DAY 2 SESSION 8

GEOLOGY PAPER 12

FRACTURED BASEMENT EXPLORATION CASE STUDY IN MALAY BASIN

Mohamad B Kadir
PETRONAS Carigali Sdn Bhd, Exploration Division,
Level 10, Tower 2, PETRONAS Twin Towers,
50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Oil and gas exploration in Malay Basin started by ESSO and CONOCO in early 1970s targeting on
the clastic play.
CONOCO focused the exploration for clastic play over southern Malay Basin Concession area. Many
discoveries were made after drilling several exploration wells. In Anding, the discovery wells tested oil in
clastic Group K and L reservoir sands and the wells were TDed in the basement.
In 1978, CONOCO relinquished it acreage and the exploration effort continued by PETRONAS
Carigali Sdn Bhd (PCSB) with oil and gas discoveries were made in clastic play. By 2004, with the initiative
of Southern Malay Basin Exploration Team, PCSB drilled a new structure to the north of Anding field and
discovered oil. The new oil discovery was the first fractured basement discovery in Malaysian Basin (Figure
1).
A total of six (6) exploration/appraisal wells were drilled with the main objective is fractured
basement in Anding area. Based on the well results, the optimum well trajectory was established for exploring
in fractured basement play over southern Malay Basin (Figure 2).
Surface outcrop study also was carried out at Redang island and surrounding areas (ca. 200km NW of
Anding) to firm up the fractures trend and surface analogue for exploration drilling in fractured basement. A
consistent shear fractures trends demonstrated by FMI data from Anding wells was observed on the surface
outcrops. The existing of surface fractured basement at Redang Island is a good analogue for indepth studies
of fracture distribution and its connectivity within basement reservoir. With the comprehensive study on the
fracture distribution and connectivity within fractured basement play, optimum well trajectory to be planned
in future for exploration and production management of the hydrocarbon resource in Malay Basin (Figure 3).
Based on existing wells drilled into the basement in Anding area, new hydrocarbon trap model was
introduced. The hydrocarbon accumulation potentially trap in clastic sandstone overlying the basement and in
fractured basement as a single fluid system to be existed in Anding field.
Integrated fracture study for Anding basement is recommended in order to have a comprehensive and
integrated analysis of the distribution and effectiveness of fractures in Anding field prior to early monetization
of hydrocarbon resources in Group
L and fractured basement
reservoirs.

Figure 1. Distribution of well

drilled in Malay Basin with Pre-
Tertiary rocks penetration. Red
solid line is the boundary of
concession area in late 1970s
for exploration activities. In
northern area, all wells drilled by
ESSO and southern area, most
of the well drilled by CONOCO
and PCSB. Drilling activities by
PCSB from 2004 to 2008 in
Anding area mainly focus on
fractured basement play.

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Petroleum Geology Conference and Exhibition 2010
29-30th March, 2010 V Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

GEOLOGY PAPER 12

Figure 2. Well trajectory analysis based on FMI data and test results from the wells drilled in the fractured
basement within Anding area. Optimum well trajectory should be parallel to major faults in strike-slip fault system.
Wells B and D was deviated in NW-SE direction and intersected with NE-SW open fractures (proved by
significant flow rates). Wells A and C was deviated in NE-SW direction and intersected with NW-SE closed
fractures and very limited NE-SW open fractures (low flow rates).

138 Geological Society of Malaysia

 DAY 2 SESSION 8
GEOLOGY PAPER 12

Figure 3. Fracture distribution and conectivity observed on the metasediment and granite rocks in Redang island
and surrounding area.Top-left photo is metasediment rock along the beach in Northern part of Peninsular
Malaysia, ca. 50km west of Redang island. Most open fractures trending NNE-SSW and ENE-WSW which same
trend with Principle Stress in Malay Basin ( general trend is NE-SW). Fractured density observed 1-2 fractures/m.
NW-SE fractures trend mostlikely closed (clearly shown in bottom left photo).

March 2010 139