Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp.

499-510, 1995
~'~UTTERWQRTH Copyright(~) 1995ElsevierScienceLtd'
~-IE I N E M A N N
Printed in GreatBritain. All rights reserved
0264-8172/95$10.00+ 0.00

Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic

tectono-stratigraphic development of the East
Java Sea Basin, Indonesia
Stephen J. Matthews*
BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd, Uxbridge One, 1Harefield Road, Uxbridge UB8
1PD, UK

Paul J. E. Bransden
BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd, PO Box 2749, Jakarta Pusat 12940, Indonesia

Received24 October 1993; revised 11 July 1994; accepted 29 July 1994

The East Java Sea Basin is underlain by a metamorphic basement complex. Subsidence of this
basement during the Late Cretaceous resulted in accumulation of up to 3 km of marine Upper
Cretaceous sediments (megasequence 1). Contraction and near peneplanation of the Upper
Cretaceous sediments and underlying basement occurred before the middle Early Eocene,
producing a regional unconformity which defines the base of megasequence 2. The Cenozoic
East Java Sea Basin started to form during the Early Eocene by crustal extension on both planar
normal faults and extensionally reactivated Cretaceous thrusts. Normal faulting was pulsed from
the Early Eocene to Early Oligocene and affected a progressively larger area with time. Complex
structural geometries evolved in response to local extensional reactivation of obliquely
orientated pre-existing structures.
The resultant Palaeogene fault-controlled sub-basins were filled with fluvial, coastal plain and
shelf clastic and carbonate sediments recording an overall transgressive evolution. Regional
subsidence became dominant over fault-controlled subsidence during the Early Oligocene.
Basin-fill during this time was dominated by deep marine, fine-grained clastic sediments.
A regional unconformity of intra-Oligocene age is recognized and is overlain by Oligocene to
lowermost Miocene deep water calcareous mudrocks and limestones which locally onlap
erosionally truncated Eocene rocks. The Lower Eocene to lowermost Miocene sediment package
comprises megasequence 2.
Regional inversion of Palaeogene sub-basins commenced in the Early Miocene and continues
to the present day. The syn-inversion Lower Miocene to Recent sediments comprise
megasequence 3. Inversion has resulted from regional contraction and resultant reverse
reactivation of Palaeogene normal faults and Cretaceous thrusts. Regional subsidence has been
continuous during the inversion history, resulting in a gradual reversal of depocentre location;
Palaeogene depocentres became Neogene highs, whereas Palaeogene platforms became
Neogene depocentres. Miocene deposition during inversion was dominated by the alternation of
fine-grained carbonate-dominated and clastic-dominated cycles. Subsequent Pliocene sandstone
deposition followed fluvial incision during an Early Pliocene Iowstand. The depositional history,
during the Pleistocene to Recent, records rapid relative sea-level changes; progradation of clastic
and carbonate sediments, erosional truncation, channelling and slumping.
The Tertiary structural geometricaP evolution and preserved sediment distribution can be
explained by dominantly dip-slip fault movement during the extensional and contractional
phases of basin development and deformation. Basin-scale cross-sectional geometries similar to
classical positive flower structures have evolved by the reverse reactivation of a geometrically
complex extensional fault system.

Keywords: tectono-stratigraphic evolution; fault-controlled basins; East Java Sea Basin

The East Java Sea Basin is located to the E N E of Java
and to the north of the volcanic islands of Bali, L o m b o k
and Sumbawa Besar (Figure 1). These volcanic islands
form part of an extensive magmatic arc positioned
* Correspondence to Dr S. J. Matthews
above currently subducting oceanic crust of the Indian
Ocean/Australian plate.
BP's recent exploration has been concentrated in the
central part of this basin, within the Sailus Production
Sharing Contract (PSC), Satanger and Sakala Timur
(BP 50%, Mobil 50%) and Kangean ( A R C O 60%,
BP 40%) PSCs (Figure 2). The data which has been

Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5 499

 Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden
i
116"E 118"E
I MAKASSAR
/
S /

f "+" k.. / %

NORTHERN
,, PLATFORM
0 0
114"E

NORTH
MADURA PLATFORM
E A \1 SEA ~ ' ~ ~ k_M

Sapudi + f

MADURA . SOUTHERN
SUB-BASIN

~ L BASIN FLORESBASIN
[ Location of
Foldout I ~ ~-.------~---~_-'-----~ . ~

0 +0" ~ - ~ -
100 150 km ~- _ -
I I I I,_o=

Figure 1 Sub-basin distribution around and within the East Java Sea region, illustrating location of regional seismic line (Foldout 1).
Major fault trends are shown with the downthrown (black rectangle) or inversion (white triangle) symbol in the hanging wall. The area
illustrated corresponds to the region inside the box on the inset regional location map. The black arrows on the inset map indicate
the relative convergence direction and magnitude (mm/a) between South-East Asia and the Indian Ocean/Australian plate at the
present day

acquired during this exploration programme forms the
basis for development of the tectono-stratigraphic
interpretation presented in this paper.
Several key publications and research theses provide
the basis for the current understanding of the regional
geological evolution. These include the classic
publication by Hamilton (1979) and the preceding and
subsequent work by Ben Avraham and Emery (1973),
Curray et al. (1977), Silver et al. (1983), Breen et al.
(1986), Sikumbang (1986), Tapponnier et al. (1986),
Letouzey et al. (1990), Daly et al. (1991), Hasan
(1991), Phillips et al. (1991), Bransden and Matthews
(1992) and Prasetyo (1992).
Stratigraphic observations from well and seismic
data
The stratigraphy has been subdivided into mega-
sequences, which represent deposition during distinct
tectonically controlled phases of basin development
and/or deformation. These have been subdivided
further into sequences which can be recognized on
seismic and/or well data. Each Tertiary sequence is
referred to by a number, prefixed by T; the assigned
sequence number is higher for progressively younger
sequences.
Three megasequences are recognized in the East

118OE

/
~--'
i, i
i . -s

* KlngeanARCO/Bp A /~ f ] 7S
t
........ ., ',
o

.2oom.. 1
="'~''="'~'Ai *I "--.-'='-~. /" =...,, -:,
.p'E ..~E. ";-- ...'E~
Figure 2 East Java Sea Production Sharing Contract (PSC) areas, illustrating location of seismic line (Foldout 3) across the Southern
Basin and structural cross-sections AA', BB' and CC' (Figure 12)

500 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5

 MARGINS OF INVERTED SUB-BASINS
COINCIDENT WITH CONTRACTIONAL GEOMETRICS AT
BALI-FLORES BASIN SOUTHERN BASIN DEPTH IN DEFORMED CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS
NORTHERN SUBMARINE
FLANK OF LOMBOK SEPANJANG
FAULT ZONE

5 CENTRAL BASIN INVERSION N

(SOUTH-DIRECTED CONTRACTION)

SP 6750 6500 6250 6000 5750 5500 5250 5000 4750 4250 4000 3750 3500 3250 3000 2750 2500 2250 2000 1750 1500 1250 1000 750 500
. I' Will
INVERTED PART OF SOUTHERN BASIN

1000 1000

2000 2000

~
~

(/) :2:
~
Q)
(/)
3000
-
~
3000 ~

(f.
ct
0
~
(f.

~ ---

4000 4000

5000

6000 -1IIoilOoo.J-6000

o 20 Km
I I

Foldout 1 Regional seismic line, with highly exaggerated vertical scale, from Lombok to the Northern Platform (refer to Figure 1 for location)
 Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden

Java Sea Basin. The oldest of these is Cretaceous, and penetrated by several wells (Figures 3 and 4~ and is
is overlain by the Palaeogene to Lower Miocene and characterized by a variety of lithologies including
Lower Miocene to present day megasequences. The metasediments, quartzite and chert. The Upper
Cretaceous stratigraphy is summarized in Figure 3 and Cretaceous is overlain in some wells by non-marine red
the Cenozoic stratigraphy in Figure 5. The boundaries beds, which are undated.
at the base and top of the Cretaceous megasequence Seismic data demonstrate that the maximum thick-
are regional angular unconformities. The top of ness of Upper Cretaceous sediment (megasequence 1)
the Palaeogene to Lower Miocene megasequence is exceeds 3 km, preserved in major truncated synclines
defined by an unconformity or onlap surface in areas of beneath a prominent 'base Tertiary' peneplane surface.
basin inversion, which passes laterally into a correlative The base of this megasequence is marked by the change
conformity. from continuous seismic reflectors to an acoustically
transparent section beneath.
Cretaceous megasquence The map-view structural, geometrical interpretation
Numerous wells drilled in the East Java Sea Basin have of the East Java Sea Basin pre-Tertiary is illustrated in
penetrated Cretaceous mudstones, with interbedded Figure 4. The Upper Cretaceous was folded into a
siltstones and sandstones (Figures 3 and 4). These complex east-west trending syncline prior to the
sediments have been dated in some wells as Late middle Early Eocene in the area of the Kangean PSC;
Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian) based on the internal structure of this syncline consists of
rare marine microfossils. They are typically highly numerous thrusts and thrust-related folds.
indurated and mature to overmature for petroleum
generation (vitrinite reflectance values range from 0.8
to 1.8%). Contemporaneous clastic sediments crop out Palaeogene to Lower Miocene megasequence
onshore south-west Sulawesi (Hasan, 1991), where This megasequence rests on a regional peneplane
they are termed the Balangbaru Formation (Figure 3). surface and is characterized by stratigraphic expansion
The underlying acoustic basement has also been into major normal fault zones. The sedimentary fill is

~E SOUTHWEST
(~) TECTONICS EAST JAVA SEA OUTCROP/WELL CONTROL
SULAWESI

i!i:!:i:i~'i:!:~:i!i:i:~:~:i:i:!:i!i
7O ua
0
0
uu W
t.)
~ ~ i : . . , ~ PAGERUNGAN BALANGBARU FM"
DEFORMATION

i !i?i!i i }!i!i i i!i!i}}ii!!i

I-
80 ~
u) MJ

,I.::,:G~-;:",*;:~;:~'.t';',;':~;*-;-~';'t:;;: ~ WEST KANGEAN

#
MARGINAL . . . . . . . . . . . . ' ''!:'~":i~"T i ' i } : ~ " " i " " ; " : " "" SSA-lX ~ ',1, " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii:

BASINS
UJ
FORMED
t-

-J NSA-1D

(/)
ACCRETION
OF MICRO-
CONTINENTAL
U//f~ ; ; IJ BONE" 1 "~D"
; II
v vv
FRAGMENTS ........... I v .......................
0 ON TO SUNDA
Z LLI SHIELD ~ ~ ~:..-.. S,R,-1
o

I--
-110
vvv vvvv )~:~;, %f,-';: :.,:'',..~;-:,.~/,?;~-;//, t.:/;
! o

// 2"/;~'~"," "" // $/,/z

..I
iv-
-120

MJ

8andslone ~ Conglo~lerate ~'~ Vo~anic8 ~ Granite ~ Mel~mlorphics ~ Unconformity

Figure 3 Cretaceous tectono-stratigraphic summary

Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 V o l u m e 12 N u m b e r 5 501

Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden

115E "(~ 1161= 117"E

0 10 20 30 km ." ,',, ";,': .'..

./:..,,.--" ,. ,,

, "~,;(.:.(..~.,,,;," / , :./;./,...,.,;,-,
........J" ".'",~:',"/i ~',.:,/~7
;,.'.;-',."
~," "
/
//. ..... .,,, /

ii . v

, V V V ~,,~M~
v v v/'~ v
BPjMobil "-.._ ,

discontinuous (probable Upper ~

pre-Tertiary Cretaceous) I "\ J
I
F i g u r e 4 S t r u c t u r a l m a p o f t h e East J a v a S e a B a s i n p r e - T e r t i a r y , illustrating the location of wells which have penetrated a pre-Eocene
section

transgressive. The lowermost sediments are fluvial Lower Eocene to Lower Oligocene (TlO-T36
clastics, passing upwards into coals, carbonaceous sequences). No Palaeocene sediments have been
mudstones and occasional distributary channel identified in East Java Sea well sections. Lower Eocene
sandstones of Early to Middle Eocene age. These are coaly sediments are the oldest dated rocks (Ypresian),
overlain successively by shelf mudstones with minor based on palynostratigraphy. They form the upper part
interbedded sandstones and limestones, deep marine of sequence T10 (Figure 5); the lower part of this
mudstones and calcareous mudstones (Figure 5). sequence consists of undated mudstones and coarse

On~-~oreE.Java JS19 L.idah~sbaya BD MDA T,,~g BP HORIZONS & SEQUENCES

70

? i. :-- : . :- i-. :. :.- :. .. :--: 5 :.. i :.. i. ~ "v : .~ '" " ' T: 5 :~::~::~::~:...:X:::!:3:~:~:,:L.-.T:!:~3:X:-:-...,.~.,~..:--- ..:...-.- -- .-.-..,....

~ NlS ......... - ~ " . " ...... I . " " " " ...... ' " " : " " " : ...... " : " " " ' ..... 5STS

~ " ~ ' ~ " ~ """ "" """ " "" """ "t ........ :!::::~:~:~:,,:!:~...- -. ..'... --.-' ..- "'' .---::':.^:?':'~:"::"L' :'.. ~. ~ .....

s -"' "" "'"""" "" ""-E!::, .......... ~:~::: ".'. ::::;::" :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "..:/.:'.'::'.:;'.: ".'.:'.:::':: :::::.'.:~ ".::.:: :" ~::. ~o - -
N4 ' ~ " ~ " -" " ~ ~ :" .."- :" ~ x :~:: x . ::~ .~...~:: "..,... .:..~.:. . . . . . . . . . . . . ~..~.., .:...:..t...~...~:~:,.:..;:,.::: .:...x:- ~.~
[~ ~ ~ ' " " ? ' ^ " T t ~ ; ' ^ " ; ~ -r:~"~ ~-"r~,~ "=~~.~:~;~:~,:~:: I

~.~.
i I lii...............................................................................................................
N ~;:~ .....
~: ~ii!i:.i .... :: : " :-:: "" '::: :: :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::: :i. .i:.~. :i '::::::::"::'::!':i-i ~ .."." ........ ~!ii .,.-.:--v---:---
" :~':~.'~: - :,:::-~---:-~-~--.~.~---~--*-:-,".....:....._.
.~-..,~-~-: :~%~ --- ~ ....... si .... : "~ T40 lI
.: .:.: : ..::.~. ".::" : .: .::7;:: .: ::: ;....:
-- N2I ii~x "~:";i ~. .' ". . . . . . "." ." :. . . '" " ~ : ........ : ............ ' " " :
' " ' " : ...: . : " " "" :....:..
...... " " : ' - " ~ L
""~~;^~ :.....-..:.
~ " ":" ";.....:.:.
......
" " ; ; --.~!::~:: ~.--
" ....... : .....
~::" ." '.:............:....:
~~ !~:~
" .........................
~ ~ i .. ~-:....:~::::~ ... .. : ":~ii
:P2 ~:,~ "-'...." .*.'.:.. : .-..:. ; ' ;...'- ..:....;..-:......

. , :!:~:~:~:~. :: : . . . . : .: .-.... : . , . . . j . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : : . . . . . . . . . .
;I _ P16 ,:;,:::,::: ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , ................ ........ T34 /I
~,i,, .3o .o l

P10 i ~ P ~ " """:":~"":""" ~:"=':':""' -- I o T ~

i.:..:.:..is.~ i:;;:;:ts,,,,n,~,,,~ i--le..~ [,-v-v.qV,,~.=. [~u.~.,~ I~.'~Z'~IM~., I I u"c~'~'"~w

Figure 5 Summary o f East J a v a Sea Basin stratigraphy, petroleum distribution and BP nomenclature for seismic horizons and
sequences

502 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5

 s N
SP 4250 3750 3250 2750 2250 1750 1250 750
o o
SOUTHERN BASIN INVERSION CENTRAL BASIN INVERSION
Seabed

1 1

2 2

TWT TWT
(SECS) (SECS)

3 3

~ Early Miocene to Holocene megasequence

4 4 ~ Palaeogene to Early Miocene megasequence

~ Cretaceous megasequence

~ \/ \
Basement

0 0

2 2
Km Km
4 4
0 Km 20
!
6 6 I

Foldout 2 Line drawing interpretation of part of the seismic line illustrated in Foldout 1 (at the same aspect ratio as the seismic line) and a simplified depth model (horizontal and vertical
scales equal)
 Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden
sandstones, resting on an angular unconformity. The
areal distribution is shown in Figure 6 and is based on
seismic interpretation tied to the L 46-1 and L 49-1
wells (located in Figure 6), which fully penetrate the
T10 sequence.
The top of the T10 sequence is defined by the top of
the coaly package in the L 46-1, L 46-2, SGP-1 and
L49-1 wells (Figure 6), which is interpreted to
have been deposited on a wide coastal plain during
transgression.
The overlying T20 sequence marks the onset of
marine environments in the Southern and Central
Basins (Figure 1) and a resultant gradual shift in the
position of the fluvial depositional systems towards the
north and north-west. These sediments are dated as
early Middle Eocene (P12 or older). These ages are
based on planktonic foraminifera in well L 40-1 (which
penetrates the most open marine T20 sediments) and
palynostratigraphy in wells L 46-1, L 46-2 and L 49-1.
A second major pulse of coarse clastic input occurred
during the Middle Eocene, recognized as a major break
on wireline logs and a marked change in microfaunal
assemblages, indicating a shallowing of depositional
environment. These clastic sediments were deposited
conformably on the underlying T20 section. Cyclic
estuarine to marginal marine sandstone/shale
alternations form stacked parasequences which clean
upwards on gamma ray logs. These parasequences
reduce in thickness and become finer grained upwards.
Biostratigraphic correlation, heavy mineral data and
petrographic analyses suggest that deposition of these
clastic sediments (T25 and T28 sequences, refer to
Figure 7 for distribution) in the basinal areas was
contemporaneous with the earliest deposition of fluvial
sandstones on the Northern Platform (Figure 1).
To the north and north-west of the Southern Basin
(in the Kangean PSC, Figure 2) the oldest reliably
dated rocks are late Middle Eocene (P14) based on
planktonic foraminifera. Estuarine to marginal marine
sediments in this area have been dated as Bartonian;
116E
mock V Block IV
,AP" I
o lO ~o 30km
, ,
NSA-1D , ~
Figure 6 Distribution of Early Eocene active faults (bold) and sequence T10 rift-fill (shaded). Future fault locations are shown as thinner
lines
Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5 503
the underlying coarse-grained basal non-marine clastics
are undated.
The T30 sequence represents continued trans-
gression which resulted in deposition of a laterally
extensive carbonate shelf over most of the East Java
Sea Basin. The top of this carbonate is dated as Late
Eocene (intra-P15). This is recognized by a gamma ray
maximum and is interpreted as a marine flooding
surface.
Continued transgression led to deposition of
hemipelagic shales (sequence T34, Figure 8) and
calcareous mudstones (sequence T36) into the Early
Oligocene.
Intra-Oligocene unconformity and Upper
Oligocene to lowermost Miocene (T40 sequence).
An unconformity of intra-Oligocene age is recognized
in the central part of the East Java Sea Basin. Outer
neritic to bathyal limestones and mudrocks (T40
sequence) occur immediately above this unconformity
and overlie bathyal mudrocks of Early Oligocene or
Late Eocene age in well sections. The sediments
beneath the unconformity are locally as old as P16.
The oldest sediments overlying the unconformity are
interpreted to be upper P20 or P21 (Figure 5).
The unconformity can be identified in most
wells which penetrate below the Upper Oligocene.
Channelling is interpreted at the unconformity on
seismic data and locally there is geometrical evidence
in the Southern Basin (Figure 1) demonstrating mild
intra-basinal contractional deformation prior to its
development. Most of the East Java Sea Basin was not
affected by this localized contraction; typically there is
structural concordance or parallelism of bedding above
or below the unconformity.
There was clearly a relative sea-level fall which
affected the central East Java Sea Basin during the
Oligocene, and this is also suggested from well data in
the region of Madura Island (Figure 1), where coarse
117E 11F
i,.~ J
. of - ~
/--'" 7
l
I
\.
Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden

Figure 7 Distribution of Middle to lowermost Upper Eocene sediments (sequences T25 to T30) and contemporaneous faults (bold).
Darker tone indicates areas of maximum preserved thickness

clastic sediments of Oligocene age occur interbedded
with deep water mudrocks. A major shift in facies is
seen from well data in the region to the north of the
Kangean PSC. Here, platform and reefal carbonates
unconformably overlie bathyal mudrocks in well
NSA-1D (refer to Figure 8 for location).
The Upper Oligocene and lowermost Miocene
sedimentary fill is dominated by parallel-bedded deep
water calcareous mudrocks and limestones. The
uppermost carbonate within this sequence is a regional
marker of earliest Miocene (N4-NS) age ('Prupuh
limestone'). This clean limestone contains a rich
foraminiferal assemblage with a high percentage of
pelagic forams and defines the top of the T40 sequence.
The Prupuh limestone is interpreted to have been
deposited during a marine flooding event.
The megasequence boundary is placed at the top
of the Prupuh limestone because basin inversion is
interpreted to have been initiated on a regional scale
near to the end of Prupuh limestone deposition. This is
shown by onlap of younger strata onto the Prupuh
limestone, which was folded into gentle anticlines in
many of the Palaeogene sub-basin depocentres.
Earlier contractional deformation, which is
recognized locally within the Southern Basin,
occurred prior to development of the intra-Oligocene
unconformity (the alternative candidate for definition
of the top of megasequence 2). This intra-Oligocene
stratigraphic break is not the preferred megasequence
boundary because its typical structural expression, in
most areas of the East Java Sea Basin, is concordant
with strata above and below the unconformity surface.
This suggests that an intra-Oligocene eustatic lowstand,
and/or regional uplift, generated this unconformity

Figure 8 Upper Eocene (sequence T34) thickness variations (darker tones indicate areas of maximum preserved thickness) and
location of contemporaneous faults (bold)

504 M a r i n e a n d P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g y 1995 V o l u m e 12 N u m b e r 5
 TWT (msecs)
(J1 .j>. IN !')
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 Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden
over the bulk of the basin. In parts of the Southern
Basin the intra-Oligocene unconformity is interpreted
to result from the combined effect of localized
contractional deformation and a regional drop in
relative sea level.
Lower Miocene to Holocene megasequence
Lower to Middle Miocene (T50- T55 sequences).
Lower to Middle Miocene prograding and coarsening
upwards units were deposited on the platforms, with
clastic sediments dominant in the west of the basin and
carbonates in the east (Figure 9). A progradational
carbonate system exists on the Northern Platform in
the Kangean area; this wedge is thickest at the shelf
break and thins into the basin axes. The lower Middle
Miocene (N9-N14) consists of cycles of progradation
and aggradation. Wells demonstrate a succession
consisting entirely of carbonate and calcareous
mudrocks. This is interpreted as highstand deposition
following the Early Miocene transgression (maximum
flood) during which the deep water limestones of
the Prupuh Formation were deposited. The Rancak
Limestone ( N 1 0 - N l l ) (Figure 4) contains a deep shelf
to bathyal fauna at this location, and is interpreted to
have been deposited during a further transgression.
In the west of the East Java Sea Basin and onshore
East Java, the first Neogene sand input is dated as
Early Miocene. Sand content increases upwards
to a maximum in the Ngrayong Formation (N9-N11)
(Figure 5). In the Madura area (Figure 1), uppermost
Lower to Middle Miocene clastic sediments crop out,
with each clastic cycle being capped by carbonate. The
southern limit of shallow marine to coastal plain
environments coincide with the Kujung Fault (Figure
9). To the south of this the Lower to Middle Miocene
is a basinal facies comprising thick mudrocks, thin
siliciclastic turbidites, carbonate mudrocks and pelagic
limestones.
Clastic sedimentation on platforms north of the
Kujung Fault is interpreted as highstand deposition
equivalent to the carbonate progradation in the eastern
platform areas. The sand content decreases to the east,
away from the source of clastic supply. The minor
carbonates which cap the clastic cycles on Madura
Island may record transgressions.
Figure 9 Lower Miocene facies distribution
Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5 505
Upper Middle Miocene to Lower Pliocene
(T60-T65 sequences). In the late Middle Miocene to
earliest Pliocene (N15-N19), a monotonous mudrock
and calcareous mudrock succession was deposited over
much of the East Java Sea Basin (Figure 10). Reefal
carbonates developed around subaerial inverted highs.
In the basinal areas, pelagic carbonates and calcareous
mudrocks produced globigerinid grainstones on sub-
marine highs. Coarser siliciclastics were deposited at
the top of this package (Figure 10); these sandstones
were the first to be deposited in the eastern part of the
East Java Sea Basin since the Eocene. In the western
part of the basin, Lower Pliocene deep water sands
were deposited in the Madura sub-basin (Figure 1).
Lower Pliocene to Recent (T70 and younger
sequences). The uppermost part of the Neogene
stratigraphy was controlled by rapid relative sea-level
changes. Shelf and slope areas show cycles of
progradation of carbonate and clastic sediments,
erosional truncation, massive channelling, slope failure
(slumping) and passive onlap.
Structural observations from seismic data
A vertically exaggerated regional seismic line (Foldout
1) from the Northern Basins to the north of the island
of Lombok (just to the north of the volcanic arc, Figure
1), displays many of the cross-sectional features
observed along the length of the East Java Sea Basin.
A line drawing interpretation of part of this line,
and a true-scale depth conversion, are illustrated in
Foldout 2.
The southernmost part of the line shows the northern
submarine flank of the volcanic island of Lombok. This
is located immediately to the south of two small
asymmetric basins which show evidence of translation
towards the north, based on the asymmetry of thrust-
related folds (Foldout 1). Sea-bed elevation shows that
the deformation is active at the present day, and
suggests that the volcanic arc is currently experiencing
relative northward motion.
The southernmost part of the Southern Basin
(shot points 5500 to 4000) displays net extensional
geometries at depth, with no evidence of inversion. The
Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden
112E 11;E
0 25 50 km
I I I I
Bathyal
6"S
:i c~ ~'~__
112E
Figure 10 Lower Pliocene facies distribution
southernmost clearly inverted Palaeogene basin is
located between shot points 4000 and 2750 (northern
part of the Southern Basin), where reverse reactivation
of fault movement along the northern bounding fault
to the Southern Basin has caused elevation of the
Palaeogene half-graben depocentre (refer also to
Foldout 3 and Figure 1l). Note that intra-half-graben
extensional faults have been uplifted passively during
inversion or show geometrical evidence for only minor
reverse reactivation.
A Palaeogene intrabasin horst is interpreted to con-
trol the inversion geometry. The northern bounding
fault to the Southern Basin forms the southern
boundary to this horst, whereas the Sepanjang Fault
forms the northern boundary and controls the largest
magnitude uplift within the central part of the East Java
Sea Basin. The Palaeogene sediments in the hanging
wall to the Sepanjang Fault have been uplifted by up to
3 km at various locations (based on analysis of restored
cross-sections). Thickening of the T10 to T40 sequences
from north to south into this fault suggests a prolonged
rift, geometrical control on deposition. The clearly
defined onlap surfaces within the Neogene on the
back-limb of the main Central Basin inversion (Foldout
1) date the main pulses of Neogene uplift at this
] ~ t y Mioceneto
~ne m~u~
] Pak*eog~eto Eacfy
megaseq~
Miocene
] Besemer~to Cretaceous
mege~clU~Ce
5 10km
I
Figure 11 Line drawing interpretation of the Southern Basin seismic line illustrated in Foldout 3
506 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5
116E
EXPOSED
CARBONATE
Platform
~ Shallow I PLATFORMS
~ Carbonates Marine
Clastics
J
INCISED RIVER
location (the latest of which commenced in the Middle
Miocene, N I l - N 1 2 ) .
An inversion structure is located to the north of
the main uplift, between shot points 1500 and 750.
Thickening of the Palaeogene sequences in the hanging
walls to faults which control this uplift is clear. Detailed
seismic mapping of the underlying Cretaceous structure
has shown that the deep syncline is positioned above
two thrusts which dip to the north and south,
respectively. This syncline is therefore a thrust pop-up
with fault cut-off relationships consistent with
contractional faulting. These faults have therefore
experienced reactivation in an extensional sense during
the Palaeogene, prior to contractional reactivation in
the Neogene.
Structural and stratigraphic interpretation
Cretaceous
Upper Cretaceous clastic sediments were deposited in a
marine environment on a previously deformed and
metamorphosed basement. This Upper Cretaceous
megasequence was deformed during a compressional
or transpressional event prior to erosional truncation
and deposition of Eocene clastic sediments. The precise
 Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden
timing and duration of this latest Cretaceous and/or
earliest Tertiary deformation event is not known;
dating of Upper Cretaceous sediments to stage level
has not yet been achieved. The large amplitude/
wavelength folds and thrusts observed on seismic data
within the Cretaceous sedimentary package and under-
lying basement were formed during this time.
Palaeogene to Early Miocene
Fault timing, map-view geometry and cross-
sectional evolution. The initial Tertiary extensional
pulses occurred during the Early Eocene (during or
before P9), and net-extensional displacement on major
faults occurred from then until the Oligocene. The
progressive development of this Palaeogene rift system
in map-view is illustrated by the distribution of
preserved sediments in Figures 6-8.
The major fault zones which were active during
Palaeogene sedimentation (Figures 6-8) are aligned
along east-west, E N E - W S W and N W - S E trends.
The most laterally persistent of these is the Sepanjang
Fault, which defines the southern limit of the Central
Basin. This fault zone is characterized by a consistent
northerly dip and by the progressive reduction in
net-extensional displacement along-strike to lateral
tips. Palaeogene depocentres are located consistently
within the hanging wall, to the north of the fault.
Several major faults are located to the north of the
Sepanjang Fault, the largest of these being the Sakala
Fault (Figures 6-8) which dips steeply to the south
within the Kangean PSC. These faults controlled
Palaeogene thickness variations from hanging wall to
footwall. The eastern lateral tip of the Sakala Fault is
complex geometrically. There was no hard linkage
between the Sakala Fault and faults to the east
(within the Sakala Timur PSC) during Middle Eocene
extension, at which time the eastern limit of the fault
was defined by an approximately north-south trending
structural high (Figure 7). Subsequent lateral fault
propagation during the Late Eocene resulted in the
linkage of the Sakala Fault and faults to the east via a
complex transfer zone.
Faults which controlled the distribution of sequence
T10 trend mainly E N E - W S W , but there are also some
N W - S E trending faults which define oblique half-
grabens and which locally act as transfer faults. In the
area of the Southern Basin (Figure 6), the main faults
are aligned parallel to mapped Cretaceous structures,
which are also parallel to the alignment of magnetic
anomalies.
Fault-controlled subsidence during the Middle to
early Late Eocene allowed deposition of the T25 to T30
sequences to extend into the Northern Basins (Figures
1 and 7) and western East Java Sea Basin. The major
faults which controlled facies and thickness variations
during this time are orientated east-west and N W - S E .
Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene extensional
reactivation of Cretaceous thrusts is interpreted to have
occurred in the Northern Basins (Foldouts 1 and 2).
The Late Eocene was characterized by very rapid
sedimentation rates and increasing water depths
within the half-graben and graben depocentres,
suggesting rapid extension during or immediately prior
to deposition.
Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 5 507
Structural rotation prior to deposition of sequence
T34 is suggested from seismic geometries and dipmeter
data from the L 40-1 well (refer to Figure 6 for well
location). Truncation of fault blocks occurred prior to
onlap of the truncated and tilted fault block topography
by deep marine sediments.
The truncated highs locally became the site of
carbonate growth, typically in the immediate footwall
to major N W - S E trending faults, suggesting that
footwall uplift is a likely mechanism for generation
of these observed Late Eocene unconformable
relationships.
Several prominent N W - S E orientated faults (Figure
8), which show clear stratigraphic expansion in their
hanging walls during deposition of sequence T34, do
not display major thickness variations from footwall to
hanging wall for older sequences (T10-T30). These
faults cross-cut older structures, suggesting that relative
rotation of the regional extension vector may have
occurred from the Middle Eocene to the Late Eocene.
Seismic sections across the East Java Sea Basin
locally display extensional geometries very similar to
those produced in the sand-box models of McClay
(1990), suggesting that movement on non-planar fault
surfaces may have occurred, in addition to extension on
the dominant planar normal faults.
The along-strike variation in basin geometry during
deposition of the Palaeogene to Lower Miocene is
illustrated on the true-scale cross-sections of Figure 12.
The Palaeogene cross-sectional and map geometries
illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 11 and Foldouts 1, 2
and 3 can all be reconciled most simply as the result of a
dominantly dip-slip extensional structural history.
Early Miocene to Holocene inversion and regional
subsidence
Inversion timing, geometry and magnitude.
The transition from extension to contraction is
demonstrated clearly in inverted areas (e.g. Foldouts 1
and 2, shot points 750-1500 and 1750-2500) where
sediment expansion into major fault zones changed
to sediment thinning onto developing uplifts.
Non-inverted areas underwent continued regional
subsidence with no major structural-geometrical
modification. Regional contraction and uplift
commenced during the Early Miocene (N4-N5),
during or immediately post-dating deposition of the
Prupuh limestone.
The magnitude of uplift resulting from the Neogene
contraction is often less than the magnitude of
contemporaneous regional subsidence, so that some of
the compressional structures experienced burial as they
developed (Foldouts 1, 2 and 3 and Figure 11). The
main exceptions to this are the largest uplifts in the
hanging walls to major faults (e.g. Central Basin
inversion). Regional structural dip directions were
therefore reversed progressively during the Miocene,
resulting in major changes in sediment-fiU patterns.
The main pulse of contraction commenced during the
Middle Miocene (NIl/N12) in the Central Basin.
The distribution of faults which have experienced
movement reversal, and thereby controlled inversion
geometry, are illustrated in Figure 13. The cross-
sectional geometries developed during inversion
Tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. Matthews and P. J. E. Bransden

A'

) 110 15 T 215~....

g SOUTHERNBASIN SEPANJANGFAULTZONE B'

(b)
gm

o ) ,,o ,..
., ....................

? ) ,,0 5E ~o l.,~. . . . [] . . . . . . . D:-.-

Figure 12 Structural cross-sections across the East Java Sea Basin (refer to Figure 2 for locations). 'Eocene clastics' refers to
sequences T10-T28, 'Palaeogene to Early Miocene' refers to sequences T30-T40 and 'Early Miocene to Recent' refers to the T50 and
younger sequences

(Foldouts 1, 2 and 3 and Figures 11 and 12) are is evidence on some seismic data for propagation of
very similar to those produced in the sand-box models Neogene thrusts as footwall and hanging wall splays
of Buchanan and McClay (1991), suggesting that from the main fault, in addition to the reverse
inversion may have occurred by movement reversal on reactivation of the earlier formed fault zones. The ramp
both planar and non-planar (listric) faults. The largest angle (cut-off angle) of such footwall splays is often
amplitude structures occur consistently in the hanging very low so that the hanging wall effectively moves
walls to the largest displacement Palaeogene faults from ramp to flat during the inversion and a fault-bend
(Sepanjang Fault, Sakala Fault and northern bounding fold starts to form in the hanging wall.
fault to the Southern Basin, Figures 11 and 12, Foldouts Neogene inversion is most simply interpreted as
1, 2 and 3). resulting from fault movement reversal, resulting
The uplift in the hanging wall to the Sepanjang Fault in a correspondence between the main Palaeogene
has resulted in the local elevation of Palaeogene depocentres and the main Neogene uplifts. Uplift
sediments above present day sea level, and forms a geometry is therefore controlled by Palaeogene fault
continuous uplift zone which extends to the west as far geometry and linkage. All the observed Neogene
as Madura Island (Figure 1). inversion structures can be interpreted as the result of
Uplift magnitude increases from east to west, dominantly dip-slip reverse movement, with only minor
along-strike on the cross-sections of Figure 12. There strike-slip displacements (which may be related to

1;5E 116E 11~7"E

m o c k IV
o lio ~o 3o~km
I

<~
(A~|)

- /
i

~ ~-- - ---J-- I,,, ,\ .......... "I,

Iiilnoe III/lloibll ,. .,/ IIIIul

115"E

Figure 13 Distribution of faults which have experienced movement reversal during Neogene inversion. Inversion symbol is shown
in the hanging walls. Thickening of the syn-inversion sedimentary package in the footwall to the Sakala and Sepanjang Faults is
illustrated by the simplified isopach pattern (area of dark tone), with the maximum preserved thickness adjacent to the faults

508 Marine and Petroleum G e o l o g y 1995 V o l u m e 12 N u m b e r 5

 Tectono-stratigraphic d e v e l o p m e n t o f the East Java Sea Basin: S. J. M a t t h e w s a n d P. J. E. Bransden
reactivation of deeper oblique structures) necessary
to explain observed structural and stratigraphic
geometries.
Deposition during inversion. Inversion of the
Palaeogene depocentres resulted in the progressive
migration of depocentre location into areas to the north
and south of the Central Basin. Neogene depocentres
are therefore located along an axis centred on the
Southern Basin to Madura sub-basin region (Figure 1),
and to the north in the area of the Northern Platform
(Figure 1), where carbonates and calcareous mudstones
(sequences T50 and T55) prograded from the north-
west and north. This is interpreted as a highstand
depositional system following an Early Miocene
transgression.
The Lower to Middle Miocene carbonate wedges of
the Northern Platform were drowned and onlapped by
outer shelf to bathyal mudrocks of sequences T60 and
T65, which are interpreted to have been deposited
during a major transgression. These Upper Miocene
sequences were truncated by an unconformity in the
Early Pliocene. Sandstones were deposited at this time,
on the Northern Platform and in the Southern Basin.
These were the first sandstones deposited in this area
since the Eocene. They were probably sourced from
the Sunda Shield to the west and north-west following
fluvial incision during an Early Pliocene lowstand
(Figure 10).
Deposition in areas of strong sub-basin uplift
was controlled by the developing subaerial and/or
submarine topography. Some submarine highs became
the sites of globigerinid grainstone production, which
were subsequently winnowed to produce enhanced
reservoir quality.
Plio-Pleistocene relative sea-level changes and
resultant cycles of deposition and erosion have resulted
from the interaction of glacio-eustatic and structural
inversion processes.
Conclusions
The East Java Sea Basin has experienced two main
periods of pulsed fault reactivation during the
Cenozoic, in addition to the progressive development
of new fault systems. These have controlled Tertiary
basin development and deformation.
The earlier phase of reactivation occurred during the
Eocene to Early Oligocene and resulted locally in
crustal extension on previously developed Cretaceous
thrusts. Development of new planar normal faults,
which are dominant over the reactivated thrusts, also
occurred during the Palaeogene.
The younger phase of reactivation is Neogene
inversion and resulted in contractional movement on all
of the major Palaeogene faults and some Cretaceous
structures. Maximum inversion has been concentrated
in the areas of pre-existing Palaeogene depocentres.
All of the observed compressional and extensional
features can be reconciled without invoking major
Cenozoic strike-slip deformation. The observation of
Harding (1990) that structures which show a positive
flower cross-sectional geometry may be inverted
half-graben or graben is clearly applicable to much of
M a r i n e a n d P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g y 1995 V o l u m e 12 N u m b e r 5
the East Java Sea Basin. Analogue models of inversion
(Buchanan and McClay, 1991) also demonstrate the
viability of a dominantly dip-slip evolution.
The Palaeogene basin history is dominated by
extension and subsidence, rather than a combination of
subsidence and uplift which may have been expected if
substantial strike-slip motion (through propagation of a
principal displacement zone) had occurred within the
East Java Sea Basin.
The initial Eocene transgression occurred across a
low relief basement and as a result the coastline
retreat was very rapid. Clastic deposition occurred in
non-marine to marginal marine environments in rift
basins during the Early and Middle Eocene. Continued
subsidence resulted in drowning of the basin during the
Late Eocene and Oligocene.
The overlying Neogene basin-fill is dominated by a
mixed clastic and carbonate marine succession with
highstand, lowstand and transgressive systems all
recognized.
Carbonate and clastic progradation occurred during
Miocene highstands contemporaneous with inversion.
At this time, clastic progradation was limited to
the western part of the East Java Sea Basin, nearer
to the hinterland source area. During lowstands
clastic deposition became dominant as the carbonate
platforms were exposed and non-productive. Trans-
gressions resulted in the repression of coarse clastic
input, with carbonates experiencing rapid vertical
growth. At the transgressive maxima, deeper pelagic
limestones were deposited due to repression of clay
input.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Pertamina, the management of BP
Exploration, A R C O Bali North Inc., and Mobil Oil
Indonesia for permission to publish this paper. The
following staff of BP Exploration are thanked for the
numerous exciting debates on East Java Sea geology,
notably Dave Atkins, Laurie Brown, Mark Burchell,
Arnie Ferster, Jon Ford, Martyn Gravestock, Dave
Jackson (who produced the depth conversion of Figure
12), Tom Kearney (who produced the depth conversion
of Foldout 2), Gunther Newcombe, Joe Pape, Andy
Pepper, David G. Roberts, John Scott, Neil Taylor,
Mark Thompson, Trevor Witton and Toine Wonders
(who has developed the biostratigraphic interpretation).
Simon Todd is thanked for commenting on an earlier
version of this paper. Detailed reviews by Professor
Ken McClay and Dr Robert Hall assisted considerably.
The technical interpretation is that of the authors only,
and does not necessarily reflect the views of BP's
partners in the East Java Sea PSCs.
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