Petroleos de Venezuela was to have spudded the first well in February in a $375 million, 2-year exploration program in the Orinoco Delta.
The Pride Venezuela semisubmersible is to drill 12 exploration and appraisal wells in 150-1,500 ft of water in an area 155 miles off Delta Amacuro (OGJ, Feb. 18, Newsletter). The rig can drill to 25,000 ft and has a crew of 100.
PDVSA exploration officials said the program is aimed at growth faults offshore, a different structural and stratigraphic environment than that found around Pedernales oil field, the only producing area in the onshore portion of the delta.
The area to be explored is 1,000 sq km initially, but PDVSA hopes to expand it to 2,250 sq km eventually. It lies about 250 km east of Pedernales, which is producing about 10,000 b/d of 21° gravity oil from depths of 3,490-7,000 ft (OGJ, Dec. 24, 2001, p. 155).
The nearest discoveries to the area to be explored are Amherstia, Loran, Cocuina, and Sparrow off southeastern Trinidad. This area has seen discovery of 10 tcf or more of gas in the past 5 years.
Pdvsa found dry gas in two of five exploration wells drilled in the area in the early 1980s. In the present program Pdvsa expects to find gas-condensate and possibly light oil.
PDVSA set up a network of helicopter, fixed wing, and marine routes to supply the rig (see map).
Goals, logistics
Exploration success in the Deltan Platform Project would be the first step towards creation of a natural gas industrial center on Sucre's Paria Peninsula.
This would enable the development of the huge reserves in Venezuela's easternmost region. It would also promote the development of the transportation and distribution infrastructure required to transport gas to its final destination.
For the drilling, PDVSA established logistical bases in Guaraguao,Anzoátegui; Maturín, Monagas; Capure, Delta Amacuro; and Guajira, Sucre.
PDVSA signed mutual aid agreements with companies operating in Trinidad to establish the ability to meet potential emergencies.
Safety and environmental protection are the most important priorities of the project.
To protect the environment, the Venezuelan national oil company carried out environmental impact studies and baseline measurement campaigns in the drilling areas, engaging the services of several consulting companies and research centers, including Simón Bolívar University, the Central University of Venezuela, and Intevep.
