Mayabeque Province, Cuba. Cap rock integrity and WBS

Goal 

• Improvement of the drilling efficiency and optimal well operations for the first horizontals targeted at M formation   
• Evaluation of the expected long-term thermal effect on rocks’ behavior. 

Challenges 

• The thermal treatment of the carbonate bitumen in Boca de Jaruco field is almost the only active pilot project in such challenging geologic and tectonic setting.  
• No direct mechanical properties measurements from core study.  
• Controversy and minimum set of data for detection of the stress regime and direction. All three stress regimes, defined by Anderson are presented around the island. 

Technical solutions 

• Application of the three stage SH azimuth identification 
• Stress regime identification from geologic features and fractures 
• Core study recommendations (cryo conditions for unconsolidated rocks, and at the elevated temperatures (up to 200C) for the comprehensive understanding of the thermal impact on the cap rock during steam injection)   

Results 

• Interpretation of SH direction in complex tectonic and geologic conditions  
• Fracture closure pressure detection for limiting the horizontal stresses 
• Study of tectonic features for final stress regime recommendations 
• Final drilling risks and WBS recommendations based on geomechanical modeling   
• Cap rock integrity recommendations and program for further thermal core testing