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SPE-177105-MS
Identification of Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in Ecuador
J.A. Condor Tarco, Universidad Central del Ecuador-SENESCYT; G.R. Pinto Arteaga, S. Achig Merino,
Universidad Central del Ecuador; J.M. Romo Estrella, Secretaria de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador

Copyright 2015, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference held in Quito, Ecuador, 1820 November 2015.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
of the paper have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect
any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the
written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words;
illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to identify the EOR potential of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region also known as Oriente Basin.
The EOR methods are grouped into three: gas injection, enhanced waterflooding, and thermal. 150 oilfields and 410
reservoirs were studied as part of this work.
This study first evaluates the type of EOR method applicable to the oilfields located in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region, also
known as screening. The EOR methods evaluated were:
Nitrogen injection
CO2 injection
Hydrocarbon injection
Immiscible injection
Polymer flood
SP / ASP injection
Steam injection, and
Combustion in situ
The reservoirs analyzed for all 150 oilfields were:
Basal Tena
Napo M-1 Sand
Napo M-2 Sand
Napo U Upper, Middle, and Lower
Napo T Sand
Hollin
The necessary inputs or reservoir data for this evaluation came from the Petroleum Information Databank or BIPE, a project
from Secretariat of Hydrocarbons of Ecuador (SHE).
The evaluation is not detailed since the objective of this study is to provide a first guide of the theoretical potential of EOR
methods in Ecuador. Those fields with more potential than others can go for further details. Due to the reservoir
characteristics in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region, the most applicable EOR methods are immiscible gas followed by
chemicals (Polymers and surfactants). Additional analyses should be done in order to identify the effects of the waterdrive
mechanism in most of the oilfields. The CO2 miscible flood could work, but there are no near natural or anthropogenic
sources. The results of this study do not cover either the economic-finance or the legal issues that can affect the
implementation of the EOR technology. A second stage of a similar study should evaluate these aspects.
This study is the first work available to public based on data provided by official sources of the Ecuadorian Government.
This study can be used for industry, government, and academy as guide for developing or modifying current hydrocarbon
legislation.

SPE-177105-MS

1. The Ecuadorian Oil Industry

Petroleum in Ecuador represented approximately 80 per cent of the primary energy consumption in
2013. From an average production of 550 thousand barrels of oil per day (200 million barrels annually),
approximately 70 per cent is exported. This represents more than 50 per cent of the total country trade
(Reference).
1.1. Organization of the Oil Industry
The Ministry of Hydrocarbons (Ministerio de Hidrocarburos) is responsible for energy policy decisions,
while the Secretariat of Hydrocarbons (Secretara de Hidrocarburos) is in charge of subscription,
modification, and administration of areas and contracts, and the Hydrocarbons Regulation and Control
Agency (Agencia de Regulacin y Control Hidrocarburfero) regulates the oil sector. National oil
companies Petroamazonas, and Operaciones Rio Napo, a joint venture between Petroecuador and
PDVSA, are in charge of the upstream activities accounting for almost 75 percent of oil production.

Ministerio de Hidrocarburos

Agencia de Regulacin y
Control Hidrocarburfero

Secretara de
Hidrocarburos

National Oil Companies

Petroamazonas
Operaciones Rio Napo

Petroecuador

Upstream

Downstream

Private Oil Companies

Figure 1: Organization of the Oil Industry in Ecuador (Reference)

1.2. Tariff System for oil exploitation

In 2010, the Ecuadorian government changed production-sharing contracts to a fee-for-service model. In
2012, few hybrid contracts were signed, where oil service companies have a role of financing
investments and taking risks.
Reforms to Hydrocarbons Law provided the legal framework to renegotiate new contracts with foreign
oil companies. Some general features of the new service contract are that the state receives an initial
payment of 25 percent of gross revenue as a sovereign margin, while companies receive a negotiated
per barrel tariff for oil produced. These tariffs are negotiated independently between the Government of
Ecuador and the companies. General aspects of these new contracts can be summarized as follows:
The tariff system is determined by the contractor based on the calculated cost of production per
barrel of oil. The profitability must be in the range of 15 to 30 percent. As reference, the average
cost for producing a barrel of oil by Petroamazonas was 8.59 US$ in January 2014 (Reference)
The reserves are calculated by the contractor.
The tariff changes inversely with the production.

SPE-177105-MS

Table 1: Tariffs for oil produced (Reference)

Company

Average production
(bbls/d)

Block/Oilfield

Exploitation
Agip oil
Andes Petroleum
Consorcio Bloque 16
Consorcio Tivacuno
Consorcio Bloque 14
Consorcio Bloque 17
Sipetrol
Sipetrol
Sipetrol
Consorcio Palanda Yuca
Consorcio Petrosud
Tecpecuador
Petrobell
Pacifpetrol
Consorcio Pegaso
Exploration
Consorcio DGC
Consorcio Interpec
PECS Ieconsta
Sipetrol

Bloque 10
Tarapoa
Bloque 16
Tivacuno
Bloque 14
Bloque 17
Mauro Dvalos
Mauro Dvalos Incremental
PBHI
Palanda-Yuca Sur
Pindo
Bermejo-Rayo
Tiguino
Gustavo Galindo
Puma

Tariff

15,200
34,100
39,520
4,200
5,600
8,000
7,400
4,500
2,100
2,000
5,600
3,600
3,700
1,200
1,800

Singue
Ocano-Pena Blanca
Eno-Ron
Jambel

35.00
35.00
35.95
27.25
41.00
41.00
16.72
18.28
20.77
31.90
28.50
24.00
29.60
58.00
21.10
33.50
32.90
36.60
To be defined

1.3. Oil Reserves

The definitions of reserves according to the Secretariat of Hydrocarbons (SHE) are as follows:
Proven reserves: volumes of oil in reservoir proven by well drilling that can be recovered until a
limit of commercialization.
Probable reserves: volumes of oil with a high degree of certainty not yet proven but located in
areas nearby to the proven reserves.
Possible reserves: estimated volumes of oil that can be recovered from reservoir. These volumes
can exist in areas where geologic and seismic information cannot classified them with certainty.
Remnant reserves: volumes of recoverable oil still in reservoir, quantified at any time after the
beginning of commercial production.
Table 2: Reserves in Ecuador until December 31, 2012

Litoral

Amazon Region

Oilfields
Producing

OOIP

Reserves
Proven

Probable

Possible

17,334.6

5,666.3

260.4

20.3

National Oil Non Producing

Companies
Exploratory
Prospects

11,060.3

1,460.9

30.7

1,530.6

Private Oil Producing

Companies Non Producing

4,757.5

1,177.9

81.0

National and
Producing and nonPrivate
producing
Companies
Total:

856.2

Cummulative
Production
4,008.3

Remnant
Reserves
1,657.9
1,460.9

112.6
83.2

927.6

251.2

8.4

0.2

8.2

1,497.4

131.6

128.2

3.4

34,730.8

8,445.1

5,064.1

3,381.6

374.3

1,663.5

SPE-177105-MS

Additionally, Ecuador has approximately 130 million of barrels equivalent of petroleum (bep) in form of
natural gas as original gas in place (OGIP) with remnant reserves of 73 million of bep

2. Identification of EOR Potential in Ecuador

2.1. Petroamazonas production forecasting
For the next decade was setup in 2013. These values were

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022

Base
521
513
488
442
392
344
303
269
240
215

Table 3: Ecuador oil production forecasting

Optimization IOR/EOR
ITT Pungarayacu Suroriente
5
32
1
1
69
1
1
85
11
41
87
30
152
3
86
57
161
10
79
79
188
30
14
73
102
214
101
51
67
124
211
101
85
62
139
192
101
81

Total
526
547
559
579
664
658
693
810
828
790

Figure 2: Ecuador Oil Production Forecasting 2013-2022

The Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR) has been exploited for over forty years. During this period
medium and light oil have been produced leaving as remnant heavy and extra-heavy oil. Currently 50
percent of the remnant reserves are heavy and extra-heavy. The development of this type of oil would
require complex technologies and strict environmental performance since these reserves are located in

SPE-177105-MS

sensible and pristine areas. Rivadeneira (2014) indicates that future discoveries in the EAR would be in
the order of 2 to 5 million barrels are average.

The future of the oil exploration in Ecuador should be directed to stratigraphic traps, limestones, and
pre-Cretaceous.
2.2. Main characteristics of the Ecuadorian reservoirs and oilfields
The formations Hollin and Napo have the best reservoirs in the Oriente Basin: Hollin, T, U, and M1, all
of them sandstones. Marginal reservoirs are the sandstones Basal Tena and M2, and the limestones A, B,
M2, and M1.

SPE-177105-MS

2.3. EOR contracts

In October 2014 Petroamazonas signed six contracts with five consortiums to boost oil production in 17
mature oilfields. These consortiums will invest approximately $ 2.12 billion in a period of five years to
increase reserves in 171 million barrels. The investment will be in technologies of optimization and
EOR/IOR. The consortiums will receive a tariff for each additional barrel of production, which in total
would reach a total of 107,000 barrels daily or approximately 20 percent of the Ecuadorian current oil
production. These contracts are under the legal definition of Specific Integrated Services Provision with
Financing which means that the operator of the mature oilfields is still Petroamazonas, but the
investment risk is under belong to the contractors.
Reserves (mm bbl)
# Consortium Companies

Kamana
Schlumberger
Services S.A.
Tecpetrol
Tecpetrol

Oilfield

253.8

19.1

205.7

48.0

Paacocha

21.7

12.2

11.9

9.8

Tumali

2.8

0.6

0.4

2.4

216.8

0.0

161.0

55.8

3.1

1.0

2.3

0.8

Palo Azul

110.6

0.0

84.3

26.3

Pucuna

26.2

13.7

22.2

4.0

Charapa

7.2

0.0

1.7

5.5

Consorcio
Paaturi
Sinopec

Indillana

117.4

1.4

106.7

10.6

Limoncocha

71.4

0.0

61.0

10.4

Yanaquincha

21.7

5.3

12.9

8.8

Pata
Halliburton

Sinopec Inter
Sinopec
Service

Cumulative
EOR /
Remnant Optimiz
Total
Production
IOR

Edn-Yuturi

Lago Agrio
Servicios
Petroleros
Igap

Proven Probable

Investments (mm US$)

397.4

304.4

701.8

474.0

104.9

579.3

315.7

86.2

401.9

SPE-177105-MS

Este

Servicios
Petroleros
Igap

Halliburton

Santa Elena

YPF Ecuador YPF

Total

Sertecpet

VHR

54.7

0.0

43.6

11.0

TipishcaHuaico

16.6

0.0

7.8

8.8

Araza

3.2

6.0

0.5

2.6

Chanangue

2.5

0.0

0.1

2.4

Pacoa

3.6

0.0

1.7

Yuralpa

52.9

1.1

37.1

986.2

60.4

760.9

186.3

53.8

240.0

2.0

6.0

0.0

6.0

15.7

158.4

33.5

191.9

224.9

1,538.2

582.7 2,120.9

2.4. Methodology
The methodology to identify the EOR potential in Ecuador consisted in three stages:
a) Compile all available information from the Banco de Informacin Petrolera del Ecuador (BIPE)
base on the inputs required by the software EORgui. Since much of this information was not
complete, average values were included depending on similar characteristics of the reservoirs. For
this purpose, the study Hydrocarbon Prospectivity Map was used. This report identified six
geologic trains with hydrocarbon prospectivity (Beicip Franlab, 2012)
b) Establish a screening criteria based on the Taber (2007) with data from BIPE. Table XX is a
sample of the database prepared for hits study
c) Based on the EOR method more appropriate for a specific reservoir, calculate the incremental
reserves for the reservoir and for the oilfield. There were three EOR methods:
- Gas injection: Nitrogen, hydrocarbon, Carbon Dioxide, and immiscible
- Enhanced Waterflooding: Polymer, and SP / ASP
- Thermal Mechanical: Steam, and Combustion

SPE-177105-MS

Sur Oriente
Oil Field

Bermejo

Proven oil trend

Frontera
Lago Agrio
Proven oil trend

40 km
Victor Hugo Ruales
Vinita
NAPO BASIN

Inferred oil trend

Capirn N.

Pungarayacu
Yuralpa

Tiguino

Tiputini
Tambococha
Ishpingo Norte
Ishpingo

Iro

Cachiyacu
Ogln

Curaray
Villano
Moretococh
Inferred oil trend
SUR ORIENTE BASIN

(6)

(5)
San Jacinto

(4)

Santiago Basin

(2)

(3)

(1)

Forestal
Carmen

Proven oil trend

Shiviyacu

Bartra

Huayuri
Jibaro
Capahuari
Dorissa
Jibarito
Capahuari sur
Ceci
Tambo
Situche Norte-1

Tigre

Reserves
Block Operator Train Oilfield Reservoir

57

PAM

Tinf
Tsup
Atacapi
Uinf
Usup

Block Operator Train Oilfield Reservoir

57

PAM

Tinf
Tsup
Atacapi
Uinf
Usup

Block Operator Train Oilfield

57

PAM

Atacapi

FR Proven Probable Possible

75.05
10.02
74.19
24.58

40
40
50
20

API
33.4
31.4
30.9
30.9

Reservoir
Tinf
Tsup

OOIP

30.02
4.01
37.09
4.92

Viscosity
1.04
1.46
2.19
1.52

3.30
0.54
1.00
0.60

Saturation
0.65
0.36
0.45
0.68

Cumulative
Production
10.99
1.71
27.47
1.05

EORgui Inputs for screening

Rock Thickness Compos
S
55
C2-C7
S
32
C2-C7
S
45
C2-C7
S
66
C2-C7

Results Screening (%)

Gas Injection Methods
Enhanced WF
N2 HC CO2 Immiscible Polymer SP / ASP
30 60 67
67
30
73
20 60 56
67
30
64

Remnant
19.02
2.30
9.62
3.86

Depth
9,585
9,546
9,300
9,000

Temp
238
213
209
208

Thermal
Steam Combustion
50
75
50
67

Perm
100
300
650
600

SPE-177105-MS

Uinf
Usup

30
30

60
60

44
56

67
67

30
30

73
82

60
70

67
75

One of the main objectives for using EOR methods is the increment of the recovery factor (RF). The
methods for EOR/IOR must be planned early as part of the productive life of an oilfield. There has been
many cases when the application of EOR/IOR methods is late, the recovery factors are small.
2.5. Results

Table X.X: Incremental Reserves through the Use of EOR methods in Producing Oilfields - NOC

Oilfield

Train

Aguajal
4
Araza
4
Armadillo
4
Atacapi
4
Auca-Auca S.
4
Auca Este
4
Blanca
5
Chanangue
4
Charapa
3
Cobra
4
Coca Payamin 3
Condorazo
4
Condorazo SE 4
Conga Norte
4
Conga Sur
4
Cononaco
4
Cristal
3
Culebra-Yuleb 4
Cuyaben-San
5
Drago
4
Drago E
4
Drago N
4
Dumbique
5
Dumbique S
5
Frontera
4
Edn-Yuturi
5
Gacela
4
Guanta-Duren 4
Indillana
4-5
Jaguar
3
Lago Agrio
3
Libertador
4
Limoncocha
4
Lobo
4
Mono
4
Oso
3
Oso N
3
Paka N
4
Paka S
4
Palmar O
4
Pameras N
4
Palo Azul
3
Paacocha
5
Panayacu
5
Parahuacu
4
Pata
3
Pucuna
3
Quinde
5
Rubi
3
Rumiyacu
4
Sacha
4
SSF-Aguarico 4
TTT-Tapi
4
Tipishca-Huaic 5
Tuich
4
Tumali SE
5
Tuntiak
4
VHR
5
Vinita
5
Yanahurco
5
Yanaquinch N 4
Yanaquinch E 4
Yanaquinch O 4
Yuca
4
Yuralpa
3

OOIP
56.93
39.19
15.62
183.84
1,261.90
14.10
9.83
10.92
29.17
2.00
296.34
9.72
47.70
28.96
59.52
337.03
11.47
348.09
460.72
10.44
31.15
86.05
5.80
5.53
31.98
1,084.77
69.92
334.84
516.38
29.86
587.67
1,278.02
275.31
78.12
61.84
395.76
129.71
57.79
93.10
73.17
27.20
326.69
199.32
4.55
147.81
49.49
158.70
28.35
7.63
18.88
3,501.14
3,077.48
95.19
86.04
9.05
10.58
6.95
156.74
68.90
0.75
11.61
113.72
170.21
258.53
347.87

Remnant
Reserves
2,12
2.61
3.33
34.81
128.21
2.59
0.85
2.38
5.54
0.18
11.44
2.72
14.62
4.71
9.27
22.32
3.42
36.24
45.73
2.18
5.01
20.78
0.74
0.25
2.65
48.02
0.55
24.37
10.62
0.00
55.83
92.77
10.43
1.34
0.40
36.53
34.40
14.12
8.23
5.35
3.02
26.32
9.83
0.15
14.44
0.83
3.97
5.83
2.43
3.67
390.59
400.87
4.79
8.79
1.02
2.36
0.04
11.04
5.52
0.21
2.29
8.79
4.87
22.88
15.74

N2

Gas Injection
HC
CO2

Incremental reserves
Enhanced WF
Immisci Polymer SP / ASP

Thermal
Steam Combust

Table X.X: Incremental Reserves through the Use of EOR methods in Non-Producing Oilfields - NOC

Oilfield

Train

OOIP

Reserves
N2

Aguarico O
Amazonas
Apaika-Nenke
Balsaura
Chonta E
Conambo
Curaray
Danta
Huito
Ishpingo N
Ishpingo S
Maraon
Mascarey
Pungarayacu
Shionayacu
Shiripungo
Tamboc-Tiputi

5
5
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
6
6
5
3
2
4
4
6

7.18
56.10
168.88
21.30
6.66
225.07
70.00
137.61
222.92
1,063.90
2,133.20
17.23
9.17
4,509.80
9.92
83.88
2,317.50

Incremental reserves
Enhanced WF
Immisci Polymer SP / ASP

Gas Injection
HC
CO2

Thermal
Steam Combust

3.14
5.61
50.31
4.26
2.04
33.76
14.00
24.77
26.75
164.19
309.81
2.59
2.75
315.69
1.19
13.42
486.68

Table X.X: Incremental Reserves through the Use of EOR methods in Exploratory Prospects - NOC

Oilfield

Train

OOIP

Reserves
N2

Aguas Negras
Armadillo S
Bodoquera
Cuyabeno O
Imuya
Lagarto
Quilla
Sansahuari O
Vista SE
Zabalo
Zamona

5
2

4
5

63.03
62.49
59.85
15.32
242.22
51.64
20.33
31.93
53.17
210.18
46.01

12.61
10.45
12.87
3.83
34.64
12.91
4.07
7.98
10.63
31.53
8.56

Incremental reserves
Enhanced WF
Immisci Polymer SP / ASP

Gas Injection
HC
CO2

Thermal
Steam Combust

10
11
36
10
37
11
11
10
38
39
5

12

SPE-177105-MS

Table X.X: Incremental Reserves through the Use of EOR methods in Producing Oilfields Private Companies

Oilfield
Alice
Amo
Bermejo N
Bermejo S
Biguno
Bogi-Capiron
Cachiyacu
Chorongo
Chorongo E
Colibri
Dabo S
Daimi
Dorine
El Rayo
Esperanza
Fanny 18B
Ginta-Dabo
Hormiguero
Hormiguero S
Huachito
Iro
Joan
Kupi
Mahogany
Mariann
Mariann 4A
Mauro Davalo
Nantu
Nantu S
Ocano
Palanda
Paraiso
Pea Blanca
Pindo
Pindo E
Primavera
Puma
Shirley
Singue
Sonia
Tiguino
Tiguino N
Tivacuno
Tivacuno SO
Villano
Wanke-Sunka
Wati
Yuca S

Train
5
5
2
2
3
5
4
5
5
5
6
5
5
2
5
5
4
4
3
5
5
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
3
4
5
4

OOIP
47.47
405.49
54.56
191.82
29.75
229.93
3.37
2.85
1.00
1.20
5.28
252.68
228.13
11.24
10.45
253.53
228.33
88.00
34.96
64.18
481.57
1.34
10.23
8.20
52.82
25.88
428.39
62.20
2.57
9.52
25.09
209.48
21.25
93.27
5.20
2.36
80.03
19.91
9.15
6.30
120.92
2.22
83.76
19.23
650.50
51.97
70.54
59.38

Remnant
Reserves
2.60
7.91
0.27
2.02
0.22
4.09
0.08
0.09
0.20
0.25
0.26
9.82
12.47
0.62
2.82
26.57
6.67
7.77
0.48
4.26
16.47
0.00
0.58
0.13
3.10
1.47
48.56
3.35
0.00
1.95
0.63
16.73
4.98
6.47
0.26
0.00
3.64
0.19
2.04
0.20
2.81
0.00
3.68
1.14
38.69
2.69
0.18
1.79

N2

Incremental reserves
Enhanced WF
Immisci Polymer SP / ASP

Gas Injection
HC
CO2

Thermal
Steam Combust

12
40
12
13
41
42
13
12
13
14
14
43
44
14
11
45
46
15
16
17
47
15
48
12

16

15
18
17
18

19
6

20
21

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13

Table X.X: Incremental Reserves through the Use of EOR methods in Non-Producing Oilfields Private
Companies

Oilfield
Aleluya
Anne
Awant
Moretococha
Palanda S
Tapi
Tarapoa 2
Tarapoa S
Yampuna

Train
5
5
4
3
4
4
5
5
4

OOIP
0.50
0.01
13.50
40.00
0.74
18.99
1.13
0.02
6.09

Remnant
Reserves
0.05
0.00
1.35
4.00
0.11
1.90
0.17
0.00
0.78

N2

Incremental reserves
Enhanced WF
Thermal
Immisci Polymer SP / ASP Steam Combust
13

Gas Injection
HC
CO2
19

22
23
20
14
21
22
24

After reviewing 150 oilfields distributed in 410 reservoirs, the EOR potential in Ecuador gives a range
of values between 600 to 750 million barrels distributed in the following methods:
a) Gas Injection
- Nitrogen: 3
- Carbon Dioxide: 24
- Hydrocarbon: 3
- Immiscible: 63
b) Enhanced Waterflooding
- Polymer: 16
- SP / ASP: 14
c) Thermal:
- Steam: 7
- Combustion: 27

3. Discussion: What is still lacking in EOR in Ecuador?

3.1. Regulatory needs
The Ecuadorian legislation may need to clear definitions for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and improved
oil recovery (IOR).

3.2. Role of research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RD3)

Ecuadorian universities should play a pivotal role in research and development (R&D)
The collaboration between industry and university will allow the execution of pilot projects which
would demonstrate if a technology is applicable under determined circumstances
After the successful demonstration of several pilot projects, the government should facilitate policies for
deployment of a specific technology.

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SPE-177105-MS

The relation between government, university, and industry was described by Jorge Sabato in 1975 to
overcome Latin Americas state of under development (Reference). In this relation the government is
the designer and executor of policies, the University provides the scientific and technological
infrastructure, and the industry demand technology.
Government

Industry

University

Research and development drives innovation and innovation drives long run economic growth, creating
jobs and improving living standards in the process. University-based research is of particular importance
to innovation, as the early-stage research that is typically performed at universities serves to expand the
knowledge pool from which the private sector draws ideas and innovation (Reference)

4. References
N