INDONESIA – REGIONAL SCREENING STUDY

PETROLEUM GEOLOGY & EXPLORATION POTENTIAL

SUMATRA REGION:
SOUTH SUMATRA BASIN

Prepared by:

EDY SUNARDI
FAKULTAS TEKNIK GEOLOGI
UNIVERSITAS PADJADJARAN

MAY 2017

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

1. Introduction, South Sumatra Basin Overview

The 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 (Figure.1). 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 subbasins - the Jambi
graben, the central Palembang graben, and the South Palembang or Lematang graben.
The South Sumatra basin statistic is summarized as follows:
 Basin Type: Back Arc/or Foreland
 Basin Age: Eocene-Oligocene to Recent
 Geographic parameters mainly onshore, coastal strip in the northeast rising to the
Barisan Mountain range in the southwest. The southeastern boundary is defined
by the lampung High, an arch paralleling the east coast. To the north, the South
Sumatra basin grades into the Central Sumatra Basin at about 1° S
 Depth to Basement: Maximum 18,000ft (5500m); Average 8,000 ft (2500m)
 Areal Extent: Maximum 200 x 150 miles (320 x 240km); Average 30,000sq miles
(75,000km2)
 Sediment Volume: approx. 48,000 cu. miles (190,000km3)
The province covers an area of approximately 117,000 km2 primarily onshore
Sumatra, Indonesia. Exploration efforts have been concentrated onshore with only a
few dry holes drilled in offshore areas (Petroconsultants, 1996). The Palembang or
Lampung High or arch separates the South Sumatra basin from the Sunda Basin of the
Northwest Java Province 3824. This high served both as a barrier to sediment
dispersal and as a sediment source terrain from Mesozoic through most of the Tertiary
(de Coster, 1974). The South and Central Sumatra Basin are divided at the Tigapuluh
Mountains. The western margin is the Plio-Pleistocene Barisan Mountains. South
Sumatra is divided into sub-basins: Jambi, North Palembang, Central Palembang,
South Palembang, and Bandar Jaya Basin. Most of the published data is from the
South Palembang sub-basin.
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. The

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

South Sumatra basin contains diverse petroleum systems, with both oil and gas being
sourced from lacustrine and fluviodeltaic terrestrial facies. 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. Reservoirs include
fractured basement granites and metamorphics, granite-wash, Oligocene–Miocene
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, although this is
not of economic significance. Although not strictly part of the South Sumatra basin
small intra-montane basins in the Barisan, 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.
Cumulative oil production has exceeded 2 BBO from an estimated original
reserve of almost 3 BBO. Original gas reserves are estimated at 22 TCF, with less
than 6 TCF produced to date. An estimated 6 to 10 TCF of gas and 0.2 to 0.5 MMB of
oil remain to be discovered in proven plays. Historically oil production dominated
with associated gas being flared.
More than 100 new field discoveries have been made in the South Sumatra
Basin since exploration began. The distribution of these discoveries over the years
from first beginnings of exploration in the basin until 1995 in ten year intervals.
Many of the old oil fields are still producing at the present time. Cumulative
production for the basin totals 2.1 BBO and 2.3 TCF gas. The Talangakar sandstone
has contributed more than 65% of this cumulative oil production in this basin. The
second largest producer are the Air Benakat Formation sandstones (15%) and the third
is the Baturaja Formation limestone (11 %).
All of the formations in the South Sumatra Basin have potential for further
hydrocarbon discoveries, but the main targets remain the Talangakar, the Baturaja and
the Air Benakat Formations. The Talangakar alone accounts for 38% of all new field
discoveries.
Continuing exploration success indicates that this semi-mature basin still
contains oil and gas fields which have not been detected by earlier exploration efforts.
Maintaining exploration success will depend on the integration of geological and
geophysical data into new exploration plays.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

2. Regional Geology

Similar to North and Central Sumatra, the structural configuration of the South
Sumatra Tertiary depocenter, a typical backarc basin between the Barisan-Gurnai
Garba Mountains and the Sunda Shelf, results from a multiphase tectonics.
A major extensional subsiding system prevailed in Oligocene-earlymost
Miocene time when the Lahat Formation was deposited in grabens or half-grabenal
features concomitant with basement-induced faulting. With a probable climax in the
Late Oligocene, these faults also controlled the deposition of the Talang Akar
Formation
Up to earlymost Miocene time when the upper marine member of this unit was
deposited. This fault system determines the first major structural orientation in the
basin, roughly north-south, but swinging from north northwest to north northeast.
Secondly, the late Early Miocene, and the Middle and Late Miocene orogenies, so
ubiquitous elsewhere in Indonesia, are of only minor importance in South Sumatra,
mostly marked by local unconformities. Faults of this period are 'Still normal, relating
to an extensional system.
Lastly, Plio-Pleistocene deformations are compressive. The large-scale
subduction process southwest of Sumatra, the related uplift of the volcano magmatic
arc (Barisan Range) and important right and left lateral wrench faulting are the
tectonic events corresponding to this orogenic period. Clearly this folding and faulting
system gives the most visible structural configuration to the basin, overprinting earlier
deformation and obliterating the older grain. The net result is large, parallel, en
echelon, synforms and positive zones trending northwest i.e., parallel to the Barisan
Range (so called Sumatra direction),

2.1 Major Structural Elements

The two principal episodes of active tectonism, Paleogene rifting and Pliocene
oblique compression, dominate the structural framework of the South Sumatra Basin.
The interaction of major structural systems and the intervening basinal sag produced
two depocenters, the Palembang and Jambi Subbasins. These are surrounded by
numerous other structural provinces (Figure.6), as described below:

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Lampung High
The Lampung High is located in the easternmost part of Sumatra between
Palembang in the west and the Sunda Strait to the east. Wells in this area reached
basement on two independent horst blocks, the Seri Tanjung High and the Sukadana
High. Basement on the Sukadana uplift was found at a depth of 743 m, underlying
very thin Talangakar and Lahat Formations. In contrast, this basement high is
delimited to the south-and west by half grabens apparently filled with sedimentary
sequences of Talangakar and Lahat up to 3000 m thick.
The major depressions on the southern flank of the Lampung High are the
Negarabatin, West Kotabumi, Kotabumi and Bandarjaya Subbasins.
Geochemical analyses of drill cuttings from this area indicate the presence of
excellent source rocks in the thick Talangakar Formation and Lahat Formation
deposits. These strata, however, appear to be immature for hydrocarbon generation.

South Palembang Subbasin

Located on the southwestern fringe of the South Sumatra Basin, the South
Palembang Subbasin is wedged between the Barisan Range and the Central
Palembang Basin. This area is commonly subdivided into three distinct components:

Meraksa-Kuang High
This is the highest area within the South Palembang Basin and is comprised of
nearly rectangular blocks of fragmented basement bounded by faults which are
oriented northeast and west-northwest. The individual components are the Riang
Bandung Block furthest to the east, the Kepayang Graben in the southwest, the Ogan
Block to the northwest, and the Ogan Low furthest to the north.
This part of the basin progressively deepens from the southeast to the
northwest, with Tertiary sediments reaching a maximum thickness of over 2200 m in
the grabens.
Present day structures consist of drape over basement highs and Plio-
Pleistocene compressive folds. These form potential traps for oil and gas, along with
reefal buildups in the Baturaja Formation and pinchout plays in the Talangakar
Formation, they offer attractive exploration targets.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Lematang Depression (Muara-Enim Deep)
This area is delimited to the north by the Lematang Fault and to the southwest
by the Gumai Mountains. Basement rises continuously southwestward from the
Lematang Fault, where sediments reach a maximum thickness of 4500 m.
During Oligocene to Early Miocene time this area consisted of a stable
platform which disintegrated towards the end of the Early Miocene. To the southeast
of tile Musi-Kikim Platform (the remnant of the Oligocene "mega-platform") the
Muara Enim Deep formed as a depocenter mainly in post Baturaja time (after NN2).
The folds of the Muara Enim Anticlinorium are asymmetrical and overthrusted to the
north. There is also evidence of disharmonic folding due to flowage of the
incompetent Gumai Shales.
The Musi-Kikim Platform is delimited to the northwest by the Klingi Fault.
Beyond the fault, the Linggau Deep andihe Klingi Low form two essentially
northwest-southeast trending localized troughs which are separated by the Klingi
High. Hydrocarbon accumulations could occur in this area within Baturaja carbonates
and in younger sediments draping over the basement highs. In the Klingi Deep, the
Talangakar Formation could be a worthwhile drilling target. On the Musi-Kikim
Platform further to the southeast, exploration targets could include Baturaja reefal
facies that may develop over basement highs.
In the Muara Enim Deep, both Talangakar and Baturaja formations are
possible exploration targets. Energy Equity Co. Ltd. Have scheduled Singa-1 for
drilling in early 1997to test an interpreted carbonate buildup in the Baturaja
Formation at a depth of approximately 3,600 metres.

Pendopo-Limau Anticlinorium
This feature consists of two parallel anticlines, limited to the southwest by the
reverse Lematang Fault. The anticlinorium is eroded down to the basement on the
Bukit Pendopo High, where it is offset by transversefaillting oriented to the northeast.
The tectonic deformation of Tertiary sediments is competent except in the
Limau Graben, where a thick sequence of Gumai Shale was deposited. Total Tertiary
sediment thickness in this depocenter is 3,500 m and includes thick Talangakar and
Lahat formations. Sandstones of the Talangakar Formation are the main targets in the
Limau Graben area. Most of the four-way-dip closures have now been drilled, and

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

remaining potential is attributed to stratigraphic plays and extension of existing
discoveries.

Central Palembang Subbasin

This subbasin exhibits the thickest Tertiary sediment section in all of the South
Sumatra Basin. Sediment thickness in the central part exceeds 4,200 m at Jelapang-1,
and seismic data show more than 6,000 meters. The Central Palembang Subbasin
contains sediments at least as old as Late Oligocene (NP25 biozone, equivalent to the
Talangakar Formation), although no Lemat/Lahat sediments have yet been positively
identified. Large NW-SE trending anticlines deform the basin fill, with sediments are
as old as Gumai and Air Benakat Formations exposed on the anticlinal crests. No
significant discoveries have been made in this subbasin to date. Where penetrated, the
Talangakar Formation is thin or exhibits poor reservoir development, and sandstones
may shale out completely further toward the basin depocenter. Oil has been tested at
low rates from carbonate rocks of NN2 age (Baturaja Formation equivalent) at
Tembesi Bay-1, and production has been established from siliciclastic reservoirs of
NN4 age (Air Benakat Formation equivalent) in the Meruap Field. The shallowest oil
production was established from depths generally less than 500 m at Belani Field in
the early 1900s.
All major structural closures known at the Gumai and Air Benakat level have
now been tested. Remaining potential includes possible sub-Gumai Formation
reservoirs and stratigraphically trapped accumulations in Baturaja equivalent
carbonates and the Gumai/Air Benakat sandstones.

North Palembang Anticlinorium

Similar to the South Palembang Basin, the North Palembang Basin exhibits a
relatively thin Oligocene to Early Miocene section indicating that this area must have
been quite stable during that time. Significant Middle and Upper Miocene sediments
were deposited, however, and these were subsequently folded during the Plio-
Pleistocene orogeny. Structures resulting from this compressional tectonism are
elongated, gently sloping asymmetrical anticlines that are often associated with
reverse faults.
Numerous northeast-southwest trending faults traverse these anticlines. Many
of the resulting structures are now eroded down to the Air Benakat Formation. The

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

North Palembang Anticlinorium is subdivided into four individual regions separated
by minor faults and depressions:
 The Palembang Nose, or lliran High, is the southernmost of the subunits.
Basement crops out in the Air Batu area of this feature.
 The Tamiang High is situated further to the northwest, where basement is
encountered at about 1000 m in the Kluang Field.
 The North Palembang High, located even further to the northwest, is an elongated
northwest-southeast trending ridge bounded on its flanks by reverse faults.
 The Sembilang High is the northernmost sub-unit, a flat, platform like basement
high.
Air Benakat Formation sandstones in Plio-Pleistocene compressional
anticlines constitute the main exploration objective in this area, although most of
these structures may have already been drilled. Other targets include Talangakar
Formation sandstones which onlap and drape over the basement high. Reefal facies of
the Baturaja carbonate are an attractive target in the Corridor Block, where oil and gas
have been discovered in five separate buildups.

Jambi Subbasin
The Jambi Subbasin is oriented perpendicular to the others, and it is aligned
more closely with the pre-Tertiary structural grain. It connects with the Central
Palembang Subbasin in the south and gently rises onto the Lupak High in the north.
The Jambi Subbasin is oriented in a northeasterly direction and can be subdivided into
several parallel depressions separated by basement highs.
Three of these uplifts that are well documented are the Sengeti-Setiti High
furthest to the northwest, the Ketaling High in the center, and the Merang High on the
Southeastern flank. Further to the southeast, the basin rises gently up and is bounded
by the Sembilan High of the North Palembang Anticlinorium. The northwestern
boundary is formed by the abrupt Tembesi-Setiti normal fault. Like most faults in the
area, the Tembesi-Setiti Fault controlled the deposition of the Talangakar Formation
in the early Tertiary and was rejuvenated during the Plio-Pleistocene.
Jambi structures associated with older pre-Tertiary trends are characterized by
draping over basement tilted fault blocks and horst blocks. Younger Plio-Pleistocene
folds provide additional closure and are oriented perpendicular to the old trend in a
northwesterly direction. These are associated with reverse faults along strike and with

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

normal faults oriented perpendicular to this trend. Areas with thick Gumai Shale
development are prone to bulging due to inversion and incompetent behavior of the
shales, forming features described from the Central Sumatra Basin as Sunda Folds.
The Air Benakat Formation has been extensively explored in the past, and
major new hydrocarbon accumulations will be difficult to find in this unit. Remaining
exploration potential may exist, however, in stratigraphically controlled traps. The
Talangakar Formation sandstones are frequently absent over the highs, resulting in
potential for finding stratigraphically trapped hydrocarbons on the flanks of major
structures.
Another exploration target is the Baturaja Limestone, which could be
hydrocarbon charged from sources in the organic rich Talangakar and Lahat shales.
Baturaja carbonates are particularly thick when developed above basement highs in
the center of the Jambi Subbasin.

Tebo Subbasin
The Tebo Subbasin lies between the basement outcrops of the Tigapuluh
Mountains and the Duabelas Mountains. It is a relatively shallow basin with Tertiary
sediments not exceeding 2000 m in thickness. The main structural features of this
basin are northwest-southeast trending faults of Plio-Pleistocene age.
The exploration potential of this area is considered low, as the Talangakar
Formation sandstones are thin, the Baturaja Formation carbonates are poorly
developed, and the Air Benakat Formation sands exhibit poor reservoir quality.
Drilling results to date also indicate that the source rock qualities are marginal.

Tungkal Subbasin
As the northernmost subbasin within the South Sumatra Basin, the Tungkal
Subbasin abuts the Jambi Subbasin on the eastern side at an extension of the Tembesi
Setiti Fault. The southern limit is the reverse fault bordering the Tigapuluh
Mountains. Three individual pre-Tertiary depressions are recognized where sediments
in excess of 3000 m have been deposited: the Retih Low, the Tungkal Deep and the
Betara Deep.
Exploration targets include basement highs bounded by reverse faults, with
onlapping and draping Talangakar Formation sandstones being the primary objective
and Air Benakat Formation sandstones the secondary objective. The area also has

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

potential for prospective carbonate buildups in the Baturaja Formation. While many
of the prospective structures have already been drilled, yielding only oil and gas
shows, large areas remain unexplored.
Geochemical analysis on samples indicates that the source rock is oil prone
and immature or just early mature. Basin modelling, however, shows the potential for
significant hydrocarbon generation in deeper areas as yet undrilled. Substantial
hydrocarbon accumulations may yet be found as this subbasin undergoes another
round of exploration.

Muaradua Basin
This intramontaine or intra-arc basin is now separated from the South Sumatra
Basin due to uplift and erosion of the Barisan Range. It is located between the Garba
Mountains and Ranau Lake.
Lithologies throughout the Tertiary section are almost identical to those in the
South Sumatra Basin. Reservoir quality rocks can be found in the Talangakar
Formation sandstones and reefal facies of the Baturaja Formation limestone.
Structural traps may occur in the form of drape over volcanic intrusions or in younger
Plio-Pleistocene four-way dip. closures. The exploration potential of this area may be
significant, and no wells have yet been drilled.

2.2 Tectonic Development

Syn-rift (late Cretaceous–late Oligocene)
Rifting is considered to have commenced as early as the late Cretaceous and
continued through to the late Oligocene. North–south normal faults and a northwest–
southeast oriented horst and graben developed in response to tensional shear as
subduction slowed at the Sunda trench.
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 overmature source facies, which include
lacustrine 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.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Sag (late Oligocene–early 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 gasprone type III terrestrial kerogen 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. Bulk reservoir
properties are highly variable but often good (e.g., Ramba, Rawa and Suban with
average permeabilities in the 500–750 mD range).
These buildups are thought to have developed as low-relief, low-energy,
carbonate-mud-dominated banks in a restricted seaway.
The Gumai shales were developed offbank 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.

Uplift (middle–late Miocene)

During the middle Miocene there was an increase in subduction rates that led
to major compression. This was manifested by the Barisan Mountain uplift, activation
of the Great Sumatra fault and the formation of traps, which are mainly anticlines and
faulted anticlines. A regressive phase of deposition commenced with the
shallowmarine to deltaic Air Benakat and Muara Enim formations that are the main
reservoirs in the Jambi area (e.g., the original Jambi discoveries such as Kenali-Asam,
Tempino, Bajubang, Panerokan, and the more recent North Geregai oil field).

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

 Petroleum generation and expulsion may have started in the early middle
Miocene and was well underway by the late Miocene.
This would suggest that a significant amount of hydrocarbons leaked-off just
prior to the main middle to late Miocene period of structural development.

Uplift (Pliocene–Pleistocene)
Compression continued, and thick volcanics and volcaniclastics were
deposited as the main period of volcanic arc development. This appears to have been
accompanied by a significant increase in heat flow, recorded in the Sunda Strait area
by apatite fission track analysis, which promoted the main phase of hydrocarbon
generation and migration.

2.3 Stratigraphy
A chronostratigraphic scheme, employed to overcome the limitations of the
different lithostratigraphic nomenclature used by different oil companies in the South
Sumatra Basin.

Pre- and Early Tertiary Basement

The complex intercalation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
which forms the basement to the South Sumatra basin has been simplified into a
number of NW-SE basement slices each of variable composition and age. The oldest,
least deformed basement, considered part of the Malacca Microplate. Further south lie
the heavily deformed remains of the Mergui Microplate, possibly representing a
weaker continental fragment.
The Malacca and Mergui Microplates are separated by the Mutus assemblage,
deformed fragments of material acquired during northerly transport and collision.
Heavily deformed granite, volcanic and metamorphic rock (of late Cretaceous and
Tertiary age) underlies the remainder of the South Sumatra Basin.
This basement morphology is believed to have influenced the Eo-Oligocene
rift morphology, location and extent of Plio-Pleistocene inversion/strike-slip, local
high carbon dioxide content in hydrocarbon gas, and the extent of fractures in
basement.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Late Eocene to Middle Oligocene (Lemat/Lahat Formations)
Deposition in the South Sumatra Basin commenced during the Eocene to early
Oligocene (De Coster, 1974). Drilled sections consist of a tuffaceous, coarse clastic
sequence or granite wash (the Kikim Member) conformably overlain by shale,
siltstone, sandstone, and coal deposited in lacustrine and marginal lacustrine
environments (the Benakat Member).
The section is thin or absent at the graben margins and on intra-graben highs
and up to 1000m thick in the South and Central Palembang sub-basins. Owing to the
very limited number of penetrations of the Lahat/Lemat Formations, the
palaeogeographic map for this interval is considered speculative.

Late Oligocene to Earliest Miocene (Talang Akar Formation)

During the late syn-rift to early post-rift thermal sag phase of tectonic
evolution of the South Sumatra Basin, widespread fluviatile and deltaic deposition
occurred across the basin. A trend from "proximal" sand-rich braid-plain to "distal"
sand-poor meander belt and overbank sediments coincided with progressively more
marginal marine and marine influences on sedimentation as subsidence continued.
The section is often very thick in the basin centres and pinches out onto intra-
basinal highs and at the basin margins.
In the earliest Miocene, fluviatile conditions were replaced by deltaic,
marginal marine and shallow to deep marine conditions over much of the South
Sumatra Basin by a pronounced transgressive event.

Early Miocene (Batu Raja Formation)

Marine transgression continued in the Early Miocene with deeper marine shale
deposition over the graben areas, and shallow marine conditions over intrabasinal
highs and much of the eastern side of the basin. Carbonate production flourished at
this time and resulted in the deposition of limestones both on the platforms at the
margins of the basin, and as reefs on subtle intra-basinal highs. High quality carbonate
reservoirs are corrlmon in the south of the basin, but are rarer in the Jambi sub-basin
to the north. This is due to increased sediment input northwards and more pronounced
exposure of bioherms enhancing secondary porosity to the south and east.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Early to Middle Miocene (Gumai Formation)
Continuing marine transgression during the latter part of the Early Miocene
resulted in the deposition of marine shales, siltstones and sandstones with rare
carbonate deposition over the crests of basement highs. During the peak of the
transgression, deposition of open marine, glauconitic Gumai shales dominated the
whole basin creating the most widespread regional seal.
Later, progradation of deltaic sediments across the basin occurred and
transitional and then shallow marine sediments gradually replaced open marine
shales.
Platform areas to the east and north-east dominated sediment input, although
by this time some volcaniclastic sediment was being sourced from isolated exposed
volcanic islands to the west.

Middle Miocene (Air Benakat Formation)

The deep marine conditions prevalent in the latest Early Miocene were
gradually replaced by shallower marine and then marginal marine conditions as a
result of continued sediment input from the margins of the basin. With a few
exceptions at the basin centre, high-quality shallow marine reservoir sandstones of
Middle Miocene age are widespread over the South Sumatra Basin. At the basin
margins, marginal marine to coastal plain conditions prevailed.
As a result of the igneous activity in the Barisan Mountains, many of these
sandstones have significant volcaniclastic content. This is especially true in the west,
where reservoir quality is severely degraded.

Late Miocene (Muara Enim Formation)

The Late Miocene sediments within the South Sumatra Basin record a period
of increased volcanism and the emergence of the Barisan Mountains, to the west, as
the major source of sedimentary input into the basin. In the majority of wells, fluvial
deltaic and coastal swamp sediments form the majority of the Muara Enim interval,
with no evidence for any regionally extensive marine shale seals.

Pliocene - Pleistocene (Kasai Formation)

During the Pliocene, major volcanism in the Barisan Mountains led to further
increases in volcaniclastic component and further regression resulted in continental

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

conditions being established over all of, South Sumatra. The sediments ate tuffs,
continental claystones and volcaniclastic sandstones. Sedimentation had become
patchy by Pleistocene times, with rapid uplift and erosion over inversion featues
coinciding with further deposition between folds to produce the current structural
morphology.

3. Petroleum System

Numerous oil and gas seeps occur in South Sumatra in the foothills of the
Gumai and Barisan mountains and are associated with anticlines. The largest fields,
however, are not associated with seeps in South Sumatra and there are no seeps
associated with fields in the adjacent and prolific Central Sumatra Basin. However,
the occurrence of seeps promoted interest and early exploration for hydrocarbons
throughout Sumatra.
Petroleum exploration in South Sumatra has been primarily guided by surface
anticlines, sometimes found by digging trenches to map dips. Therefore the early
distribution of fields follows the trend of the anticlines. The same compression that
formed the inverted rift-basin anticlines reversed the motion of many normal faults
resulting in monoclines and anticlines over keystone type fault. These structures, as
well as stratigraphic pinchouts and onlaps trapped hydrocarbons that migrated from
mature source rocks in adjacent lows. The earliest fields were discovered in shallow
Air Benakat and Muara Enim reservoirs and located near the Gumai and Barisan
mountain fronts. Later discoveries occurred further away from the mountains in older
and deeper reservoirs.
Fields in the carbonate reservoirs of the Oligocene to Miocene Batu Raja
Limestone are also aligned generally northwest to southeast since these buildups are
located on basement highs or fault-block relief associated with the rifted basins.
Much of the oil in the basin is paraffinic and low in sulfur content
(Petroconsultants, 1996). Both lacustrine and terrigenous facies on the margins of
lacustrine environments have been interpreted as sources for the oils in the South
Sumatra Basin. An additional carbonate source rock is suggested by one oil sample.
Gravity of oil and condensate produced from sandstone reservoirs is reported to range

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

from 21-55° API with gas to oil ratios (GOR) ranging from less than one hundred to
more than 55,000 (Petroconsultants, 1996). CO 2 content of the natural gas can be as
much as 90 % (Courteney and others, 1990).
Batu Raja Limestone reservoirs contain oils and condensates with gravity from
27-58° API and GOR ranging from approximately 200 to more than 88,000
(Petroconsultants, 1996). Oil gravity, from more than 30 Talang Akar sandstone
reservoirs in the Raja Field alone, ranges from 15° to 40° API (Hutapea, 1981).
Oils analyzed by GeoMark from the South Sumatra Basin are plotted with oils
from the Northwest Java area. Oil samples from the adjoining Northwest Java Basin
Province separate into two geochemical clusters, 1) lacustrine, 2) coaly and mixed
regions, that agree with the literature on the origins of oils in this region. By
comparison, South Sumatra Basin oil samples show data points transitional between
the terrestrial coal/coaly shale and lacustrine clusters of Northwest Java.
Hydrocarbon migration occured along carrier beds updip from the deep rift
basins, where the source rocks are mature, and then along faults to overlying
anticlines that form the majority of traps. Migration may have begun in late middle
Miocene in the South Palembang sub-basin. Fault breaches in the Gumai Formation
regional seal, allowed hydrocarbons to migrate into middle and late Miocene
reservoirs (Figure.14-Figure.18).

Reservoirs
The South Sumatra Basin is one of the most prolific hydrocarbon bearing
basins in Indonesia. Approximately 120 field discoveries have been made since the
first wells were drilled by the Dutch in the late 1800's. Oil and gas occur in almost all
formations, including crystalline and metasedimentary Basement, the Lahat
Formation, the Talangakar Formation, the Baturaja Formation, the Telisa/Gumai
Formation, the Air Benakat Formation and the Muara Enim Formation. The majority
of the hydrocarbon reserves, however, have been found in the Talangakar and the
Baturaja formations.

Pre-Tertiary Basement
Numerous shows of oil and gas occur in pre-Tertiary basement throughout the
South Sumatra Basin. Associated basement lithologies include granite,
metasediments, volcanics, limestone and marble.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

 Asamera Oil is currently developing a large gas accumulation at Dayung
Field, which was discovered in 1991. Reservoirs consist of pre-Tertiary limestones as
well as in-situ granite and overlying granite wash sandstone. The granite varies from
altered to fresh, and extensive natural fracturing enhances the reservoir quality.
Core calibrated, log derived porosities at Dayung average 12%. Permeabilities from
unfractured cores average 100-500 millidarcies, but production tests reveal
permeabilities of 2-3 darcys in fracture zones.
Flow rates typically exceed 25 MMCFD on restricted chokes. Calculated AOF
estimates often exceed 100 MMCFD. Dayung Field had been delineated with five
productive wells and one dry hole. Development drilling will start in 1996. More
recent basement gas discoveries, as yet not fully delineated, have been made nearby at
Sumpal (1994) and Bungkal (1996).

Sandstones of the Lahat and Lemat Formations

The Lahat sediments are the oldest Tertiary reservoirs in the South Sumatra
Basin. They accumulated as fluvial to lacustrine deposits filling preexisting graben
structures. The coarse clastic component primarily consists of poorly sorted,
moderately well rounded, polymictic conglomerates and well cemented, poorly sorted
quartz sandstones. A highly oxidized, red-brown cement and abundant tuffaceous
beds characterize this facies. Reservoir potential is low, with porosities generally less
than 8%.

Sandstones of the Talangakar Formation

The Talangakar Formation consists largely of continental and marginal marine
facies. Sandstones in the lower Talangakar represent alluvial fan and fluvial
deposits,with poorly sorted and coarse quartz grains. The upper part the Talangakar
Formation contains deltaic, shallow marine, and beach deposits. These are texturally
much more mature, thus indicating a reduction of topography of the hinterland. Upper
Talangakar sediments are composed of fine to medium grained quartz grains, which
are better sorted, limey, sometimes shaley, and friable.
Porosities for Talangakar reservoirs range between 14% and 29% and
permeabilities vary from less than 5 to almost 3000 mD. Reservoir connectivity can
be very good, and wells with very thin pay sands (1 or 2 m) may produce in excess of
500,000 bbls of oil.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Baturaja Limestone
Carbonates of the Baturaja Formation developed as patchy banks and buildups
on isolated basement horsts and along the basin margins. Where conditions were
suitable, low relief mat reefs developed with prominent components consisting of
coral, coralline algae, and large, benthic forams.
Porosity developed druing a subsequent fall in relative sea level, when the
limestones were partially eroded and karstified. Low concentrations of chlorides in
recovered formation waters support this event of subaereal exposure and charging
with meteoric fluids.
Lateral continuity of this reservoir type is sometimes difficult to predict due to
rapid facies changes. Where reefal facies are developed, however, porosities range
between 16% and 26% and permeabilities between 33 and 3800 mD.

Sandstones of the Telisa and Gumai Formations

Marine sediments of the Telisa and Gumai formations consist predominantly
of basinal shales. A series of intercalated sandstones and limestones developed in the
lower part of this sequence, however, and these provide reservoirs in Jambi Basin
fields like Grissik and Tempino.
The sandstones are lightly gray, fine grained, calcareous, and they contain
abundant glauconite. Porosities vary between 19% and 21 %. A productive limestone
in Tempirai consists of brown to dark brown, medium to coarse grainstone that is
micritic in parts and contains with intergranular porosity in the range of 25% to 34%.

Sandstones of the Air Benakat Formation

The Air Benakat is a regressive sequence consisting of marine shales and
intercalated sands. The productive reservoir sands are fine to medium grained, sub-
angular to rounded, moderately sorted, and glauconitic. These occur mostly in the
Jambi area of the South Sumatra Basin. Porosities in Air Benakat sandstones range
from 18% to 30%, but permeabilities are typically poor due to high shale content.
Nevertheless, these can range between 10 and 3200 mD.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Muara Enim Formation
The Muara Enim consists of sandstones intercalated with carbonaceous shales
and coals. The sandstones are generally medium to coarse grained and exhibit
porosities in the order of 18% to 28%.

Seals
lntraformational shales form the seals for all hydrocarbon accumulations in the
South Sumatra Basin. These occur as concordantly overlying caprock, or the facies
may change laterally from pervious hydrocarbon bearing rock to tight limestone or
shale. Examples of lateral facies changes into seals occur in Baturaja reefal limestones
and in fluvial sandstone reservoirs of the Talangakar Formation. Many of the fields
(e.g., Bentayan), however, have common gasloil or oillwater contacts across a range
of stacked reservoirs. This is attributed both to intraformational faulting and to the
intricate depositional pattern of the sands, particularly in the Talangakar Formation,
where the individual channels may intersect to provide reservoir continuity.

Source Rocks
The predominant source areas for hydrocarbon generation on Sumatra are in
the grabens and half-grabens formed during the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary.
Most of the hydrocarbons in South Sumatra have been found within and adjacent to
these graben areas.
The most plausible source rocks for the South Sumatra Basin are the Late
Eocene to Early Oligocene (syn-rift) fluvio-deltaic, marginal marine, and locally
lacustrine and coaly facies of the LahatILemat and Talangakar Formations. These
units exhibit sufficient depth of burial for maturation, proximity to reservoired
hydrocarbons within Lemat and Talangakar sandstones, and analogy to other basins
around Indonesia where equivalent source rocks in the syn-depositional setting have
been documented.
The plotting total organic carbon (TOC) versus hydrogen index(HI), shows
that samples with excellent source potential (TOC > 3%, and HI > 300 mglg) are
mainly from the Talangakar and Baturaja Formations. A coaly facies dominated the
lithology for the Talangakar in these samples.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

 Coals in two Palembang and two Lemat samples also have excellent source
rock potential. Average TOC values are: Palembang 7.9%, Telisa 1.3%, Baturaja
7.6%, Talangakar 16.2%, and Lemat 9.7%.
The average hydrogen index values for these units are: Palembang 107, Telisa
177, Baturaja 179, Talangakar 194, and Lernat 265. Based on these criteria alone, the
Talangakar and Lemat would appear to be the most hydrocarbon-prone source rocks
within the Tertiary section. The organic richness is dominated by coaly facies for both
of these units.
Plots of pyrolysis S2 (mg HCIg rock) versus TOC and hydrogen index show
that the best source potential (TOC > 3%, HI >300, S2 > 5) occurs primarily in the
Talangakar and in the Baturaja and Lemat Formations. Several samples of the
Talangakar are very rich, approaching 100 rng HCIg rock. S2 values for each
formation average: Palembang 13.6, Telisa 2.3, Baturaja 13.7, Talangakar 97.1 , and
Lemat 36.2.

Kerogen Prone to both Oil and Gas

Kerogen typing indicates that Tertiary deposits are dominated by a Type II/III
kerogen derived from higher plant material, with minor algal, exinite, or lipnite
influence. These humic kerogens generally indicate combined oil and gas sources.
Dominant kerogen type, plotted as a function of TOC and hydrogen index, does not
indicate any differentiation between source quality and kerogen type. Type II humic
kerogen dominates all facies.
Available organic material thus favors generation of both liquid and gaseous
phase hydrocarbons. As a result, oil fields with no associated gas are relatively rare in
the South Sumatra Basin. Gas fields with no associated oil do occur, however,
particularly in the deeper parts of the basin as a result of thermal fractionation.
Carbon dioxide contaminates gas caps associated with some oil fields (e.g.,
Bentayan) and degrades the quality of many of the non-associated gas reservoirs.
Oil accumulations in the South Sumatra Basin are typically sweet, although
small amounts of hydrogen sulphide have been recognized in some of the deep Jambi
Basin gas accumulations. Nitrogen also occurs in trace amounts in both associated
and non-associated gas accumulations, and proprietary studies have found some
surface seeps to consist predominantly of nitrogen. Significant contamination with

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

nitrogen appears to be a near surface mixing phenomenon, however, that does not
affect deeper gas reservoirs.

Migration and Expulsion

The timing of oil generation was most likely governed by burial and heat flow
increases associated with late Miocene tectonism. The potential Lemat/Lahat or
Talangakar source rocks would require sufficient depth (5000-7400 feet) at that time
in order to begin hydrocarbon generation. The first migration of hydrocarbons in the
Palembang Subbasin began in the Late Middle Miocene, with early hydrocarbon
accumulations possibly being redistributed following the Plio-Pleistocene orogeny.
Both vertical and lateral migration would have happened at this time. Vertical
migration to shallow reservoirs proceeded by means of fault conduits extending
directly from the source rocks to the reservoirs. Lateral migration would have
proceeded along dip slope, charging deeper reservoirs adjacent to Lemat/Lahat and
Talangakar source rocks.

Hydrodynamics
Hydrodynamic influence on oil or gas accumulations have not been studied
extensively in the South Sumatra Basin. A preliminary evaluation of basin-wide drill
stem test data shows a broad west to east hydrodynamic flow from outcrops in the
Barisan, Tigapuluh and Guabelas mountains across coastal plain.
Hydrodynamic traps have not yet been documented, but it showed that
outcrops of potential reservoirs on topographic highs creates conditions favorable for
dynamic flow. Possible examples of hydrodynamic influence on oil-water contacts
can be seen in the Jene Field, with indicated southeasterly flow in the Baturaja, and in
the Tempino Field, with southwesterly flow in the Air Benakat.

3.1 Play Types

The first plays to be pursued in the South Sumatra Basin were structural traps.
Early exploration focused on surface mapping to identify suitable structures for
drilling. This approach worked well as long as near-surface horizons were targeted.
Gravity and seismic methods later allowed imaging of more deeply buried structures

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

that were partially or entirely concealed by the overburden. Several categories of
structural play types developed over the years in the subject area:

Compressional Structures
Compressional forces increased during Plio-Pleistocene time with acceleration
of the rate of oceanic crust subduction to the west of Sumatra. Almost all of the
present day surface structures were formed by this process.
The main alignment of these features is parallel to the spine of the Sumatran
backarc system. In the South Sumatra Basin, the resulting anticlines trend mostly
from north-northwest to south-southeast and have slope faces inclined at
approximately 15°. Principal exploration objectives for these structures include
shallow sands of the Air Benakat and Muara Enim Formations. An example of this
type of trap is the Rambutan Field, with oil reservoirs in Air Benakat sandstones. At
deeper levels, compression created additional closures along preexisting north-south
trending faults. This significantly increased the hydrocarbon potential of traps that
were initiated during Oligo-Miocene time.
Hydrocarbon traps in these young closures can be quite large, and exploration
drilling based on this play type is considered low risk. Almost all prospects in this
category were drilled long ago, however, and other play types now must be addressed.

Drape Structures
Four-way-dip closures resulting from drape over pre-existing basement fault
blocks or igneous intrusions form the second most common trapping mechanism in
the South Sumatra Basin. Other situations such as faulted drape, draping over tilted
fault blocks, and any stages transitional between these can result in closures suitable
for drilling. All these traps formed essentially as a result of sedimentation and
differential compaction in Middle and Upper Miocene time.
The main target formations for these dip closures are fluviodeltaic sandstones
in the Talangakar and, to a lesser extent, the shallower Telisa Formation. The risk
associated with this play is higher because synsedimentary tectonic activity could
result in poorer reservoir development over the structural crests. Raja, Gelam, and
Sengeti fields are examples of oil and gas accumulations in this setting.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Synsedimentary Normal Faulting
Synsedimentary normal faults (growth faults) often give a thick accumulation
of clastics on the downthrown side with strata commonly dipping into the fault. The
resultant structures occur mainly along the flanks of the pre-Tertiary grabens, and
closure may be increased by reactivation of the normal faults during Middle and
Upper Miocene time. An example of this trapping mechanism is the southeastern part
of the Panerokan Field, with oil accumulated in sandstones of the Air Benakat
Formation.

Wrench Structures
Structures induced by wrench faulting are known predominantly from the
Central Sumatra Basin. Wrench related structures have not been extensively
documeted in the South Sumatra Basin, where this tectonic phase is characterized
mainly by unconformities.
Compressional tectonism accompanied wrench faulting during late Early and
Middle Miocene time in the South Sumatra Basin, together with other components
such as drag folding, structural inversion, block tilt, shale mobilization and
disharmonic folding. The resulting structures are quite complex, and further study
may show greater influence of strike-slip movements.

Reverse Faulting and Inversion

Basin compression during Plio-Pleistocene time resulted in reverse faulting,
uplift, and inversion of structural relief in the former basinal lows. The main
directions of the reverse fault pattern in the South Sumatra Basin are northwest-
southeast and east-west. Traps are developed in faulted and folded closures on the
upthrusted sides of the faults. Examples for this mechanism include Bentayan,
Benakat, and Murai fields (Figure.25).

Combination Structural and Stratigraphic Traps

Stratigraphic plays inherently carry higher risk, and stratigraphic exploration
to date has focused largely on finding carbonates buildups in the Baturaja Formation.
Very few sandstone prospects have been deliberately drilled solely as stratigraphic
traps (Figure.18).

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

 With most of the larger four-way-dip closures already tested, future efforts
may be directed toward the potential of stratigraphic pinchout plays supported by
advanced seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation techniques. Stratigraphic
plays are increasingly important in exploration for large reserves.

Carbonate Buildups
Carbonates of the Baturaja Formation exhibit biohermal mounds and reefal
development on old basement highs and near the edges of the former shelf margins.
These carbonate buildups are expressed on seismic by a distinct thickening of the
Baturaja interval. Associated reservoirs are controlled laterally by the distribution of
porous bank facies in addition to structural closure.
Ramba Field presents an example of a Baturaja carbonate bank with abrupt
lateral facies changes. Ramba reservoirs of thick, porous bank facies on structure thin
into thin, shaly and tight facies on the flanks of the structure. Other South Sumatra
examples for carbonate buildups are the Jene and the Air Serdang Fields (shelf
margin) and the Teras Field (basement high).

Sandstone Pinchouts
Stratigraphic trapping within clastics may occur if onlap exists onto basement
highs or other deeply rooted features capped by impervious shales. Sands may pinch
out due to lateral facies changes. Examples of stratigraphic pinchouts of Talangakar
oil reservoirs occur in the Talangakar/Pendopo, Abab, Ramba, Tanjung Laban, Air
Serdang, and numerous other fields (Figure.24).
Clastics in the South Sumatra commonly consist of materials eroded from pre-
Tertiary highs and deposited in ajoining basinal lows. Depending on the lithology of
the paleo highs and distance of transport, the derivative sediments may include
sandstones of varying composition and quality. These vary from clean, quartz rich
sandstones to including volcanic arenites, course breccias, and granite wash.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

4. Exploration History

Early exploration was guided by surface seeps that were associated with
anticlines, and led to the discovery of Kampung Minyak Field in South Sumatra in
1886. This field reportedly contained reserves of 31.3 MMBOE in the deltaic Pliocene
Muara Enim Formation. Numerous surface anticlines have been mapped in South
Sumatra, generally with a northwest to southeast trend, and are more tightly folded in
the north than the south. Until 1921 the exploration target was sandstone in the Air
Benakat Formation and the deepest penetration had been the Gumai Formation (Zeliff
and others, 1985).
In 1921 Nederlandsche Koloniale Petroleum Maatschappij (NKPM), formed
by Standard of New Jersey (SONJ), discovered the Pendopo/Talang Akar Field. This
discovery in the Talang Akar Formation sandstone is the largest oil field in South
Sumatra with estimated reserves of 360 MMBOE. More recent estimates have
increased these reserves by more than 15 percent (Petroconsultants, 1996). This
discovery reportedly occurred due to communication delays, since the drillers were
being paid by the foot, they drilled ahead after reaching the target Air Benakat
Formation, not having been told to stop).
Royal Dutch Shell (BPM), Standard of New Jersey, Socony Vacuum
(Standard of New York (Mobil)), and Pertamina were all companies involved in the
early exploration of South Sumatra. In 1933 SONJ (Exxon) and Socony Vacuum each
held 50% interest in Standard Vacuum Oil Company (Stanvac) that took over
NKPM’s oilfields and refineries and Socony’s marketing in the Asia Pacific region.
The South Sumatra basin is at a relatively mature stage of exploration, and it is
likely that most of the large oil fields have been found. Significant gas, however,
probably still remains to be discovered. The generation of new and adventurous plays
in the 1990s continued to produce new discoveries.
Oil was discovered by Gulf in 1993 in syn-rift Lemat fluvial sands of the
Puyuh field and is also produced from the young, low-resistivity Air Benakat and
Muara Enim sands that are reservoirs for oil and gas in the Jambi area. Fractured
basement reservoirs hold proven reserves of over 4TcfG, and are still being drilled.
More recently, deep basinal areas have been drilled successfully targeting gas
in deeply buried, fractured Batu Raja formation limestones (e.g., Singa 1 and 2 drilled

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

in 1999). In addition, limited potential still remains for the traditional Talang Akar
and Batu Raja formation plays. Tertiary recovery projects hold further potential, and
some of the older fields are undergoing successful waterfloods (e.g., Kenali-Asam and
Bajubang fields).
The main fairway for oil lies in the north and as a strip along the eastern side
of the basin, with gas potential in the central parts of the basin. The critical factors for
the play are:
 Reservoir presence/effectiveness (high quality sandstones are concentrated along
the eastern margin of the basin close to sediment input points, with poor reservoirs
containing high volcaniclastic content to the west and thin sandstones in the basin
centre),
 Migration/timing of trap formation (interpreted to be the cause of failure for
certain wells), and
 A control on the play fairway in the east away from proven source kitchens as
well as in the deep western parts of the Palembang Sub-basin where generation
preceded structuration and
 Source (the interpreted lack of source rock in the extreme southwest of the basin is
thought to limit the play fairway in this direction).
Given the long exploration history and generally benign operating
environment of the South Sumatra Basin, it is unsurprisingly a relatively mature oil
province. It is anticipated that few oil fields containing reserves in excess of 25
MMBO will be drilled on long-established play fairways, although some significant
oil finds to 100 MMBO may be made in new or emerging play types. Extrapolating
recent trends indicates that predicted oil reserve additions will be in the range of 200
to 500 MMBO (Figure.19-Figure.23).
In contrast to the basin's mature oil status, the South Sumatra Basin is under
explored for gas, and contains good remaining gas potential in both new and existing
successful plays. Extrapolation of recent trends in the basement, Talang Akar and
Batu Raja discovery histories indicates that a further 6 to 10 TCF gas could be
discovered.
Future exploration targets would include smaller traps associated with more
subtitle structures, stratigraphic traps associated with lowstand fan deposits, shoreline
onlap onto basement highs, and synrift clastic fluvial, deltaic, and possibly deep-water

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

deposits deeper in the half-grabens. Due to the complex and varied nature of the
province numerous prospects may remain to be explored.

5. Field Summaries

Exploration in the South Sumatra Basin up through the early 1980s continued
to be focused sandstones of the Air Benakat, Muara Enim and Talangakar Formations.
The discovery of porous (but water bearing) Baturaja limestone in Batang-1 (1982)
sparked hope of finding hydrocarbons in an under-explored formation.
Tanjung Laban-1 followed later in 1982 and became the first well to test
significant oil from the Baturaja Formation. This well also encountered pay in a thick
and well developed sequence of Talangakar sandstones.
The structural configuration of Tanjung Laban is similar to that of Bentayan
(Figure.26-Figure.31), except that the controlling Plio-Pleistocene reverse fault is
located here to the north of the field, with the fault plane dipping steeply to the south.
Numerous normal faults transect the structure a northerly to northwesterly direction,
as shown on the structural cross-section along strike.
The Tanjung Laban Field has reserves of 18 MMBO, with approximately two
thirds of this total contained in 15 separate Talangakar sandstones. To date, Tanjung
Laban has produced over 16 MMBO, with the Baturaja and several of the Talangakar
reservoirs currently being waterflooded.
Following success at Tanjung Laban, Asamera drilled Ramba-1 about 8 km to
the northeast. This well was also drilled in 1982, and it discovered large reserves (90
MMBO) in a buildup of Baruraja Limestone overlying a basement uplift.
Development of the field yielded smaller but significant reserves (8 MMBO) in
Talangakar sandstones as well. The field now includes 94 wells, with late stage
development drilling currently underway.
Ramba is situated on the North Palembang Anticlinorium, and consists of two
separate closures. The larger "A Pool" is bounded to the southwest by a large
northwest-southeast trending reverse fault that exhibits an offset of about 200 msec.
(200 m) on seismic line. A synclinal saddle known as the "Ramba Channel" separates

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

the "A Pool" from a domal closure containing the rest of Ramba Field, which includes
Asamera's "B Pool" and PERTAMINA's Sungai Lilin fields.
The buildup of Baturaja Limestone occurred on an old basement high,
preceding faulting and uplift of the present structure. Thus platform and reefal
carbonates were deposited over an area larger than the present field.
The deeper Talangakar sandstone reservoirs are highly discontinuous and
draped over the old basement high, prior to faulting and uplift during Plio-Pleistocene
time. Cumulative oil production from the Baturaja Formation in the Ramba is 66.4
MMBO, and the Talangakar had produced 4.5 MMBO as of January 1996.

6. Data Base Summary

Several vintages of seismic data from 1969-1996 survey, totaling some 19,082
km have been acquired in the South Sumatra Basin area. The available seismic
database within the South Sumatra Basin area consists of field tapes format of a 3,414
km. These new and reprocessed data is also available. Paper prints of most of the
older vintage seismic lines are also accessible (Figure.32-Figure.33).
Well data totalling some 2,971 wells from 2,257 development wells and 714
exploratory, include wireline log suites, mud logs, and operational reports, as well as
various in-house and consulting reports analyzing and interpreting the biostratigraphy
and geochemistry of the sediments encountered. Several consultants reports and
accompanying maps describing the prospectivity of the block are also available.
For the follow up information, all relevant petroleum data are available,
including seismic, magnetic and gravity data, well logs, and reports. The Data
Packages are stored on behalf of the Government of Indonesia largely at the Patra
Nusa Data (PND) Petroleum Data Base. The data can be supplied at costs of
reproduction and mailing. Catalogues of the Data Package listing all data are also
available.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

7. Acreage Status

Total basinal acreage covering an area of approximately 112,569 sq km, it is

largely situated in an onshore area (Figure.2, Figure.4, Figure.5).
Existing licenses for working area/concession comprises several contract types
(JOB and PSC) encompass an area of approximately 67,675 sq km (60.2% to total
basinal coverage), whilst the remaining open area of approximately 44,894 sq km
(39.8%) is largely situated to the northern and to the southeastern portion of the South
Sumatra Basin.
Previous release acreage and existing license acreage, are largely situated at
the central part of the basin covering parts of the Lematang Depression, North
Palembang Antiklinorium, Central Palembang Basin and Jambi Sub Basin.
There are currently 17 operators hold rightholders of the 23 PSC, and 5 JOB
contracts in the North Sumatra basin, whilst Pertamina holds 16 wholly owned
working interests.
Pertamina's acreage in South Sumatra and Jambi Provinces contains a number
of small and medium sized oil and gas fields. Production commenced in the
1920s and although liquids production from mature fields is in decline, discoveries
such as the Sopa field have led to oil production increases. Exploration of deeper
horizons on existing fields has the potential to increase liquids production levels
further.
South Sumatra was the focus of Pertamina's 1990s exploration in
Indonesia. Commercial oil discoveries include the Sopa, Tepus, Bungin Batu and
Simpang Tuan fields in 1997. The Bungin Batu, Bernai and Rengan Condong
discoveries have the potential to be developed as gas fields.
Pertamina has, in recent years, explored deeper horizons, both on new
prospects and on existing fields. Exploration drilling to depths of 2,500-3,500 metres
during 2002 and 2003 has encountered oil and gas on the Gunung Kemala, Tepus,
Talang Jimur, Sungai Gelam and Suban Barat fields. The Gunung Kemala field is
reported as the most significant oil discovery, whilst the Suban Barat discovery, an
extension of the Suban field on the adjacent Corridor PSC, provides substantial gas
reserve potential. Following this success, there has been further drilling in the Suban

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

area with the spudding of the Suban Utara-1 well in September 2005, and an appraisal
well, Suban Barat-2, in December 2005. Results of both wells remain undisclosed.

8. Open Areas - Opportunity Summary

The open area of South Sumatra Basin is largely situated to the northernmost
and the southeasternmost portion of the basin. The open area opportunity is
subdivided structurally into a series of high lying/shallow basement, e.g. the Lampung
area and nearby Tigapuluh mountain (Tebo Sub Basin).
One case of an open area is located in the part of the Jambi Basin (Tebo Sub-
basin) which represents the northern flank of the South Sumatera Basin (Figure.34-
Figure.36). To date there are four active oil fields, namely Pearl Oil Tungkal Jambi,
PT Pertamina, ConocoPhillips and Medco Merangin 1. In this studied open area,
Early Tertiary tectonic activity has created grabens and highs that correspond to the
formation of hydrocarbon traps as well as for migration accessibility.
The Tertiary Tebo Sub-basin is a depression to be found between Tigapuluh
Mountains and Duabelas Mountains (two regionally positive areas, with a Pre-
Tertiary core/based). The depression should not exceed 2000 m in depth, structured
by reversal fault block boundaries.
Largely involving the stratigraphic formation in the Tebo Sub-basin and the
southeastern plunge of the Tigapuluh Mountain outcrops, both abruptly terminated to
the southeast by the Tembesi-Setiti fault zone. The downthrown side of the Tembesi-
Setiti fault zone has slightly better potential. TAF sandstones had some good reservoir
properties in the Pematang-Lantih Area, where traps could be present around
basement high. The fault zone could behave as a possible migration pathway from
matured source rocks in the Jambi Sub-basin. Some prospect can then be determined
in this area.
Although Trend and Total drilled the most southerly zone of folding without
success, there remain two areas of untested structures which appear to still have
hydrocarbon potential. To the southwest of the Tigapuluh Montains, surface structures
known as the Kilis, Ketalo, and Mengoepeh, were mapped by the Dutch in the late
1930's. Four way dip closure and surface shows characterize the Kilis Lead. A second
area of interest lies on the southeast flank of the Tigapuluh Mountains, where a series

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

of anticlines extend away from the outcrop southeastward toward the margin of the
Jambi Sub-basin.
The juxtaposition, within the studied Tungkal area in the Tebo Sub Basin, of
compressional structures, multiple reservoir rocks, and potentially mature source
rocks, should produce a variety of play type not yet adequately explored for in South
Sumatra.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

References

Adiwidjaja, P., and de Coster, G. L., 1973, Pre-Tertiary paleotopography and related
sedimentation in South Sumatra: Indonesian Petroleum Association Second
Annual Convention, June, 1973, p.89-103.
Courteney, S., Cockcroft, P., Lorentz, R., Miller, R., Ott, H. L., Prijosoesilo, P.,
Suhendan, A. R., and Wight, A. W. R., eds., 1990, Indonesia-Oil and Gas Fields
Atlas Volume III: South Sumatra; Indonesian Petroleum Association Professional
Division, p., one map.
de Coster, G. L., 1974, The geology of the Central and South Sumatra Basins:
Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Third Annual Convention, June,
1974, p. 77-110.
Eko Widianto and Nanang Muksin, 1989, Seismic stratigraphy study on the
Talangakar Formation in the Selat area, Jambi: Proceedings Indonesian
Petroleum Association Eighteenth Annual Convention, October, 1989, p. 324-
338.
Ford, C., 1985, Tales from the files: an historical perspective of oil exploration in
Sumatra: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Fourteenth Annual
Convention, October, 1985, p. 401-403.
Hartanto, Karsan, Widianto, Eko, and Safrizal, 1991, Hydrocarbon prospect related to
the local unconformities of the Duang area, South Sumatra Basin: Proceedings
Indonesian Petroleum Association Twentieth Annual Convention, October, 1991,
p. 17-36.
Hutapea, O. M., 1981, The prolific Talang Akar Formation in Raja Field South
Sumatra: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Tenth Annual
Convention, May, 1981, p. 249-267.
Katz, B. J., 1991, Controls on lacustrine source rock development: a model for
Indonesia: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Twentieth Annual
Convention, October, 1991, p. 587-619.
Macgregor, D. S., 1995, The exploration significance of surface oil seepage: an
Indonesian perspective: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association
Twentyfourth Annual Convention, October, 1995, p. 97-109.
Martadinata, A. H., and Wright, J. H., 1984, Development of Ibul stratigraphic play,
South Sumatra Basin, by integration of geologic and seismic data: Proceedings
Indonesian Petroleum Association Thirteenth Annual Convention, May, 1984, p.
51-61.
Pulunggono, A.,1985, The changing pattern of ideas on Sundaland within the last
hundred years, its implications to oil exploration: Proceedings Indonesian
Petroleum Association Fourteenth Annual Convention, October, 1985, p. 347-
378.
Pulunggono, A., Haryo, S. Agus, and Kosuma, C. G., 1992, Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary
fault systems as a framework of the South Sumatra Basin; a study of sar-maps:
Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Twenty First Annual Convention,
October, 1992, p. 339-360.
Sardjito, Fadianto, Eddy, Djumlati, and Hansen, S., 1991, Hydrocarbon prospect of
the pre-Tertiary basement in Kuang area, South Sumatra: Proceedings Indonesian
Petroleum Association Twentieth Annual Convention, October, 1991, p. 255-278.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Sarjono, S., and Sardjito, 1989, Hydrocarbon source rock identification in the South
Palembang sub-basin: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Eighteenth
Annual Convention, October, 1989, p. 427-467.
Sitompul, N., Rudiyanto, Wirawan, A., and Zaim, Y., 1992, Effects of sea level drops
during late early Miocene to the reservoirs in South Palembang sub basin, South
Sumatra, Indonesia: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Twenty First
Annual Convention, October, 1992, p. 309-324
Sosrowidjojo, Imam B., Setiardja, Bagus, Zakaria, Kralert, P. G., Alexander, R., and
Kagi, R. I., 1994, A new geochemical method for assessing the maturity of
petroleum: application to the South Sumatra Basin: Proceedings Indonesian
Petroleum Association Twenty Third Annual Convention, October, 1994, p.439-
455.
Suseno, P. H., Zakaria, Mujahindin, Nizar, and Subroto, E. A., 1992, Contribution of
Lahat Formation as hydrocarbon source rock in South Palembang area, South
Sumatera, Indonesia: Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Twenty
First Annual Convention, October, 1992, p.325-337.
Tamtomo, Budi, Yuswar, Irzan, and Widianto, Eko, 1997, Transgressive Talang Akar
sands of the Duang area, south Sumatra basin: origin, distribution and implication
for exploration play concept, in Howes, J. V. C., and Noble, R. A., eds.,
Proceedings of the Petroleum Systems of Se Asia and Australasia: Indonesian
Petroleum Association Conference, May 1997, p. 699-708.
Zeliff, C. W., Trollope, S. W., and Maulana, E., 1985, Exploration cycles in the
corridor block, South Sumatra: Proceedings, Indonesian Petroleum Association
Fourteenth Annual Convention, October, 1985, p. 279-400.
Basuki P., Pane, S. Z., 1976. “The Hydrocarbon Prospects of the Baturaja Formation
in South Sumatra”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 5th Annual
Convention Vol. 2, p. 109-131.
Hutapea, O. M., 1981. “The Prolific Talang Akar Formation in Raja Field, South
Sumatra”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 10th Annual
Convention, p. 250-267.
Pulunggono, A., Cameron, N. R., 1984“Sumatran Microplates, Their Characteristics
and Their Role in the Evolution of the Central and South Sumatra Basins”,
Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 13th Annual Convention Vol. 1,
p. 121-143.
Pulunggono, A., 1986. “Tertiary Structural Features Related to Extensional and
Compressive Tectonics in the Palembang Basin, South Sumatra”, Indonesian
Boyd, J. D., Peacock, S. G., 1986. “Sedimentological Analysis of a Miocene Deltaic
Systems: Air Benakat and Muara Enim Formations, Central Merangin Block,
South Sumatra”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 15th Annual
Convention Vol. 1, p. 245-258.
Widianto, E., Muksin, N., 1989. “Seismic Stratigraphy Study on the Talangakar
Formation in the Selat Area, Jambi”, Indonesian Petroleum Association,
Proceedings 18th Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 323-338.
Sarjono, S., Sardjito, 1989. “Hydrocarbon Source Rock Identification in the South
Palembang Sub-Basin”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 18th
Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 427-467.
Hartanto, K., Widianto, E., Safrizal, 1991. “Hydrocarbon Prospect Related to the
Local, Unconformities of the Kuang Area, South Sumatra Basin”, Indonesian
Petroleum Association, Proceedings 20th Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 17-35.

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017

Sardjito, Fadianto, E., Djumlati, Hansen, S., 1991. “Hydrocarbon Prospect of Pre
Tertiary Basement in Kuang Area, South Sumatra”, Indonesian Petroleum
Association, Proceedings 20th Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 255-277.
Sosrowidjojo, I. B., Setiardja, B., Zakaria, Kralert, P. G., Alexander, R., Kagi, R. I.,
1994. “A New Geochemical Method for Assessing the Maturity of Petroleum:
Application to the South Sumatra Basin”, Indonesian Petroleum Association,
Proceedings 23rd Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 439-455.
Hutapea, O. M., 1998. “The Semoga-Kaji Discoveries: Large Stratigraphic Baturaja
Oil Fields in South Sumatera”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings
26th Annual Convention Vol. 1, p. 313-327.
Riadhy, S., Ascaria, A., Martono, D., Sukotjo, A., Hernadi, D., Kurniawan, M.,
Luthfi, N., 2000. “Carbonate Play Concept in Sopa and Surrounding Areas: An
Alternative Model for Hydrocarbon Occurrence, Musi Platform, South Sumatra
Basin”, Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 27th Annual Convention.
Pulunggono, A., Haryo S. A., Kosuma, C. G., 1992. “Pre-Tertiary and Tertiary Fault
Systems as a Framework of the South Sumatra Basin; A Study of SAR-Maps”,
Indonesian Petroleum Association, Proceedings 21st Annual Convention Vol. 1,
p. 339-360.
Arthur Andersen Petroleum Services, 1992, Indonesia Upstream Petroleum Database:
Licenses
Arthur Andersen Petroleum Services, 1992, Indonesia Upstream Petroleum Database:
Reserves
Arthur Andersen Petroleum Services, 1992, Indonesia Upstream Petroleum Database:
Field Analysis
Arthur Andersen Petroleum Services, 1992, Indonesia Upstream Petroleum Database:
Wells
Caughey, Cavanagh T. C., Dyer, J. N. J., Kohar A., H., Lestarini., Lorentz, R. A.,
Miller R., Prijosoesilo P., Wight, A. W. R., Wilson, J. N., 1994, “Seismic Atlas
Of Indonesian Oill and Gas Fileds Atlas Volume I: Sumatra”, Indonesia
Petroleum Association
Fletcher G.L., and Soeparjadi R.A., 1976, Indonesia's Tertiary Basins - The Land of
Plenty, Seapex program, Offshore South East Asia Conference, paper 8.
Ginger, D., Fielding, K., 2005, “The Petroleum Systems And Future Potential Of The
South Sumatra Basin”, Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association Thirtieth
Annual Convention & Exhibition
Gaffney, Cline & Associates, 1986, Undeveloped Discoveries: Western Indonesia
Integrated Exploration and Development Service Ltd., 1993, Indonesian Monthly
Activities Report
Integrated Exploration and Development Service Ltd., 1994, Indonesian Monthly
Activities Report
Petropages, 1998, Indonesian Petroleum Directory 98-99
Petroleum Australia Petroz, 1988, Indonesia Contract Area Boundary Summary of
PSC & Activity
Patra Nusa Data, 2006, Indonesian Basin Summaries
Pertamina/Beicip, Jakarta, 1985, Hydrocarbon Potential of Western Indonesia
PERTAMINA BPPKA, 1996, Petroleum Geology Of Indonesian Basins, Principles,
Methods and Application, South Sumatra Basins Volume X
Petroconsultant, 1990, Foreign Scouting Service Far East: Indonesia
Wood Mackenzie, 1993, South East Asia Report Upstream Oil and Gas, January-
December

South Sumatra Basin/Regional Basin Screening Study/ May2017