditions.
Cross
sectional ground-water-flow models indicate that the most likely explanation of observed underpressures are caused by hydrodynamic effects associated with a topography-driven flow system. Late Miocene to present-day ground-water flow likely was an important factor in flushing marine connate porewaters from Tertiary reservoirs. Ground-water recharge along the western margin of the basin could help explain the observed low-temperature gradients (20
C/km). However, upward flow rates were not high enough to account for elevated temperature gradients of 50
C/km to the east.
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