Infilling Direction and Fluid Communication in the E2.0 Reservoir of the Kolo Creek Oil Field, Niger Delta

Abstract

A suite of oil samples from the E2.0 reservoir in the Kolo Creek oil field in Niger Delta, Nigeria were analysed to discern possible fluid communication between the wells of the reservoir and charging/infilling direction of the reservoir using geochemical tools. The study reveals a close similarity in percentage contents of the saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes in all the oils. The maturity gradient clearly shows a maturation trend in the Southwest-Northeast direction which indicates that subsequent charge from the oil kitchen were more mature than the initial charges. The reservoir appears to be charged with hydrocarbons from source kitchen in the Southwest to Northeast direction. In addition, the use of the interparaffins from the GC fingerprints for correlating the oils indicates a significant degree of communication between the oils thereby ruling out any significant in-reservoir barrier. This information suggests potential ease in producing the R2.0 reservoir and the possibility of other accumulations in the periphery of the field.

Keywords: Kolo Creek, reservoir geochemistry, reservoir continuity, Niger Delta, petroleum migration, biomarkers.