UJIAN AKHIR SEMESTER GEODINAMIKA 2018

PRODI TEKNIK GEOLOGI, UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA

Geodynamic Evolution and Geology Structure of Mentawai Basin and Its Relation to
Exploration of Energy Resources

Eunike Verent, 101216052

Abstract - Mentawai Basin is part of the outer Arc Ridge to the west and to the east is the fore-arc basin which is also part of the
Bengkulu Basin. Formation of outer arc ridge is due to the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate under the Eurasian Continent
which forms the accretion prisms. This research is based on the result of analysis literature about structural evolution of South
Sumatra Fore-arc Basin, especially the Mentawai and Sumatra Fault Zone, and the result of exploration that have been done in
Mentawai Fore-arc Basin. The Mentawai basin is located at 98.5 o – 101.5o BT and 0.4o – 3.7o LS. The research is combines the
Siberut Basin, Pagai and Sipora Islands to Mentawai Blok which located in a row on fore-arc basin. The purpose of this study is
to identify the geodynamic evolution, geological structure, and the impact to petroleum system elements. Schluter et al. 2002
make model of Southern Sumatra Geodynamics evolution in to four stages. The Mentawai Basin was formed during the
Paleogene period. The Mentawai Basin has complexities of structural Geology that were controlled by MFZ (Mentawai Fault
Zone) and SFZ (Sumatra Fault Zone). The backthrust fault is still active and can be serious problem of fluid loss. Therefore,
exploration in Mentawai Basin will have high risk of exploration success.

Keywords: mentawai, fore-arc basin, geodynamic evolution, geology structure, exploration

study is combining the previous research so still in

speculative in general assumption.
INTRODUCTION
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Tectonic activity in Mentawai basin is in high rate
which is give a big influence in exploration. This
The Mentawai basin is located at 98.5o – 101.5o BT
paper is discusses how the tectonic activity in
and 0.4o – 3.7o LS, and is included of one of the
Mentawai Fore-arc Basin affect the structure,
Sunda Fore-arc Basin. Tectonically, the Mentawai
sediments, and the petroleum system. This research is
Basin is part of the outer Arc Ridge to the west and to
based on the result of analysis literature about
the east is the fore-arc basin which is also part of the
structural evolution of South Sumatra Fore-arc Basin,
Bengkulu Basin.
especially the Mentawai and Sumatra Fault Zone, and
the result of exploration that have been done in
Mentawai Fore-arc Basin.
Broadly, the tectonic region of Mentawai is
controlled by one of the main faults of Sumatra, the
Mentawai Fault. This Fault is Located outside the
Sumatra offer-arc basin or on the East of Sumatra’s
Fore-arc Island. This fault is interpreted as a dextral
strike-slip and in front of it range Sumatra dextral
strike-slip fault. The pairs of this dextral strike-slip
fault create a pull-apart basin which is Mentawai
Basin. Research was conduct on Siberut Basin, Pagai,
and Sipora Islands.
The purpose of this study is to identify the
geodynamic evolution, geological structure, and the
impact to petroleum system elements. However, this Figure 1 Compilation of generalized structures of the Sunda Arc
with locations of seismic profiles (Schluter, at al 2002). Mentawai
Basin in Highlight.
 UJIAN AKHIR SEMESTER GEODINAMIKA 2018
PRODI TEKNIK GEOLOGI, UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA

Formation of outer arc ridge is due to the subduction

of the Indo-Australian Plate under the Eurasian
Continent which forms the accretion prisms.

Figure 3 Plate tectonic settings of Indonesian region and Indian

ocean at 55 Ma (Early Eocene) and 45 Ma (Middle Eocene).
During the Middle Eocene, subduction started with oblique
subduction west of Sumatra (Hall, 2012).

The tectonic activity has begun since Early Eocene

Figure 2 Index of the Sunda margin. Blue lines with labels A–E
indicate the locations of survey lines.Forearc basins: 1—Aceh, 2—
Simuelue, 3—Siberut, 4—Bengkulu, 5—Enggano, 6—Mentawai,
7—Western Java, 8—Eastern Java, 9—Lombok basins. Plate
names: SU—Sunda, CP—Capricorn, AU—Australia plates. Red
arrows indicate the direction and velocity [cm/yr] of plate motion
relative to the Sunda plate based on Ref ( Atsuhi and Ayumu,
2017).
which is the convergent subduction between Indo-
Australian Plate and Eurasian Plate. The Indo-
Australian plate subducts obliquely beneath the
Sunda plate leading to a slip partitioning into pure
thrust and strike-slip motion (figure 4). The plate
convergence rate is ∼60 mmyr−1 and orthogonal to
the subduction front near Java, which reduces to 52
mmyr−1 in the Northern Sumatra with an obliquity of
about 40◦ and becomes dominantly trans-current
north of Nicobar Island (Prawirodirdjo 2000;
Prawirodirdjo et al. 2000).

The Fore Arc Basin is formed by a pair of dextral

shear faults (Sumatra and Mentawai faults) thus
forming a pull-apart basin (figure 1). The research is
combines the Siberut Basin, Pagai and Sipora Islands
to Mentawai Blok which located in a row on fore-arc
basin (figure 2).

DISCUSSION

Geodynamic Evolution

The Mentawai Basin formed in two stages. The

history of basin formation and development can be
known by the regional evolution. To explain this
discussion we can use the plate tectonic
reconstruction models by Robert Hall, 2012 (figure
3). Figure 4 Proposed model of deformation of fore-arc area. MFZ—
Mentawai fault zone; SFZ—Sumatra fault zone (Diament, et al.
1992).
 UJIAN AKHIR SEMESTER GEODINAMIKA 2018
PRODI TEKNIK GEOLOGI, UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA

For more details, Schluter et al. 2002 make model of

Southern Sumatra Geodynamics evolution in to four
stages (figure 5). Stage one, during the Early
Cenozoic northward subduction of Indo-Australian
Australian oceanic lithosphere occurred beneath
Sunda-Java. This was associated with back arc rifting
and the development of grabens on Sumatra and Java
and created a first accretionary wedge along the
paleo-Sunda Arc and the subsiding paleo fore-arc
basin was fed by seaward prograding slope sediments
from the adjacent continental margin. Stage two,
during Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene a
subsequent subsidence of the fore-arc area. A
simultaneous onset of sea level rise started during the
upper Oligocene. The Oligocene unconformity
started with shallow water limestones merging
downslope into deep water carbonates and mudstones
and upward increasing amounts of clastic material.
Stage three, this increasing obliquity and advanced
convergence and subduction of the Indo-Australian
plate below the Eurasian margin and created
accretionary wedge II. Simultaneous subsidence of
the fore-arc basin started in the northeast of the
evolving outer arc ridge. Initial uplift, northeast
tilting and rotation of accretionary wedge I and
duplexing at depth followed by progading clastic Figure 5 model of Southern Sumatra Geodynamics evolution.
from the volcanic arc terrane. Stage four, extreme (Schluter et al. 2002).
strain-slip cleavage caused by high compression
against the backstop of accretionary wedge I as well Structure
as by the obliquity of convergence creating
backthrusts to the northeast along the border from the S. C. Singh et al. 2009 observed the seismicity and
fore-arc ridge to the forearc basin. Transpression is tectonic at NE margin of Mentawai Islands. The
the main force for the development of the Mentawai seismic reflection was acquired along northeastern
fault zone (MFZ) along the fore-arc basin. margin of Siberut-Sipora-Pagai Islands. They
identified the existence of backthrust and the push-up
ridge having a flower structure suggestive of the
presence of a strike-slip fault (figure 6). The
appearance of the backthrust, forming minor basins
named piggyback basin which is local isolated basin.
The Sumatra Accretionary Prisms consist of
monotonous imbricate structures (fold-thrust belts).
Thrust fault plane dips to the east (arcward), with a
backthrust dip to the west (trenchward) (W. N. Farida
et al, 2016).
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PRODI TEKNIK GEOLOGI, UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA
Figure 6 Interpreted seismic reflection of NW to SE of Siberut-
Sipora-Pagai island. Backthrusts are marked in red. MBT: main
backthrust, FBT: frontal backthrust, CBT: coastal backthrust (S. C.
Singh et al. 2009).
Stratigraphy and Petroleum System
The Mentawai Basin was formed during the
Paleogene period and is part of the Bengkulu Basin.
In general, the Mentawai Islands stratigraphy is
divided into two separate groups, the first record
composes Siberut P. and the second composes P.
Sipora & Pagai. Yulihanto, 2000 in Harun Satyana
Awang; 2010 has interpreted the formations that have
potential as source rock and reservoir rock (figure 7).
Figure 7 Stratigraphy of the Mentawai Fore Arc Basin (Yulihanto,
2000 in Awang Harun Satyana; 2010)
• The base rock is ultramafic rock which is
Tomu Formation.
• The source rocks are Sipora and Subeling
Formation which from marine plantonic
shale, with preservation related to upwelling
on the slope during accretionary growth.
Contain a lot of methane the assumption
refers to research that was conducted by
BGR (1999). The metamorphic zone is in a
deep part of outer high. The metamorphic
processes of the source rock affects organic
matter and the hydrocarbons that will be
formed. Geothermal gradient, the depth of
the accretion zone was beyond the
maximum temperature of oil generation.
Therefore, metagenesis processes that occur
at high temperature formed an asphalt (dead
carbon) and other gases such as methane
(dry gas). Potential reservoirs comprise
turbiditic sandstones deposited in piggyback
and trench basins
• Seals comprise intra-formational shales,
pelagic-mud drapes and carbonate rocks.
• Trap formation is related to anticlines
developed within imbricate structures that
prograde westward. The Mentawai Strike-
Slip Fault Zone can be a potential additional
trap in accretionary prisms and forearc
borders.
(Widiastuti et al., 2016).
CONCLUSIONS
The Mentawai Basin has complexities of structural
Geology that were controlled by MFZ (Mentawai
Fault Zone) and SFZ (Sumatra Fault Zone). This
tectonic evolution is start since Early Cenozoic
created accretionary prism that built with backthrust
structure and then create many minors basin. The
backthrust fault is still active and can be serious
problem of fluid loss. Therefore, exploration in
Mentawai Basin will have high risk of exploration
success.
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Geological Perspective and Implications for
Hydrocarbon Exploration.
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PRODI TEKNIK GEOLOGI, UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA

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