Marlim Complex Development: A Reservoir Engineering Overview
Authors: Capeleiro Pinto Antonio C. , Guedes Solange S. , Bruhn Carlos H.L. , Gomes J. Adilson T. , de Sá Andrea N. , Netto J.R. Fagundes 
Published: December 2007

Since the discovery of the Garoupa Field in the Campos Basin, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1973, Petrobras has been moving to deeper waters. Subsea engineering and well technologies have been developed and applied to overcome the environmental restrictions. Today more than 50% of Brazil's oil production comes from fields located offshore in water depths over 1,000 m. In this scenario, the Marlim Complex – which comprises the Marlim, Marlim Sul and Marlim Leste fields – plays an important role.

Discovered in 1985, the Marlim Field started production in 1991, with a pilot system comprising 7 wells connected to a semi-submersible unit moored in a water depth of 600 m. Currently, the field production is about 85,000 m3/d (535,000 bpd), with 60 producers and 32 water injectors connected to 7 floating production units. As with other Campos Basin turbidites, the Oligocene/Miocene reservoir of Marlim Field presents 3 outstanding characteristics: predictability, from seismic data and geological modeling, excellent petrophysical properties and good hydraulic connectivity. The extensive use of 3D seismics as a reservoir characterization tool allows the reduction of risks and the optimization of well locations. Additionally, 3D visualization techniques provide a new environment for teamwork, where seismic data is interpreted and input into detailed reservoir simulation models.

Among the deep water well technologies employed to develop the Marlim Complex it is worth mention: slender wells, high rate well design, horizontal and high angle wells in unconsolidated sands, efficient low cost sand control mechanisms, selective frac-pack with isolation between zones, pressure downhole gauges (PDG's), new techniques for the connection of flowlines and X-mas trees, subsea multiphase pumping and special techniques to remove paraffin in the flowlines. However, new developments are required, such as extended reach wells, selective completion in gravel-packed wells, isolation inside horizontal gravel-packed wells with External Casing Packers (ECP's), smart completion and improved recovery techniques for viscous oil.

Much has been learned during the planning and development of the Marlim Field and this knowledge is currently being applied in the development of Marlim Sul and Marlim Leste fields. Some important points must always be observed: a) the development plans must be defined by using optimization techniques considering the geological risks; b) the number of wells of the initial development plan must be defined through a detailed optimization study, considering economic indicators, oil recovery and risks; c) the wells must be designed to allow high production rates, with "rest of life" completions, as simple as possible; d) the sand control mechanisms must be simple, efficient and low cost, e) the seismic resolution or the production data analysis must be of sufficient quality to guarantee that there will be good hydraulic connectivity between the producers and the corresponding injectors; f) the pipelines and risers must be designed to avoid bottle-necks or conditions for deposition of wax or hydrates and g) the reservoir management and particularly the water injection system management must be made with an integrated teamwork approach.

In this paper we present some aspects of the reservoir engineering and of the development plan of the Marlim Field and briefly discuss how this experience is being used in the development of the neighboring Marlim Sul and Marlim Leste fields.