El potencial gasifero de la Formacion Zapallal en el area Curumuy y la interferencia de un pozo hidrogeologico (cuenca Sechura, Peru)

The drilling of the Alejandrina hydrogeological well at 209 m bbp, below the usual depth of water wells in the area, reached a sandy level of the Zapallal Formation with unexpected gas content that caused strong blow-up, venting, liquefaction of the ground, collapse of the drilling equipment and contamination of the traditionally producing levels of the confined aquifer. To mitigate this invasion of gas and it upwelling to the surface, the following wells were drilled: i) Papayal interference well, to carry out capture and cementing maneuvers with 5 horizontal attempts until intercepting the Alejandrina well, and ii) Curumuy 1X exploratory well to reduce the pressure of the gas invasion and discover its possible abnormal origins at such shallow depths. The objective of the work is to present the stratigraphy of this potentially exploratory sector with proved gas resources of the Sechura basin and to describe the sequence of events of the interference in the management and relationships between the hydrogeological and gas resources that share the same sandstone reservoirs of the Zapallal Formation. For this, petrophysical data are provided from the drilling records of the Alejandrina, Papayal and Curumuy 1X wells and a simulated model of loading and handling of the gas responsible for the contamination. In this way, a case of interference of different subsoil objectives is presented with the intention of preserving and reestablishing the behavior of the producing wells of the aquifer and at the same time producing gas.

Automated summary

This study presents a detailed account of unexpected gas content encountered during the drilling of a hydrogeological well, and the subsequent interference management measures taken to mitigate gas invasion. By providing drilling records and a simulated model, the study reveals the interference relationship between hydrogeological and gas resources.