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Transcript of Geology Indonesia
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A Geological Overview of Indonesia
Chapter 4
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The Petroleum Geology of Indonesia
Indonesia is diverse in terms of culture, geography and geology. It is a sprawlingnation of 9.5 million km2 and, with 80% of its area being water and more than17,000 islands, it is the largest archipelago in the world. It traces the path of theequator for over 5400 km east to west across three time zones and extends for over1800 km from north to south.
I ndonesias development as a nation hasbeen strongly influenced by its geographyand geology, with the interplay between
climate, rainfall and volcanic activity
shaping agricultural and population patterns
in different ways throughout the islands.
Java and Bali, for example, are endowed
with some of the most fertile volcanic soils
on Earth. For this reason they are
population and cultural centers. Out of the
total population of over 200 million, nearly
50% live on the relatively small island of
Java, which represents only 7% of the total
land area.
Other regions, such as Kalimantan and
Sumatra with their dense rain forests, or
the Nusa Tenggara (Lesser Sunda) islands
with their more arid climate, are less
densely populated.
In the nineteenth century the British
botanist Sir Alfred Russell Wallace (who
together with Darwin is credited with the
theory of evolution) determined a precise
line of demarcation that separates the flora
and fauna found throughout Asia from those
unique to Australasia. This divide is termed
the Wallace line and passes between Bali
and Lombok and then northward between
Borneo and the Celebes (Sulawesi). It is no
coincidence that the Wallace line is also a
major geological divide. The islands to the
west represent the tectonically disrupted
southeastern promontory of the continental
Asian plate (the Sunda shield or
Sundaland), whereas those to the east are
fragments of the ancient continental
Australian plate (Australian craton). These
two plates started to collide only about
8 million years ago (mybp) towards the end
of the Miocene epoch which, in geological
terms, is relatively recent. Before this time,
the flora and fauna of these two landmasses
had developed in very different directions
and remain distinct to this day.
Controlled largely by the different
geological regimes of Eastern and Western
Indonesia, the pattern of hydrocarbon
exploration and exploitation differs across
the archipelago. Indonesia contains more
than 60 sedimentary basins and inter-basin
areas in which hydrocarbon accumulations
are either proven or possible (Figure 1).
This is a significant number considering that
there are estimated to be only 600
sedimentary basins worldwide (Pattinama
and Samuel, 1992). Indonesia is also
probably the most diverse nation in the
world in terms of petroleum systems. There
are at least 50 proven and probably more
than 100 speculative (lightly explored or
unexplored) petroleum systems (Howes,
1999). These vary greatly with regard to
their age and geological characteristics. Most
of the proven and exploited hydrocarbon
systems occur in Western Indonesia and are
at a relatively mature stage of exploration.
Eastern Indonesia remains, however,
relatively underexplored and almost half of
the basins have not been drilled.
Indonesia is the fifteenth largest oil
producer in the world and the only OPEC
member in Southeast Asia, producing over
80% of all oil for this region. Indonesian oil
is in high demand on the world market
because of its low (
-
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 175
0 400 800 1000km
Producing (14)
Discovery (10)
No discovery (14)
Undrilled (22)
Tertiary petroleum
Pre-Tertiary petroleum
Eastern Indonesia
Indonesian sedimentary basins
Western Indonesia
NEH
EH
SEHSW
MOSE
BTW/W
CIJAK
AR
AKT
W
CAB NWS
ZOCTI
BD
BUB
F
SS
L
K/MS
AA/P
MU
CE
KE
Kalimantan
Irian Jaya
Java
JF
PEBIS/ASSF
NSF
NSB
SSB
CSB
NWJ
MEUK
ENWN
TA
EJ
PN
BA
SBL
S/M
B/S
GO
SM/NM
Malaysia
Malaysiaand Brunei
Singapore
Philippines
SA
TBASulawesi
Sumatra
Western Indonesia(22 basins)
Eastern Indonesia(38 basins)
38 (63.3%)
22 (36.7%)
Producing(50.0%)
Producing(7.9%)
Discoveries(Non-producing)
(13.6%)
Discoveries(Non-producing)
(15.8%)Drilled(No discoveries)
(22.7%)
Drilled(No discoveries)
(26.3%)
Undrilled(13.6%)
Undrilled(50.0%)
Eastern Indonesia
Western Indonesia
Western Indonesia
NSB - North SumatraCSB - Central SumatraSSB - South SumatraNSF - North Sumatra fore arcSSF - South Sumatra fore arc/BengkuluS/A - Sunda/AsriNWJ - Northwest JavaJF - Java fore arcEJ - East Java/Java SeaBI - BillitongPE - PembuangBA - BaritoPN - Pater Noster platformAA/P - Asem-Asem/PasirUK - Upper KuteiK/MS - Kutei/Makassar StraitsMU - MuaraTA - TarakanCE - CelebesKE - KetungauME - MelawaiWN - West NatunaEN - East Natuna
Eastern Indonesia
SM/NM - South/North MinahasaGO - GorontaloB/S - BanggaiSulaS/M - SalabangkaManuiBU - ButonBD - BandaB - BoneF - FloresSS - Spermonde/SelayarL - LariangSBL - South BaliLombokSA - SavuTI - TimorNWSZOC - Northwest Shelf zone
of cooperationW - WeberSE - SeramNEH - Northeast HalmaheraEH - East HalmaheraSEH - Southeast HalmaheraSW - SalawatiBT - BintuniMO - Misool-OninTBA - Teluk BerauAjumaruKT - Kai TanimbarA - AruAK - AkmeugahAR - ArafuraCIJ - Central Irian JayaW/W - Waipoga/Waropen
Wal
lace
line
Moluccas
TImorNusa Tenggara
Figure 1: Simplified map of Indonesias basins and theirexploration status (after Sujanto, 1997 and Sumantriand Sjahbuddin, 1994).
-
to Japan, but also to Taiwan and Korea.
Howes (1999) estimates ultimate discovered
reserves of 55 BBOE (billion barrels oil
equivalent) split approximately equally
between oil and gas. Sujanto (1997)
estimates current remaining reserves at
approximately 93 BBO (billion barrels oil)
and 123 TcfG (trillion cubic feet of gas).
Indonesia consumes almost 140 MBO
(million barrels of oil) each year for power
generation alone and, until recently, the
power demand had been increasing by 7%
every year. The focus must obviously be on
supplementing and replacing the
dependence on oil-generated power with
cleaner and/or replenishable fuels, and also
replacing declining oil reserves to postpone
the day when Indonesia ultimately becomes
a net oil importer. Over the past decade, oil
exploration has not been successful in
replacing oil reserves. In contrast, gas
reserves have made up for this shortfall in
terms of BBOE and, at present, gas would
appear to be one of the main energy sources
of the future in Indonesia. Geothermal
energy also holds hope for the future, with
over 100 prospects recognized in the highly
volcanic areas, especially Sumatra and Java,
where energy demand is also highest.
Geological evolution of theIndonesian archipelagoUnderstanding the geological evolution of the
Indonesian archipelago and how the various
sedimentary basins developed, are the keys to
understanding the petroleum systems within
the individual basins and for developing
future exploration plays and strategies.
Indonesia has a dynamic and complex
geological history, which has resulted in an
abundance of sedimentary basins with wide-
ranging geological diversity. Basins and the
nature of their sediments demonstrate close
similarities within, and to a much lesser
degree between, Western and Eastern
Indonesia. This is because many of the
regional tectonic events have extended
similar influences across wide areas of the
Indonesian archipelago, controlling basin
architecture, fills and trapping mechanisms
for hydrocarbons. Plate tectonic models for
the region have continuously been refined
since the first model was developed for
Western Indonesia by Katili (1973). Recent
notable contributions come from Longley
(1997) who compiled and synthesized a wide
range of geological data throughout
Southeast Asia (Figure 2), and Hall (1995,
1997a, b) who presents progressively refined
computer-generated models (Figure 3). The
work of these two authors forms the basis
for the discussion of Indonesian tectonics
that follows.
Since the advent of seismic and sequence
stratigraphy (Vail et al., 1977), eustatic sea-
level fluctuations (e.g., Haq et al., 1988)
have been recognized as exerting a strong
influence on the evolution of Indonesian
sedimentary basin fills, including the types
and distributions of source, reservoir and
seal lithologies. Longley (1997) argues that
it is always possible to correlate apparent
eustatic events between basins because of
the large number of available correlation
options and the often significant inaccuracy
of geological dates. In general, however, the
geology of Asia supports the premise that
eustatic events have a major and observable
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology176
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
Ma
Global eustatic curve
Major events
Overallregression
Rotation of N and Earms of Sulawesi.Northwardmovement ofBird's Head relativeto Australia
3Ma Timor andBanda arc collide
Transgression onto Sunda shelf.Eustatic and tectonic increased convergence alongSunda arc led to inversion andthen thermal sag
Slow southern oceanspreading. Subductionalong west Sundalandmargin
Slowed convergence leadsto second stage of riftingalong Sundaland margin
Slowed convergence leadsto rifting along Sundalandmargin
c21Ma South China Seaspreading endsc25Ma New Guinea passive margin collideswith arc system to North.Sorong fault forms.Emplacement ofSulawesi ophiolites
c32Ma South China Seaspreading
c43Ma Major platereorganization. India andAustralia plates combine.Subduction of Indiabeneath Eurasia ends
c50Ma India Eurasia collisioncommences
Increased convergencewith CCW rotation ofSumatra and developmentof Sumatra wrench fault.Sulawesi forms emplacement of continentalcrust along Sorong fault
Middle Miocene maximum transgression
Pale
ocen
eEo
cene
Olig
ocen
eM
ioce
nePl
ioce
neEp
och
QHol
Terti
ary
Perio
d
Low
erLo
wer
Low
erLo
wer
LU
Uppe
rUp
per
Uppe
rUp
per
Mid
dle
Mid
dle
2nd order sequenceboundaries
0+100m+200m
5Ma Luzon arc collideswith Asian plate
10Ma Australian cratoncollides with AsianPlate inversion
5.2(5.5)
10.6(10.5)
21.5(21.0)
29.5(30.0)
38.6(39.5)
51.0(49.5)
59.5(58.5)
Figure 2: Chronostratigraphic summary of major geological events in the Cenozoic (eventstaken from Longley, 1997 and Hall, 1997. Eustatic curve modified from Haq et al., 1998).
-
effect on stratigraphy, and does not prove or
disprove the detailed Haq et al. (1988)
eustatic curve.
The Indonesian archipelago is a jigsaw
puzzle of tectonically derived pieces,
including microplates, continental
fragments, mini-ocean basins, accretionary
prisms and island-arc systems, that have
been jostled and squeezed together and, in
some cases newly formed, as a result of the
complex interaction of three major tectonic
plates (Figure 4).
The continental Eurasian/Asian plate
(the southeast promontory of which is
termed the Sunda shield or Sundaland)
demonstrates a relative southeast motion
that is accommodated by the Great
Sumatra/Mentawai duplex, and the
Sulawesi and Philippine transform-fault
systems. The obliquely opposing, relative
northward motion of the Indo-Australian
plate is accommodated by right-lateral
movement along the Great
Sumatra/Mentawai fault systems, and by
subduction of oceanic crust in the west
and the Australian craton in the east,
along the SumatraJavaTimorAru
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 177
30MaMid Oligocene
EURASIAN PLATE
INDIAN PLATE
Proto-SouthChina Sea
AustraliaBird's Headmicrocontinent
PACIFIC PLATE
Opening ofParece Velabasin begins
Opening ofSouth China Seanorth of Macclesfield Bank
NorthPawalanExtension
driven by slab-pulland Indochina extrusion
Ophiolite approachingSulawesi west arm
Red River fault
Indochinaextruded to SE
ThreePagodassystem
50MaEnd Early Eocene
EURASIAN PLATE
NorthPalawan
Mindoro
Taiwan
Proto-SouthChina Sea
Malaysia
Sumatra
Java
SouthBorneo
Zamboanga
West Sulawesi
Oki Daitoridges
East Philippines
NORTH NEW GUINEA PLATE
Indochina
South China
INDIANAUSTRALIAN PLATE
South and East Sulawesi
PHILIPPINE SEA PLATE
PACIFIC PLATE
40MaMiddle Eocene
EURASIAN PLATE
INDIANAUSTRALIAN PLATE
Leading edge ofBird's Head microcontinent
PACIFIC PLATE
Izupeninsula
CelebesSea
WestPhilippine
Sea
West Philippine Seaspreading extendsto Celebes Sea
Subduction ofProto-SCS begins
No rotation ofPhilippine Seaplate
Arc activity at south edgeof Philippine Sea plate
? ?
??
10MaLate Miocene
EURASIAN PLATE
INDIAN PLATE
Australia
CAROLINE PLATE
PACIFIC PLATE
Subductionat Manila trench
SuluSea
Sulu arc activityends
Borneorotationcomplete
Malaya blocksrotation complete
Andaman spreading
Molucca Seadouble subductionestablished
Ayu trough spreading
N BandaSula
PhilippineSea platerotates
20MaEarly Miocene
EURASIAN PLATE
INDIAN PLATE
Australia
CAROLINE PLATE
PACIFIC PLATESpreadingin Shikoku
basinClockwise rotation
of PhilippineSea plate
Spreadingin Parece
Vela basin
Sorong faultsystem initiated
Molucca Sea formspart of Philippine Sea plate
Continentalcrust thrustbeneathSulawesi
Bird's Headmicrocontinentdismembered bySorong fault splays
Inversionin Natunabasins
Cagayan ridgeseparates from Sulu arc
Finalspreadingof SouthChina Sea
Borneorotationbegins
Figure 3: Plate tectonic reconstructions forSoutheast Asia and Indonesia region from 50 Mato 10 Ma (after Hall, 1995 and 1997).
-
(Sunda) trench system. This extensive
subduction system (combined with the
Great Sumatra/Mentawai transform fault
duplex) marks the southern geological
limit of Indonesia from the western tip of
Sumatra, to near the eastern boundary of
Irian Jaya. The Pacific Ocean plate
demonstrates a westerly motion that is
accommodated by slippage along the left-
lateral transform Sorong fault system, and
the trench and transform fault system of
the eastern Philippines, which together
define the northeastern geological limit of
Indonesia. There is no obvious geological
limit to northwest Indonesia, and the
political boundary separating Malaysia and
Indonesia passes through central Borneo,
across the southern part of the South China
Sea (the relatively stable Sunda shield) and
to the northwest along the Malacca Strait
that separates peninsular Malaysia from
Sumatra. Although Indonesia is tectonically
complex, convergence of the Asian plate
(Sunda shield) with the continental part
(Australian craton) of the Australian plate
ultimately defined two major geological
provinces. Western Indonesia represents
the southeast margin of the Sunda shield
and Eastern Indonesia represents the
highly fragmented and tectonized northern
margin of the Australian craton.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology178
0 80 160 320 480m
0 160 320 640km
PHILIPPINE SEA PLATE
PACIFIC PLATE
CAROLINE PLATE
Strikeslip fault
Oceanic spreading axis
Subduction zone
Australian crust
Transitional, attenuated or sutured
Oceanic or island arc
Pre-Mesozoic continental crust
Quaternaryrecent volcano
SUNDALAND
EURASIAN PLATE
AUSTRALIAN INDIAN PLATE
AUSTRALIA CRATON
5cm/yr
7cm/yr
Sunda trench system
Mentawai fault
Java trench
Sumatra trench
Great Sumatra fault system
South China Sea
Philippines
Pacific Ocean
Palau
tren
ch
Mar
iana
tren
ch
Sorong fault West Melanesian trench
Seram trough
Aru
troug
h
Timor t
rough
Australia
Meratus suture,Late Cretaceouscollision
Three Pagodas and
Wang Chao faults
Hain
zee
Saga
ing
faul
t
Red River fault
Walanea fault
Figure 4: Simplified tectonicelements and crustal distribution forIndonesia (after Coffield et al., 1993and Nugrahanto and Noble, 1997).
-
Tectonic evolutionThe Cenozoic geological history of Indonesia
is divided into stages based on major
tectonic collision events:
1. Encroachment and collision of the Indian
and the Asian continental plates starting
at approximately 50 mybp and
reorganization of the Southern, Indian and
Pacific plates at about 43 mybp when
there was an end to subduction along the
Indo-Eurasian collision belt.
2. Onset of South China Sea spreading at
about 32 mybp, and collision of the
northern leading edge of the Australian
craton (New Guinea passive margin) with
the PhilippineHalmaheraNew Guinea
arc system at about 25 mybp (although
arguably this was not a regional event
according to Longley, pers. comm.).
3. Collision of the Australian craton with the
Asian plate starting at about 8 mybp and
continuing until major collision at about
3 mybp; and collision of the Luzon arc
west of the Philippines with the Asia plate
margin near Taiwan at about 5 mybp.
Stage I. >5043 mybp (middle Eocene and older)Prior to 43 mybp (middle Eocene) Java,
Sumatra, Kalimantan and western Sulawesi
were part of the southeast Sunda shield
continental promontory, with northward
motion and subduction of the Indian plate
oceanic crust beneath the southern edge of
the Sunda shield continent along the
northwestsoutheast trending Sunda
trench. This trench system extended to the
west into the Indian Ocean with an element
of right-lateral slip. In the east it connected
with the Pacific Ocean intra-oceanic-arc
system. Slowing of convergence after about
50 mybp, as the Indian subcontinent
approached the Asian plate and continental
collision was initiated, led to an initial stage
of rifting along the Sundaland margin.
Eastern Indonesia had not started to form
at this time. The Birds Head (present-day
western-most promontory) of Irian Jaya was
probably a microcontinental fragment on
the northwest edge of the Australia plate
(Hall, 1997a, b). New Guinea represented
the passive northern margin of the
Australian craton, which was moving
northward as oceanic crust was consumed
beneath the southern edge of the oceanic
Philippine Sea plate. The present-day
eastern island of Halmahera was still
thousands of kilometers to the east and part
of the Philippine Sea plate.
Stage II. 4325 mybp (middle Eocenelatest lateOligocene)
In the late middle Eocene (at about
43.5 mybp according to Longley, 1997 and
42 mybp according to Hall, 1997a, b) there
was final collision between the Indian plate
subcontinent and the Asian plate. This
slowed the rate of convergence and also
changed the angle of subduction from an
essentially northward to a more
northnortheast vector along the Sunda
trench. This was in response to a major
reorganization of the converging Southern,
Indian and Pacific plates.
Subduction of India beneath Asia stopped
and the Indian and Australian plates were
combined. The resulting relaxation of the
compressional forces at the edge of the
Sunda shield produced further northsouth
oriented rifting. Isolated rifts in a fore-arc
setting and in East Java filled with
transgressive and then open-marine
sediments, being situated on the distal
low-lying edge of the Sunda shield. Fluvio-
lacustrine sediments developed in the
northwest Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, west
Sulawesi and Natuna Sea rifts, as the middle
Eocene sea did not extend to the west onto
the Sundaland margin (Longley, 1997).
Towards the end of this period, starting at
32 mybp and continuing through to
21 mybp, there was clockwise rotation
around a pole in the northern part of the
Gulf of Thailand associated with the
opening of the South China Sea. The West
Philippine basin, Celebes Sea and Makassar
Strait also opened as a single basin within
the Philippine Sea plate accompanied by
subduction of the South China Sea to the
northeast of Borneo (Hall, 1997a, b).
Spreading in the South China Sea, the West
Philippine Sea, the Celebes Sea and
Makassar Strait areas eventually stopped.
There was a return to more rapid plate
convergence and increased compression led
to inversion along the Sunda arc. The
isolated rift basins of East Kalimantan were
filled with deltaic and marine sediments
that were transgressed by post-rift marine
shales due to a combination of eustatic gain
and post-rift thermal sag.
Stage III. 258 mybp (latest late OligocenelateMiocene)
In the late Oligocene, at about 25 mybp, the
leading edge of the New Guinea passive
margin (Australian craton) collided with the
PhilippineHalmaheraNew Guinea arc
system. This prevented any further
subduction at this plate boundary, which
developed into a listric transform (the
Sorong fault) as the Philippine Sea plate slid
westward across the northern end of the
Indo-Australian plate. The Birds Head
microcontinental fragment within the Indo-
Australian plate was close to collision with
the margin of Sundaland near west
Sulawesi. Ophiolites were emplaced along
the eastern edge of this western Sulawesi
arm. Oceanic crust trapped between
Sulawesi and Halmahera was rotated
clockwise and subducted beneath the
eastern margin of Sulawesi.
The tectonic development of the region
was further influenced by the continued
northward motion of the Indo-Australian
plate following collision. Counter-clockwise
rotation of the entire Sunda shield
promontory including peninsular Malaysia,
Sumatra, Java and Borneo occurred. The
effective increase in rate of convergence
between the Indo-Australian plate with
respect to Sumatra stimulated magmatic
activity that weakened the upper plate and
led to right-lateral dislocation along the
Great Sumatra fault system. During
rotation, a bend and half-graben developed
in the Sunda Straits separating South
Sumatra from West Java.
In northwest Borneo a delta was
established and turbidites poured into the
proto-South China Sea. Increased
subsidence east of Borneo resulted in arc
splitting and the opening of the Sulu Sea as
a back-arc basin. Halmahera and the
Philippine plate were carried towards the
subduction zone below north Sulawesi, and
fragments of the Australian continental
crust were added to the developing
Sulawesi along the Sorong fault system.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 179
-
Stage IV. 80 mybp (late MiocenePresent)
In the late-middle to late Miocene (about
8 mybp) gentle compression caused by the
collision of the Australian craton with the
Asian plate, accompanied by continuous
movement along the Great Sumatra fault
system, resulted in extensive inversion and
the formation of compressional anticlines.
Encroachment continued until 3 mybp when
the main collision event happened (Longley,
pers. comm.).
By this time Indonesia was probably
recognizable in its present form. At about
5 mybp collision of the Luzon arc with the
Asian plate near Taiwan also caused further
changes to plate motions in the region.
Along the Sorong fault zone accretion of the
Tukang Besi platform to Sulawesi locked
strands of the Sorong fault, causing new
splays to develop south of the Sula platform
and the collision of the Sula platform with
Sulawesi. Rotation of the east and north
arms of Sulawesi to their present positions
resulted in the southward subduction of the
Celebes Sea at the north Sulawesi trench.
There was also continued subduction of the
northward moving Indo-Australian plate
along the Sunda trench system, extending
from northwest Sumatra to Irian Jaya, and
also subduction north of Seram and in the
Sulu Sea.
Eustatic effectsLongley (1997) and previous authors have
observed a remarkable degree of correlation
between regional collision events and the
second-order sequence boundaries of Haq
et al. (1988). It is, however, generally
accepted that a major and progressive
late Oligocene to early Miocene
(3013 mybp) transgression occurred
throughout the Indonesian basins, with
maximum transgression at 15 mybp being
marked by regionally developed marine
shales. Similarly, middle Miocene to
Pliocene regression is also easily recognized.
These major eustatic cycles, along with
regionally developed sequence boundaries
at 29.5 mybp, 21.5 mybp, 10.5 mybp and
5.5 mybp, have had a strong influence on
the development of reservoir sands and
carbonate buildups, and also source rocks
and extensive sealing shales throughout
Indonesia. Third- and even fourth-order
eustatic events are often recognizable on a
basin-wide scale. These are widely
correlatable in both clastic sedimentary
packages, where they may result in
development of lowstand reservoirs, and in
carbonates where dissolution porosity zones
have, in some cases, developed. There are,
however, also many examples where
eustatic effects are not recognized because
of over-printing by intense tectonism that
has controlled the sedimentation in some
Indonesian basins.
The Indonesian basins andtheir petroleum systems
The complex geological history of Indonesia
has resulted in over 60 sedimentary basins
that are the subject of petroleum
exploration today. By the end of 1996,
following nearly 130 years of drilling
activity, 38 of these basins had been widely
explored, 14 were producing oil and gas, 10
had shown promise with subeconomic
discoveries and 22 (over one-third)
remained poorly explored or unexplored
(Sujanto, 1997, see Figure 1). Of the 22
basins in Western Indonesia, only two are
undrilled. In Eastern Indonesia there are 38
basins of which 20 are undrilled.
Although large areas of Indonesia,
particularly in the west, are considered to
be mature with respect to hydrocarbon
exploration, the majority of basins in the
east remain underexplored. This reflects
both the relatively sparse knowledge of the
geology of Eastern Indonesia and its
remoteness with respect to world markets.
There are logistical difficulties and high
costs associated with the exploration of
sparsely populated wilderness areas with
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology180
-
little or no infrastructure and exploration in
deep (>200 m) water.
The majority of explorationists, therefore,
have concentrated their efforts on the
highly productive but more mature basins of
Western Indonesia. These include the North
Sumatra, Central Sumatra (the most prolific
basin by an order of magnitude), South
Sumatra, Sunda-Asri, Northwest Java, East
Java, Barito, Kutei, Tarakan and East and
West Natuna basins. All of the most prolific
petroleum systems discovered to date are
located in Western Indonesia, with 85% of
all Indonesian recoverable oil reserves being
in the hot back-arc basins of Sumatra and
Java. Gas is more evenly distributed in fore-
land and deltaic basins and, with the recent
Tangguh gas project in western Irian Jaya,
in Eastern Indonesia.
In the east only the Salawati basin of the
Birds Head peninsula of Irian Jaya is
considered to be mature. As our knowledge
of Eastern Indonesian geology improves,
and technological and intellectual
advancements reduce the costs of
exploration in remote areas and deep water,
the exploration emphasis will move away
from the Western to the Eastern Indonesia
basins. This is already being realized. In the
1990s there were successful Mesozoic
discoveries in mountainous Seram (the
Oseil oil field); in the Bintuni basin of Irian
Jaya (the Tangguh gas project); and in deep
water of the Timor Gap zone of cooperation
(ZOC the Elang oil field and a number of
other oil, condensate and gas discoveries).
Although in a smaller league than, for
example, the Middle East, on the global scale
Indonesia is still a significant hydrocarbon
province. The Gulf area contains a blanket of
marine source facies that is extremely
prolific and mature over wide areas, with
widely developed reservoir facies, large-scale
anticlinal structures and, most importantly, a
highly effective regional salt seal.
Indonesia is extremely complicated
geologically, and source rocks, kitchens and
reservoirs are restricted in their distribution,
occurring as pods of limited areal extent
within numerous, structurally complex and
isolated basins. The more prolific petroleum
systems of Western Indonesia are products of
extrusion tectonics and widespread
Paleogene extension on the Sunda shield,
modified by later inversion. In Eastern
Indonesia the majority of petroleum systems
are pre-Tertiary. They are related to the north
Australian passive margin, which has been
affected by microplate accretion, large-scale
strike-slip faulting and collision tectonics.
The Western and Eastern Indonesian
petroleum systems together demonstrate
the extreme variability of petroleum
systems in Indonesia. Source-rock age
varies from possible Paleozoic (Eastern
Indonesia) to Pliocene (biogenic gas in
Western Indonesia). Depositional settings
include shallow- and deep-marine clastics
and carbonates, deltaic deposits including
coals, and lacustrine shales, which are the
most prolific source in Western Indonesia
and, in fact, throughout Southeast Asia.
Hydrocarbon types are also diverse,
including waxy lacustrine-sourced crudes,
light marine oils, thermogenic and biogenic
gas, asphalt deposits (e.g., Buton Island)
and even deep-marine gas.
Reservoirs are dominated by deltaic sands
and large shallow-marine Tertiary carbonate
buildups that are the main gas reservoir
types. Less common are alluvial-fan, fluvial,
shallow- and deep-marine fan sands, and
more exotic types such as fractured granite
and metamorphic basements, fractured
volcanics and, in the East Java basin, highly
porous, foraminiferal-sand contourites and
diagenetically enhanced volcaniclastic
sands. Oil and gas accumulations occur in
strike-slip, extensional, compressional fore-
arc, back-arc, passive and convergent
margin settings, in both structural and
stratigraphic traps, and may demonstrate
elements of pressure seals and hydrodynamic
effects (Howes, 1999). Geothermal gradients
range from low in cool fore-arc basins to high
in the back-arc areas, and have varied
considerably through time, influencing the
timing of expulsion and migration.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 181
-
0+100m+200m
2nd order sequenceboundariesAge
mybp
Quaternary
Pliocene
Late
Late
Late
Mid
dle
Mid
dle
Early
Early
Mio
cene
Olig
ocen
eEo
cene
Pre-Tertiary basement
Eustaticcurve after
Haq et al., 1988.
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
4038.6
(39.5)
29.5
(30.0)
21.5
(21.0)
10.6(10.5)
5.2(5.5)
45
North
Alluvium Alluvium Alluvium
Kasai
Muara Enim
Air Benakat
Gumai
PendopoUpper Talang
Akar
LowerTalangAkar
Lemat
Talang Akar(Lower Zelda)
Banuwati
Talang Akar(Upper Zelda)
TAF (Gita)
Batu Raja
Gumai
Air Benakat
Parigi
Cisubuh
Cisubuh
LidahKawengan Karren
Wonocolo
Ngrayong
Rancak
KUI/UK
KUII/MK
KUIII/LoK
CD
Parigi
Pre-Parigi
Mid main
Unit II
Massive
Batu Raja(M. Cibulakan)
Upper Talang Akar(Lower Cibulakan)
Lower Talang Akar
Jati Barang
U.Cibulakan
Lahat(Kikim Tuffs)
Middle Kikim Sand
Lahat
BatuRaja
Toba Tuffs
Julurayeu
Seurula
Keutapang
M B SandUpper Baong Shale
Lower Baong ShaleLower Baong Sand
Peutu(Arun)
Belumai
Bampo
Parapat
Meucampli
Pematang
Menggala
Bekasap
Duri
Bangko
Telisa
(Binio)
Petani
Minas
(Korinci)
Siha
pas
Tampur
NW SE SW
Sumatra
CentralNE NW
South
Java
SE ONSH. OFFSNorthwest NortheastSunda Asri
Sub-basin
After Alexanders & Nellia, 1993,Fainstein, 1996,
Riadhy et al., 1998.
After Kelsch et al., 1998,Wain & Jackson, 1995.
After Rashid et al., 1998,Sitompul et al., 1992,
Tamtomo, 1997.
After Aldrich et al., 1995. After Sukamto et al., 1995,Napitupulu et al., 1997.
After Ardhana et al., 1993,PT Rocktech Sejahtera, 1994.
Tuban
Kujung
Ngi
mbang
v v v v v
v v v v
v v v
+ + +++++++++++ + + +
+ ++ + + + + +
v vv
Western Indonesian basinsThe petroliferous basins of Western
Indonesia occur mostly onshore, or else in
shallow water (30% of basins occur offshore
at depths 1000 km
from the subduction) are those of East
Kalimantan (Barito, Asem-Asem, Mahakam
and Tarakan), West Kalimantan (Melawai and
Ketunggau although there is little
information for these basins) and the Natuna
Sea (East and West Natuna basins). These
basins still demonstrate subduction control
and strong similarities to the more proximal
back-arc basins, but have been affected by
their relative proximity to more localized,
smaller-scale plate tectonic events such as
seafloor spreading in the Makassar Straits and
rifting and spreading in the South China Sea.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology182
Figure 5: Stratigraphic summary for the major basins of Western Indonesia.
-
The fore-arc basinsThe fore-arc of Western Indonesia (the
Sunda trench system) extends from the
Andaman Sea northwest of Sumatra,
southeastward along the west coast of
Sumatra to the Sunda Straits. It then bends
eastward along the south coast of Java and
Bali, where it continues as the TimorAru
trench system all the way to Irian Jaya (see
Figure 4). The fore-arc basins represent the
subsiding, down-dragged leading edge of
the Sunda shield between the inner volcanic
arc and the outer-arc melange or
subduction-wedge (the emergent Mentawai
Islands in West Sumatra). The inner
volcanic arc is represented by the volcanic
mountain chain that extends the full length
of both Sumatra (Barisan Mountains) and
Java, and continues further eastwards
through the Lesser Sunda Islands (Figure
4). The fore-arc basins in places contain
over 6000 m of sedimentary fill. The
bounding volcanic arc and accretionary
wedge in the Sumatra fore-arc system are
characterized by a regional-scale, right-
lateral, duplex transform system comprising
the Great Sumatra and the Mentawai fault
zones. The accretionary wedge itself has
been studied on the Mentawai Islands of
Nias and Simeuleu (e.g., Moore and Karig,
1980; Situmorang et al., 1987; Situmorang
and Yulihanto, 1992). It consists of Eocene
and younger shallow marine sands and
shales, reefal carbonates, younger turbidites
interpreted as accreted trench fill, and
ophiolitic gabbros and ultramafic rocks
(harzburgites). Oil seeps are known from
the accretionary prism on Nias Island but do
not necessarily indicate the presence of oil
in the fore-arc basin to the east. The
accretionary wedge and fore-arc basins,
although closely related and situated next
to each other, are known to be very
different from seismic studies. A highly
thrusted, accreted wedge becomes a steep
monocline entering the fore arc, which is
more typically defined by strike-slip faults
rather than thrusts.
Fore-arc basins have traditionally been
considered poorly prospective for
hydrocarbons for three main reasons:
It was thought that source-rock facies
were unlikely to develop in these
essentially shallow, oxygenated, open-
marine basins, and limited onshore space
between coast and mountains was not
conducive to a sufficient supply of non-
marine terrestrial plant material.
Reservoir quality was assumed to be a
problem because nearby volcanic arcs
should, in theory, have supplied a
predominance of poor reservoir-quality,
volcaniclastic sediments dominated by
labile volcanic lithic fragments and
swelling smectitic clays.
Geothermal gradients in fore-arc basins
are relatively low.
Exploration wells have been drilled in five
segments of the Western Indonesian fore-
arc system. These are south of Central Java,
the Southwest Java basin, the Bengkulu
basin (southwest Sumatra fore-arc), the
Mentawai basin (central Sumatra fore-arc)
and the Sibolga basin (west of Nias in the
northwest Sumatra fore-arc). There is little
available information regarding Central Java
fore-arc exploration, but limited material
has been published on Sumatra and
Southwest Java. This information in some
ways fuels optimism for the existence of
economic petroleum reserves in the
Western Indonesian fore-arc.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 183
Alluvial Mahakam Bunyu
Tarakan
Domaring
Tabul
MeliatMeliatSS
Latih
NaintupoTaballar
Tempilan
Mesaloi
Gabus SSGabus
Belut
Barat Shale Barat
Udang
Arang SS
Upper Arang
Upper Arang
Lower Arang
Terumbu
MudaMuda
Seilok
Sujau Mang Kabua
Sembakung
Danau
Kampung Baru
Balikpapan
Landasan
PuluBalang
Lamaku
Bebulu
Marah
Kedango
BeriunKihamHaloq
Mangkupa
Pamalusan
Dahor
U. Warukin
Middle Warukin
L. Warukin
Upper Berai
Middle Berai
Upper Tanjung
Lower Berai
Kalimantan Natuna
West EastBarito
West EastKutai
West EastTarakan
South NorthEast West
After Satyana, 1995,Satyana & Silitonga, 1994,
Heriyanto et al., 1996.
After Courntey et al., 1991,Kadar et al., 1996.
After Courtney et al., 1991,Lentini & Darman, 1996.
After Fainstein &Meyer, 1998.
After Fainstein & Meyer, 1998,Michael & Adrian, 1996,
Phillips et al., 1997.
L.Tanjung
Antan
Ujoh
Bilang
Sembulu
(
(
BatuHidup
Lst.
+ + ++ + ++
vv v v v vv
Cratonic
Coal
Shales and claystones
Volcanics/volcaniclasticsReefal and platform carbonates (and dolomites)Sandstones
Conglomerates
Argillaceous
Volcanic input
Gas
Oil and gas
Oil
v vvv
East Natuna
West Natuna
NorthSumatra
CentralSumatra
SouthSumatra
SundaNorth WestJava
North EastJava
Barito
Kutai
Tarakan
0 500km
-
Bengkulu basin (including theMentawai and Sibolga basins)The Bengkulu basin is the most widely
explored fore-arc basin in Indonesia. In the
1970s a total of 10 wells were drilled by
Amin Oil, Jenny Oil and Marathon Oil,
targeting biogenic gas in large Miocene
carbonate buildups a similar play to those
drilled by Unocal at about the same time to
the north in the Sibolga basin. Biogenic gas
in carbonates was also targeted by the 1972
Jenny Oil Mentawai A-1 and Mentawai C-1
exploration wells in the southern sector of
the central Sumatra fore-arc, the Mentawai
basin. These wells contained biogenic
methane shows (Yulihanto and Wiyanto,
1999) but all the Bengulu basin carbonate
targets proved to be water-filled. Oil shows,
however, were encountered in the Jenny Oil
well Bengkulu 1 (Howles, 1986). This well is
also close to an onshore oil seep, and good
oil shows were also described in the Arwana
1 well drilled by Fina in 1992 that also
penetrated good marine source rocks. Hall
et al. (1993) notes that in Arwana 1
OligoceneMiocene shales are within the oil
window and the geothermal gradient is
between 4.5 and 5C/100 m, which is
significantly higher than would normally be
expected in this tectonic setting. The origin
of the Bengkulu basin is not strictly fore-
arc, however, which may explain these
unexpected but favorable findings.
Stage I. Syn-rift (Eocenelate Oligocene)An early stage of Paleogene rifting is
recognized from onshore fieldwork and
offshore seismic and gravity surveys
(Howles, 1986; Mulhadiono and Asikin,
1989; Hall et al., 1993; Yulihanto et al.,
1995). It is feasible that these grabens,
which strike northeastsouthwest,
represent an extension of the early South
Sumatra basin rift system prior to the
development of the more recent volcanic
arc. Mulhadiono and Asikin (1989) note a
similar orientation to the South Sumatra
basin Jambi-Bengkalis graben, a pull-apart
basin related to westnorthwesteastsoutheast,
right-lateral movement along the Lematang
fault trend. Howles (1986) suggest that these
two graben systems are offset by
approximately 100 km along the Great
Sumatra fault system.
It has been speculated that the Bengkulu
basin may originally have been in a back-arc
setting and that a Paleogene graben fill could
include the same prolific lacustrine source
rocks that occur in the Central and South
Sumatra basins and also possible fluvio-
lacustrine reservoirs. Such source and
reservoir facies have not been penetrated in
the Bengkulu basin wells. The lower 60 m of
sediments penetrated in the Arwana 1 well
are late Eocene and comprise shallow marine
volcaniclastics and shales (Hall et al., 1993).
Stage II. Syn-rift (late Oligoceneearly Miocene) A second stage of rifting took place in the
late Oligocene to early Miocene and marks a
change from orthogonal extension to
oblique northwestsoutheast slip.
Northsouth oriented pull-apart graben sub-
basins developed and are also recognized in
the Bose and Sipora grabens of the
Mentawai basin, and the Pini and Singkel
grabens in the Sibolga basin to the north
(Figure 6). Although it is thought that
movement on the Great Sumatra fault did
not start until middle Miocene times, it is
likely that the Sumatra fore-arc has
experienced transtensional stresses as a
result of continuous oblique subduction
since the initial development of the Sunda
arc in the pre-Tertiary.
Fieldwork in the outer-arc ridge
(Mentawai Islands) and regional seismic
demonstrate that the marine Oligocene
graben fill in the Mentawai basin has source
potential. Basin modeling suggests that
these sediments may have entered the oil
window as early as the middle Miocene
(Yulihanto and Wiyanto, 1999). These
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology184
Figure 6: Simplified map of structural elements and hydrocarbon occurrencein the Sumatra fore arc (modified from Yulihanto et al., 1995).
0 100
5cm/year
200km
North Sumatrabasin
Central Sumatrabasin
Sibolga basin
Simeulue
Nias
Siberut
South Sumatrabasin
Pinigraben
Singapore
Singkelgraben
Sundatrench
Sumatra forearc basin
Sumatra
fault zone
Pagar Jatigraben
Bengkulubasin
Mentawai fault zone
12 3 4
56
Keduranggraben
Arwana #1(Fina)
Mentawai A#1(Jenny)
Mentawai C#1(Jenny)
Pagar Jatigraben
Bengkulu X#2(Jenny)
Bengkulu X#1(Jenny)
Bengkulu A#2x(Amin Oil)
Bengkulu A#1x(Amin Oil)
Malaysia
1. Palembak 1 Union Oil2. Singkel 1 Union Oil3. Telaga 1 Union Oil4. Lakota 1 Union Oil5. Suma 1 Union Oil6. IbuSuma 1 Caltex
WellsOil seeps
Volcanoes
Volcanics
-
authors also recognize an early to middle
Miocene potential marine source.
Shallow marine conditions continued
through the early Miocene in the Bengkulu
basin. In Arwana 1, lower Miocene Batu
Raja formation-equivalent dolomites (see
Figure 5 South Sumatra, Sunda-Asri and
Northwest Java basin stratigraphies) are
overlain by lower Miocene clays and sands
of volcaniclastic origin. The entire
OligoceneMiocene section contains oil
shows. Mulhadiono and Asikin (1989)
describe the upper Oligocenelower
Miocene graben fill as sandstones,
conglomerates and a few limestones, and
Yulihanto et al. (1995) note a close
stratigraphic similarity to the South
Sumatra basin. Early Miocene buildups are
considered a potential reservoir target in
the Mentawai basin (Yulihanto and Wiyanto,
1999), although earlier drilled carbonate
buildups in the Bengkulu and Sibolga basins
are of middle Miocene age.
Stage III. Post-rift (middle MiocenePliocene)The middle to late Miocene saw the onset of
open-marine deposition within a unified fore-
arc, and sediments comprise marine shales,
silts and limestones, including some major
buildups equivalent to the Parigi formation (see
Figure 5). Such large-scale carbonate buildups
have been targeted as potential biogenic gas
reservoirs in both the Bengkulu and the Sibolga
basins. The Bengkulu basin wells were all dry
but Union Oils Suma 1 and Singkel 1 wells and,
the more recent Caltex Ibu Suma 1 well
(Figure 7), encountered subeconomic
quantities of biogenic gas (e.g. Dobson et al.,
1998). As may be expected with such large
carbonate buildups, top seal shales were
probably not deposited until after much of the
gas had been generated and escaped. Biogenic
gas was not encountered in the Bengkulu
wells possibly because of the higher
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 185
2km
Inline 1515L-6036
Ibusuma prospect
Back lagoonal fill
Back reef stormand talus deposits
Wave-resistantreef facies
200
400
600
800
1000120014001600180020002200240026002800300032003400
0
Figure 7: Seismic section and interpretation of the middle Miocene Ibu Suma buildup, Sibolga basin, north Sumatra fore-arc (Dobson et al., 1998).
-
SumatraSunda basin
Serib
u plat
form
Tangeranghigh
West Java
WestMalimping
low
Honjehigh
UjungKulonhigh
UjungKulonlow
Pull-aparthalf-graben
UjungKulon 1a
Bayahhigh
Bayah
Ciletuhhigh
DDH-2
DDH-1Fig.9a
Fig.9b
Sund
a stra
it
Malimping block
Krakatau
0 50km
Cimand
iri fault
(>4.5C/100 m) geothermal gradient. In the
Mentawai basin Yulihanto and Wiyanto (1999)
consider middle Miocene lowstand fans to be
potential reservoirs.
Yulihanto et al. (1995) recognized the
rejuvenation of pre-existing tensional faults
in the Bengkulu basin during this period,
with accompanying deposition of shallow
marine and lagoonal sands and clays, and
coaly intercalations of potential source
rock (Lemau formation) occurring in
outcrop. During the late Miocene to
Pliocene, basin subsidence continued with
deposition of littoral sands of the
Simpangaur formation. In the Mentawai
basin southerly prograding deltaics may
provide reservoir opportunities (Yulihanto
and Wiyanto, 1999).
Stage IV. Uplift(PliocenePleistocene)Starting in the early Pliocene and
continuing through to the Present-day,
basin uplift and volcanism have been
prevalent accompanying the development of
the Barisan Mountain chain.
Southwest Java basinThere is very little published on the
Southwest Java basin and it was only lightly
explored by Amoco in the 1970s (Ujung
Kulon 1) and very recently by British Gas
(Malimping 1). Both wells were plugged and
abandoned as dry holes.
According to Keetley et al. (1997) the
basin comprises a series of roughly
northsouth-trending half-grabens. These
developed during Eocene to Oligocene
times and extend northward into the Sunda
Strait (Figure 8), with beds thickening to
the east in one of the half-grabens. Coastal
outcrops of middle to late Eocene Bayah
formation thick-deltaic sands (Figure 9a)
and a coaly potential source facies occur in
the Bayah area in the eastern part of the
basin. Schiller et al. (1991) describe the
thick section of middle to late Eocene
Ciletuh formation, which crops-out on the
eastern extremity of the basin, as a sand-
dominated turbidite-fan system (Figure 9b).
They speculate that in Eocene times the
left-lateral Cimandiri fault represented the
extreme limit of the Sunda shield and, that
the Bayah formation deltaic system supplied
sediment to the deeper-marine setting on
the downthrown side of the fault. The
Bayah formation and the Ciletuh formation
arenites (with some leached feldspar)
demonstrate excellent reservoir quality but,
the upper section of the Ciletuh sands
displays a change in current direction and a
new volcanic provenance with a reduction
in reservoir quality.
Keetley et al. (1997) suggest that early
Miocene post-rift sag resulted in subsidence
of the offshore area and vitrinite reflectance
results of Eocene sediments adjacent to the
Honje high indicates heating to 180C and
then uplift in the early Miocene from about
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology186
Figure 9: Potential reservoir facies in the Southwest Java basin. Eocene Bayah formation cross-bedded, fluvio-deltaic channelsands exposed on the Bayah high (a). Eocene Ciletuh formation deep marine fan sands exposed on the Ciletuh high (b).
(a) (b)
Figure 8: Simplifiedmap of structuralelements in theSouthwest Javabasin (after Keetleyet al., 1997).
-
4 km depth. The younger middle Miocene
sediments on the Honje high consequently
indicate negligible heating.
A middle to late Miocene second rifting
phase is also proposed by Keetley et al.
(1997). Apatite fission track analyses of
Eocene and Miocene sands in the eastern
part of the Southwest Java basin
(Soenandar, 1997), indicate a maximum
burial temperature of only 70 to 95C.
Significant cooling occurred in the late
Miocene to early Pliocene, with an
indication of over 3 km of inversion in the
Ciletuh area east of the Cimandiri fault,
caused by deformation of an accretionary
complex when subduction was blocked by
an old magmatic arc. Soenandar (1997)
recognizes a rapid increase in geothermal
gradient in the PliocenePleistocene, which
he also recognizes in the Sunda, Asri and
Northwest Java basins.
Fore-arc basins of Western Indonesia are
poorly understood but their hydrocarbon
potential is considered to be moderate to
high. It would appear that the Bengkulu and
Southwest Java basins experienced a
history similar to that of the back-arc basins
of Western Indonesia. Rifting was initiated
in the Paleogene, structural modification
occurred in the Miocene, and inversion and
raised heat flow (the main maturation and
structuring event in the back-arc basins) in
PliocenePleistocene times. The Bengkulu
basin demonstrates mature source potential
for oil in Arwana 1, sufficient heat flow for
oil generation, and convincing oil shows in
two wells. There is also potential for the
development of early rift-fill Eocene
lacustrine source rocks and associated
reservoirs if the similarities between the
Bengkulu basin and the South Sumatra
basin are considered.
Although not of lacustrine affinity, the
Bayah formations deltaic deposits in the
Southwest Java basin provide evidence for
the development of reservoir and source
facies in the syn-rift stage of fore-arc
development. Turbidite fan sands in the
Southwest Java basin also demonstrate
excellent reservoir potential.
There is less known about the Sibolga
basin, but the presence of biogenic gas and
a low geothermal gradient still support the
tested biogenic gas play. Thick Miocene
carbonates are, however, considered too
problematical with regard to sealing.
Interbedded sand and shale units provide a
more prospective biogenic gas play
alternative, although small footprint and
focusing may limit their potential.
The back-arc basinsThere are 17 Tertiary back-arc basins (and
inter-basins) in Western Indonesia and the
majority are considered submature or
mature with respect to hydrocarbon
exploration. Basins considered to be
underexplored (but probably of low
prospectivity) include the Billitong basin in
the Java Sea and the Pembuang, Asem-
Asem-Pater Noster, Muriah, Melawai and
Ketunggau basins of Kalimantan. Of all the
back-arc basins only the Pembuang basin in
southernmost Kalimantan (see Figure 1)
remains undrilled.
These back-arc basins are spread across
the southeast promontory of ancient
Sundaland and contain more than 85% of
Indonesias hydrocarbon reserves. They
demonstrate similar tectonic controls on
their evolution and their fills reveal similar,
cyclic patterns of sedimentation due to
transgression and regression throughout the
Cenozoic a feature common to the entire
Sunda shelf of Southeast Asia.
Lacustrine shales and coals are abundant
in the Eocene and Oligocene syn-rift
sequences of Southeast Asia and are
demonstrably important source rocks (e.g.
Sladen 1997). Syn-rift lacustrine shales are
often assumed to be the major source of oil
in Western Indonesia back-arc basins. In
terms of billions of barrels of oil generated,
this is true because of the extremely prolific
nature of these source rocks. The Central
Sumatra basin contains the vast majority of
Indonesias oil reserves sourced almost
exclusively from this facies, the Minas and
Duri oil fields alone accounting for
15 BBOIP. Robinson (1987) developed the
first comprehensive source rock and oil-
type classification and distribution for
Indonesias petroleum basins and this has
since been refined by Ten Haven and
Schiefelbein (1995). These works indicate a
range of important organic source facies for
the Western Indonesia basins (Figure 10)
including marine, terrigenous (fluvio-deltaic
of Robinson, 1987) and lacustrine.
The major reservoirs in the Indonesian
back-arc basins are Miocene transgressive
and regressive fluvio-deltaic and shallow-
marine sands with trapping by structural
closure and in pinch-outs, and carbonate
buildups. Deeper marine sand-dominated
depositional systems are, however,
becoming a focus for the industry. The main
phase of inversion and structural
development took place in the Pliocene.
Back-arc basins are also known to be areas
of high heat flow and the Central Sumatra
basin demonstrates the highest heat flow of
any basin in Southeast Asia (Thamrin,
1987). The main phase of hydrocarbon
expulsion and migration occurred during
the PliocenePleistocene inversion event.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 187
LegendMarine (Cenozoic)
Marine (Mesozoic)
Lacustrine (Cenozoic)
Terrigenous (Cenozoic)
Figure 10: Oil sourcecharacteristics forIndonesiaspetroleum systems(Ten Haven andSchiefelbein, 1995).
-
North Sumatra basinThe North Sumatra basin is extremely large
and extends from just north of Medan in
North Sumatra, northward for several
hundred kilometers into the Andaman Sea
and across the ThailandIndonesia border.
The Indonesian sector of the basin is
bordered to the west by the Barisan Mountain
thrust system and to the east by the stable
Malacca platform (Figure 11). Only about
20% of the total basin area is onshore, and in
the north, towards Thailand, water depths are
over 1000 m in the basinal deeps. The basin is
notable for the first commercial oil field in
Indonesia the Telaga Said field discovered
in 1885 and the giant Arun gas field. This
was, with about 14 TcfG and 700 MBC
(million barrels condensate), the largest gas
field in Southeast Asia until it was superseded
by the supergiant Natuna Alpha gas field.
Stage I. Early Syn-rift(Eocenelate Oligocene)Direct structural evidence to support
Eocene rifting is not recognized in North
Sumatra, but the presence of late Eocene
clastics (Meucampli formation) and marine
carbonates (Tampur formation) suggest that
an Eocene basin did exist. This is further
supported by quartzites drilled offshore from
North Aceh which are assigned a middle to
late Eocene age by Tsukada et al. (1996).
Stage II. Late Syn-rift(late Oligoceneearly Miocene)In the late Oligocene a second stage of
rifting was characterized by a northsouth
trending series of grabens and half-grabens,
accompanied by structurally controlled
deposition of coarse-grained clastic, alluvial
and fluvial sandstones of the Parapat
formation. Kirby et al. (1994) have
suggested the existence of a lacustrine
source facies in these rift basins. This is not
supported by geochemical work (Robinson,
1987; Kjellgren and Sugiharto, 1989;
Subroto et al., 1992; Fuse et al., 1996; Ten
Haven and Schiefelbein, 1995), which
supports a mainly marine hydrocarbon
source. Parapat formation sands were
transgressed by latest Oligocene bathyal
lower Bampo formation shale, often
considered to be the main source for Peutu
formation reservoired Arun and nearby gas
fields, although Bampo shales at outcrop
and in the few subsurface penetrations are
poor in quality (Caughey, pers. comm.).
Caughey and Wahyudi (1993) consider the
thicker and richer subjacent Baong
formation shales to be a more likely source,
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology188
Sumatran fault systemSumatra
BarisanM
ountainthrust front
Batumandi
Wampu
NSO
Kambuna
Glag
ah lo
w
Pusu
ng h
ighP
akol
low
Yang
Bes
ar h
igh
Glagah-1
Gebang
Rantau
KualaSimpang
Darat
Pako
l hor
st
Asahan
arch
NSBJ-1
NSBA-1
NSBC-1
Duyung 1
Julu RayeuSouth
LhoSukon
Arun
Salamangadeep
Centralridge
E1 ridge
Topazdeep
NWsub-basin
Thailand
Rano
ng ri
dge
Jau r
idge
Indonesia
Malaysia
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia
Pase
AlursiwahPeulalu
KualaLangsa
Lho Sukon deep
Jawa east deep
Arun high
Malaccaplatform
Peusangan high
EAO
Ridg
e
Mer
gui r
idge
Rano
ngtr
ough
TAMIANG
DEEP
TAMPUR
PLATFORM
Figure 12: 3D seismic profile across a South Lho Sukon Peutu limestonepatch-reef, onshore North Sumatra basin. The middle horizon on the reefcrest is the base of a collapsed cave zone (Sunaryo et al., 1998).
SW
1.7
2.0
Two-
way
tim
e, s
ec
2.4
0 1 2km
NESLS A-3 SLS A-11 ST2
Figure 11: Generalized physiography and productive hydrocarbon discoveriesof the North Sumatra basin (modified from Andreason et al., 1977, Fuse etal., 1996 and Kjellgren and Sugiharto, 1989).
-
particularly as a pressure gradient from the
highly overpressured Baong into the
normally pressured Peutu is an ideal
source-reservoir arrangement commonly
associated with giant fields.
Stage III. Uplift and post-rift sag(early Miocenemiddle Miocene)Uplift occurred at the Oligocene-Miocene
boundary with erosion of the Bampo
shales, followed by thin basal transgressive
sands. This was succeeded by the deep
marine Belumai shales, which may be a
secondary source for gas in the Arun field.
In the western part of the basin the
Belumai shales are age equivalent to large
early Miocene Peutu formation carbonate
buildups that grew on the northsouth
trending-basement horsts (e.g., Arun,
Pase, South Lho Sukon, Alursiwah, and
Kuala Langsa gas fields Caughey and
Wahyudi, 1993; Sunaryo et al., 1998;
Barliana et al., 1999) and, to the east on
the edge of the Malacca platform, are
equivalent to Belumai formation
carbonates (e.g., NSB gas field). Peutu and
Belumai formation carbonates represent
the main play type in the North Sumatra
basin and the Peutu is volumetrically the
most important reservoir facies in the
basin. Porosity was enhanced during latest
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 189
Figure 13: Log offractured Peutulimestone reservoir inthe Pase A Field, wellPase A6, onshore NorthSumatra basin.Fractures are definedusing the DSI* DipoleShear Sonic Imagerand FMI* FullboreFormation MicroImagertools (Musgrove andSunaryo, 1998).
Gamma ray
Quartz
ELAN
Deg
Deviation
Volume
DNS T
SWF1 .FIL . Int
DSIwaveform
(us) 204400Deg
Conductive fractureTrue dip
Fractureorientation
FMIimage
Conductive fracture(sinusoid)
Orientation north
900Ener
8450
8500
8550
8600
8650
8700
(dB/m)-15 0
(V/V)
0
0
50
1Hole shape
Peutu limestone
Belumai formation
Bruksah formation
Meta formation
Clay 1
Bound water Fractureenergy
early Miocene uplift and extensive karst
systems have been identified by 3D seismic
surveys (Figure 12). Belumai buildups are
abundant and clearly visible on seismic
shot over the Malacca platform. The
buildups are, however, generally small
(significantly less than the 300500 m of
relief developed on subsiding blocks at
Arun, Alur Siwah and Kuala Langsa) and
the overlying Baong is much sandier on the
shelf and thief zones limit fill-up of the
buildups (Caughey, pers. comm.).
Younger Baong shales most probably
source gas on the Malacca platform to the
east, and oil in the string of fields that
parallel the Barisan thrust front on the
Tampur platform (see Figure 11).
-
Stage IV. Episodic uplift(latemiddle and latest Miocene)
The remainder of the Miocene was
characterized by yo-yo tectonics.
Latestmiddle to late Miocene encroachment
of the Australian craton and the Asian plate
resulted in activation of the Great Sumatra
fault and compressional uplift of the Barisan
Mountains with a change in clastic
provenance. Sediment supply switched from
an eastern Sunda shield source to a more
southern Barisan source. Compression
resulted in pressure solution and cementation
of Peutu carbonates near the Barisan thrust
front, but also created fracture porosity at
these locations (e.g., the Pase gas field see
Figure 13). Lower Baong formation sands
were rapidly transgressed by lower Baong
marine shales that represent another gas-
prone source facies and an extensive seal
over Peutu carbonate and lower Baong sand
reservoirs. The Baong shales possibly
matured in the late MiocenePliocene and
sourced both oil and gas on the Tampur
platform. In the middle Miocene, regressive
middle Baong sands were transgressed by
fine-marine clastics, the upper Baong shales.
Stage V. Uplift(latest MiocenePleistocene)Increased compression and major uplift in
the latest Miocene and through the
Pliocene produced the coarse clastic
Keutapang, Seurula and Julu Rayeu
formations that, along with older Baong
formation sandstones, represent the oil
reservoirs on the Tampur platform. This
compressional episode was also the main
structural event producing thrusts, flower
structures, shale diapirs and a series of
northnorthwest southsoutheast folds
above the now reactivated northsouth-
oriented, strike-slip basement faults. Late
stage faulting also created vertical
migration pathways to supply the younger
sand reservoirs.
Although the onshore sector of the
North Sumatra basin has been extensively
explored, it is possible that moderate-sized
and maybe even large, early Miocene, gas-
filled Peutu carbonate buildups sealed by
Baong shales remain. These large
buildups, however, appear to have an
associated high carbon dioxide risk
(Reaves and Sulaeman, 1994) as
illustrated by the potential giant Kuala
Langsa gas field (Caughey and Wahyudi,
1993). Smaller-scale, Peutu age-
equivalent, Belumai buildups represent a
potentially less rewarding play on the
Malacca shelf. Stratigraphic plays for the
Baong and Keutapang reservoirs have not
been made but the risk is high.
New or underdeveloped play concepts
could include lowstand turbidite-fan systems
associated with middle Miocene lowstand
(Tsukada et al., 1996; Nuraini et al., 1999),
and latest Oligocene Bampo fan systems
recognized elsewhere in the basin. Syn-rift
Parapat formation alluvial and fluvial sands
could represent an attractive reservoir target
in graben deeps where they are proximal to a
generating Bampo source. Lack of seal,
however, may be an issue. The Eocene
Tampur formation carbonates have also been
recognized as having reservoir potential and
have already tested gas beneath early Miocene
Peutu reservoirs in Alur Siwah, Peulala and on
the Malacca platform (Ryacudu and
Sjahbuddin, 1994).
The relatively underexplored northern
deepwater (>1000 m) sector of the basin
merits further investigation as deepwater
drilling technology improves.
Central Sumatra basinThe Central Sumatra basin is the most
prolific oil basin in Southeast Asia, producing
approximately 750,000 BOPD, roughly half of
Indonesias production. Sujanto (1997)
provides reserves estimates for the basin of
13 BBOE ultimately recoverable, of which
95% is oil, and 2.5 BBO remain to be
recovered. In terms of both petroleum
systems and logistics, this basin has been
relatively simple to explore. It extends over
500 km in a northwestsoutheast direction
and, at its widest point, measures about
400 km between the Barisan Mountain front
and the Malacca shelf.
In contrast to the North Sumatra basin,
only 20% of the Central Sumatra basin is
offshore and water depth is generally less
than 200 m. The basin is considered to be
mature with respect to hydrocarbon
exploration and, with a simple and
essentially single petroleum system
operating, new ideas are required if further
large fields are to be discovered and the
trend of declining production is to be halted.
The basin demonstrates dominant
conjugate northwest-trending thrust faults
and northsouth-trending, right-lateral
strike-slip faults (Figure 14) which follow
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology190
0 400 800km
Malacca Strait
Malaysia
Kotabatak
Minas
Duri
Zamrud
Coastalplainsblock
Berukhigh
Lirik trend
Bengkalis trough
Kulin
Petani
Bangko
Libo
Balam trough
Central deep
Paleogenedepocenters
Oil field
Gas field
Sumatra
Jakarta
Java
Central Sumatra Basin
Figure 14: Paleogene depocenters, generalized structure and oilfielddistribution for the Central Sumatra basin (Praptono et al., 1991).
-
older basement fractures. The strike-slip
faults often sole-out into the thrusts and,
with right and left doglegs, have produced
pull-apart and pop-up basins (Figure 15),
respectively. These can be the sites of large
oil accumulations.
Large northwestsoutheast trending
anticlines (e.g., the Kempas-Beruk uplift and
the Sembilan uplift Figure 15) reflect
ancient basement arches. At the surface,
locally occurring northeastsouthwest-
oriented fracture swarms represent Riedel
shears that are associated with the
northwestsoutheast-oriented, right-lateral
Great Sumatra fault system.
Oil is concentrated in two principal areas. In
the west the MinasDuriBangko trend
parallels the central deep and Balam trough in
the center of the basin. In the east the
Bengkalis trough hosts the coastal plains and
shallow offshore oil fields. These are grouped
on the Beruk high, and along the southernmost
Lirik trend. In the far north of the basin there is
reduced seal capacity and there are no oil
fields. This is due to coarsening of clastics near
the paleo-sediment source.
Stage I. Syn-rift(middle Eocenelate Oligocene)Rifting was initiated during middle to late
Eocene collision between the Indian and
Asian plates, and deep, northsouth- and
northwestsoutheast-oriented graben
developed, following pre-existing Mesozoic
shear lineaments (e.g., the Tapung half-
graben Soeryowibowo et al., 1999). These
grabens filled with Tertiary sediments
through the late Oligocene.
Initially the Pematang group clastics were
deposited in isolated grabens (e.g., Central
deep, Balam trough, Bengkalis trough).
Graben margin coarse fluvial and alluvial
clastics are secondary reservoir targets.
These pass laterally into a shallow, lake-
margin and coaly facies, a secondary source
rock. The prolific, deep, lacustrine Brown
Shale formation algal-rich laminites of the
graben center are thought to have been the
source of almost all the oil in the Central
Sumatra basin (Williams et al., 1985). The
kerogen assemblage of this source facies is
dominated by the highly oil-prone,
freshwater algae (Figure 16) Botryococcus,
which is responsible for the high-wax
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 191
BengkalisIsland
PadangIsland
Melibur
Lalang
GatamSabak
Pedada
Benua
Butun
Nilam
Zamrud
Idris
Bungsu
Beruk
UpliftOil field
0 25km
Pop-upPull-apart
BerukNE
D
D
U
U
Pusaka
Dusun
Hudbay
Caltex
Coastalplainsblock
Otak fold faultKempasBeruk uplift
Sembilan upliftSiak Kecil syncline
Bengkalisdepression
MetasKutupfault
Mengkapen
Figure 15: Fielddistribution alongregional,northsouthtrending dextraltranscurrent faultsin the coastal plainsblock of CentralSumatra (Heidrickand Aulia, 1993).
AA
FWA
A
A
Figure 16: Kerogen assemblage dominated by fluorescent amorphinite (A) anddegraded, freshwater Botryococcus algae (FWA) in the Brown Shale formation,Central Sumatra basin (photo courtesy of S. Noon).
-
crudes of the Central Sumatra basin and
Cenozoic-sourced, waxy, lacustrine crudes
that are so common elsewhere in South
Asia. The Brown Shale formation also acts
as an internal seal for the limited Pematang
group reservoirs. Although it is accepted
that the Brown Shale unit is essentially the
only source rock in the Central Sumatra
basin, Schiefelbein and Cameron (1997)
note a minor contribution from type III,
fluvio-deltaic organic matter.
Stage II. Uplift and Sag(late Oligocenemiddle Miocene)Middle to late Oligocene arc collisions
(Longley, 1997) caused mild inversion and a
major erosional hiatus at 25.5 mybp (e.g.,
Soeryowibowo, 1999). This is recognized as
a basin-wide event separating the Pematang
group syn-rift fill from the overlying Sihapas
group. Early to middle Miocene sag and
eustatic gain resulted in deposition of the
strongly transgressive Sihapas group,
representing a large tide-dominated delta
system that prograded from the north,
supplying the main reservoir sands from the
granitic Malacca platform.
The Sihapas group opens with the
superior reservoir quality Menggala
formation (Figure 17), consisting of fluvial
channel sands deposited in structural lows
and incised valleys on the truncated surface
of the Pematang group. Sediments become
progressively more marine and reservoir
quality tends to decrease as fluvial sands
are replaced by estuarine, shore-face and,
finally shaly shallow-marine sands of the
Telisa formation during the maximum
middle Miocene trangression. Reservoir
packages are demonstrably associated with
third- and fourth-order (including possibly
tectonically controlled) lowstand events on
a field to basin-wide scale, but also include
transgressive shallow-marine sheet sands.
The Sihapas contains highstand intra-
formational sealing shales, and the shale
dominated Telisa formation also acts as a
regional seal. Interestingly, the fine-grained
Sihapas group clastics were considered to
be the main source rock in the Central
Sumatra basin until 1985 when Williams et
al. identified the Pematang Brown Shale
source. Even though Sihapas deposition is
considered to have occurred during a period
of relative quiescence, northsouth right-
lateral faulting was active throughout and
produced early Miocene pull-apart basins.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology192
M
M
M
M
M
K
KI
I
I
I
O
O
O
O
I
F
F
M
Figure 17: Photomicrograph of the lower Sihapas (Menggala) reservoir sandstone, Kurau field, CentralSumatra basin showing partly leached feldspars (F), quartz overgrowth cement (O), authigenic kaolinite (K) andexcellent primary intergranular (I) and secondary moldic (M) porosity. (Photomicrographs from Murphy, 1993.
Stage III. Uplift(middlelate Miocene)
Westerly sourced, volcanic sediments
deposited after 16 mybp are associated with
the development of the Barisan arc and
movement along the Great Sumatra fault.
This reflects increased plate convergence
and vectoral change (counter-clockwise
rotation in Western Indonesia) at the Sunda
trench. Compression led to deposition of the
regressive, fine-grained Petani formation
that locally contains reservoir facies.
Stage IV. Uplift(late MiocenePleistocene)During the late Miocene, compressional
forces intensified as subduction rates and
orientation changed again due to
encroachment of the Australian craton and
the Asian plate. Intense structural
development continued through the
Pliocene. Heat flow increased rapidly in the
PliocenePleistocene, possibly reflecting
the emplacement of shallow intrusives
(Eubank and Makki, 1981). Maturation of
the syn-rift Brown Shale oil source took
place and migration followed Eocene syn-
rift sand tracts, graben-bounding faults and
Sihapas sands.
In terms of exploration, the Central
Sumatra basin is considered to be mature.
Recent efforts by Caltex, the main
production sharing contract operator in the
basin, have concentrated on tertiary
recovery projects. These include large-scale
waterflood of the Minas and other oil fields
and steamflood of the Duri oil field, the
largest operation of its kind in the world
(e.g. Sulistyo et al., 1998). Recent
technological advancements in sequence
stratigraphy and 3D-seismic studies are
being applied in the hope of identifying
bypassed oil. Exploration has not ceased,
however, and smaller-scale Pematang and
fault-controlled traps are still being targeted
to help offset the declining production from
the basin.
Pematang group gas accumulations are
being sought to fuel the Duri steamflood,
since nearly one-third of produced Duri oil
is used for steam generation. Presently the
nearest gas is in the South Sumatra basin,
supplied by Gulf Oil in a gas-for-oil
exchange deal.
It would appear that there are few new
play types in the Central Sumatra basin.
Exploration of the Pematang groups coarse
clastics is considered to hold promise
although oil potential is limited by poor
reservoir quality. There is minor production
from fractured basement in the Beruk
Northeast field but this is not considered to
hold sufficient reserves to be of interest as a
primary target.
-
South Sumatra basinThe South Sumatra basin lies almost entirely
onshore and extends about 450 km from
northwest to southeast. It is separated from
the Central Sumatra basin by the Tiga Puluh
Mountains in the north, and from the basins
of the Sunda Strait by the Lampung high in
the south. At its widest point it extends
approximately 250 km from the Barisan
thrust front to the Malacca Strait in the
East, where Tertiary cover passively onlaps
basement. It comprises three main sub-
basins (Figure 18) the Jambi graben, the
central Palembang graben, and the South
Palembang or Lematang graben. The Jambi
and Lematang grabens are highly productive
with the former producing mainly oil and
the latter, being deeper and hotter, being
richer in gas.
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology 193
Lampunggraben
Lampunghigh
Lematang/South Palembang graben
(sub-basin)
Palembang/North Palembang graben
(sub-basin)
Jambi graben(sub-basin)
Dun BelasMountains
Ipuhgraben
Pagar Jatigraben
Keduranggraben
50 100km0
Muaraduagraben
Kikimhigh
Central Palembang
sub-basin
Bangk
o high
Ketalin
g high
Lematang fault
Sumatra fault zone
Approximate extent of SouthSum
atrabasin
Figure 18:Generalizedstructural pattern ofthe SouthernSumatra region (afterYulihanto andSosrowidjoyo, 1996).
-
The South Sumatra basin contains diverse
petroleum systems, with both oil and gas
being sourced from lacustrine and fluvio-
deltaic terrestrial facies (Figure 19). Marine
facies of the Gumai formation have been
suspected of contributing to reserves,
especially gas, and there is even speculation
of a local carbonate or calcareous shale
source (Davis, pers. comm.).
Reservoirs include fractured basement
granites (Figure 20) and metamorphics,
granite-wash, OligoceneMiocene fluvio-
deltaics (Lemat, Talang Akar, Muara Enim
and Air Benakat formations) and lower
Miocene leached and fractured carbonate
buildups (Batu Raja formation). In the
Tempino oil field one of the reservoirs is a
fractured sill (Caughey, pers. comm.),
although this is not of economic significance.
Although not strictly part of the South
Sumatra basin small intra-montane basins in
the Barisan range (e.g., the Pasemah Block
operated by Stanvac Kamal, 1999),
demonstrate a similar history and origin to
the nearby South Sumatra basin with good
Talang Akar and Batu Raja formation
reservoirs at outcrop and oil and gas seeps
with a lacustrine source indicated.
Stage I. Syn-rift(late Cretaceouslate Oligocene)Rifting is considered to have commenced as
early as the late Cretaceous and continued
through to the late Oligocene. Northsouth
normal faults and a northwestsoutheast-
oriented horst and graben developed in
response to tensional shear as subduction
slowed at the Sunda trench. The graben
developed along pre-existing Mesozoic
transform fractures as in the Central
Sumatra basin.
Syn-rift fill includes the Eocene Lahat
formation granite-wash, volcaniclastics, and
conglomerates and sandstones that appear
to have developed as alluvial fans and river
systems within the deep graben. These
coarse clastics fine-up into the Lemat
formation, subordinate and commonly over-
mature source facies, which include
lacustrine Botryococcus- and Pediastrum-
rich shales, and lake-margin, coaly, organic
facies. Lemat fluvial sands are also locally a
reservoir. In the Puyuh field, Lemat channel
sands host oil and are interbedded with
intra-formational, lacustrine source rocks
(Maulana et al., 1999).
Overview of Indonesias oil and gas industry Geology194
C
A
A
A
A
C
Figure 19: Kerogensextracted from sourcefacies in the SouthSumatra basin. Topphotograph showsterrestrial oil-pronesource faciesdominated by cutinite(C) and other land plantmaterial. Bottomphotograph showslacustrine oil-pronesource faciesdominated byBotryococcus algae (A).(Photos courtesy of S. Noon.)
X0.5
X1.0
X1.5
X2.0X7.5
X7.0
X6.5
X6.0
S
E
N
Major fractures -strike
Minor fractures -strike
W
S
E
N
W
Figure 20: FormationMicroScanner* images from afractured granitebasement reservoir,South Sumatra basin.
-
Stage II. Sag(late Oligoceneearly Miocene)The late Oligocene to early Miocene was
marked by transgression as a result of
thermal sag and eustatic gain. Late
Oligocene Talang Akar alluvial and braided
fluvial deposits, the main reservoir sands in
the basin, were deposited in basinal lows,
and are either sealed internally or by the
overlying marine Gumai shale in
stratigraphic and anticlinal traps.
Extensive Talang Akar shallow-marine and
deltaic coals and shales are considered to
be the major source rocks in the basin.
They are dominated by mixed oil- and gas-
prone type III terrestrial kerogen
(Schiefelbein and Cameron, 1995) and,
where buried deeply enough adjacent to
basement highs, have charged fractured
basement reservoirs. This can be seen in
the Rayun, Sumpal, Dayung, Bungkal,
Bungin, Hari and Suban deep gas fields.
With continued transgression into the
early Miocene, large Batu Raja formation
carbonate buildups developed on structural
highs and are important reservoirs,
particularly where they have been solution-
enhanced (Figure 21). Bulk reservoir
properties are highly variable but often good
(e.g., Ramba, Rawa and Suban with average
permeabilities in the 500750 mD range).
These buildups are thought to have
developed as low-relief, low-energy,
carbonate-mud-dominated banks
(Situmeang et al., 1993; Longman et al.,
1993) in a restricted seaway.
The Gumai shales were developed off-
bank in deeper water and, as transgression
progressed, formed a top seal to the Batu
Raja formation buildups. The Gumai shales
may also locally contribute to gas
generation where mature in basin deeps.
Overview