IPA18-130-SG

PROCEEDINGS, INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION

Forty-Second Annual Convention & Exhibition, May 2018

THE IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT BIOTURBATION CHARACTERS OF A SANDSTONE

RESERVOIR: CASE STUDY IN THE BENGKULU FOREARC BASIN

Hazred Umar Fathan*

Santa Marchilya Tarigan*
Nabila Puti Bungsu*
Muhammad Hanif Yasrullah*
Dwandari Ralanarko**

ABSTRACT Chondrite are not significantly affected by the

The Bengkulu Basin is a forearc basin situated to the
western part of Sumatra with high tectonic activities
due to being close to the subduction zone, which
makes the study of hydrocarbon and exploration
activities difficult because of the unstable tectonic
conditions. The aim of the research is focused on
identification of reservoir quality of sandstone in the
Lemau Formation Middle-Late Miocene age, using
the presence of ichnofossils, thin section,
petrophysical properties of rocks and its implication
value of porosity and permeability. The sandstones
are dominated by the presence of four type
ichnofacies with a bioturbation index 1 – 4.
Ichnodiversity have tunnel and shaft shapes, class of
ethology take places during resting, farming, escape
and dwelling conditions. Sediment fillings occur in
the trace fossils that affects the sorting grains,
composition and the relation between grains. There
are two conditions of sediment fillings as follows; (1)
filled with finer grain sediment and heterogenic
burrows compared to other layers around it, and (2)
sediment fillings with coarser grain size and larger
dimension found in several layers with medium-high
energy. Thin sections analysis shows the porosity has
a value of the interval of about 13,6 – 21,6% with
permeability about 20 – 680 mD. The appearance of
glauconite and coral fauna shows the depositional
environment occurred in a tidal process with tide and
wave-dominated. The quality of reservoir will
decrease in sandstone layer if the Thallasinoides
distribution is found to be abundant and dominated
with finer grain sediment that decreases the
sandstone’s ability for hydrocarbon retention. But,
the quality of reservoir will increase if the reservoir
has a condition where the Ophiomorpha is filled with
coarse grain and relatively large dimension that
creates a bigger accommodation space, the
movement and abundance of trace fossil is affected
by the deposition energy. In addition, Skolithos and
hydrocarbon reservoir. The parameters of current
energy, grain size, burrow contents and burrow size
need to be identified to be able to locate a good
hydrocarbon reservoir.
Keyword: bioturbation, sandstone, burrows,
Bengkulu basin.
INTRODUCTION
In general, bioturbation is used to support
interpretation of depositional environmental or
stratigraphic sequence. In addition, bioturbation has
an effect on rock physical characteristics such as
compaction, sortation, dewatering, biodeposition and
bioerosion (Taylor et al., 1993). Therefore, the
development of ichnofossils can be used to identify
the characteristic of rock properties. The element that
affects rock properties is the difference of
bioturbation deposition in a particular environment.
The elements that are used are sediment rate, salinity,
turbidity, oxygenation, hydrodynamic, substrate and
depositional event (Mcilroy, 2014).
The development of ichnofossils in sandstone has an
important effect on the reservoir quality related to
porosity and permeability value. The enhancement or
reduction of porosity and permeability can occur as
a result of bioturbation development that causes dual
porosity and dual permeability (Baniak et al., 2015).
Porosity classification is affected by bioturbation
type and formed. Pemberton and Gingras (2005)
divided bioturbation to its reservoir into five
classifications: (1) surface-constrained discrete
heterogeneities, (2) weakly defined heterogeneities,
(3) non-surface-constrained discrete heterogeneities,
(4) cryptic heterogeneities, and (5) diagenetic
heterogeneities. The classification is proven by
previous research conducted in some prospective
hydrocarbon basins which are linked to rock quality

* University of Sriwijaya
** IAGI
with bioturbation characteristic such as Kutai and
Baram Basins, Borneo (Darman and Handoyo,
2013), Baram Delta, Offshore Sarawak, Malaysia
(Ben and Padmanabhan, 2015) and Upper Jurassic
Ula Formation, Norwegian North Sea, Europe
(Baniak et al., 2015). Based on the explanation
above, the aim of the research is focused on
identification of reservoir quality of sandstone using
the presence of ichnofossils, thin section,
petrophysical properties of rocks and its implication
value of porosity and permeability
Geological Setting
The Bengkulu basin is a forearc basin in the
southwest of Sumatra which has a high intensity of
tectonic due to its location near a subduction zone,
with a relatively oval shape that extends to NW –
SE. The Bengkulu Basin consists of several Sub-
Basins; Pagarjati and Ipuh Sub-Basin in the
northern part and Kedurang Sub-Basin in the
southern part (Yulihanto et al., 1995). The research
area is located in the Ipuh Sub-Basin and bounded
by Muko-Muko High and Sebayur High. The
research belongs to onshore stratigraphy
consisting of Hulusimpang Formation, Seblat
Formation, Lemau Formation and Bintunan
Formation (Yulihanto et al., 1995) (Figure 1).
Based on previous research, the hydrocarbon
prospects in the Bengkulu Basin have shown that
it is still an uneconomic basin for producing oil nor
gas. Panggabean and Heryanto (2009) analyzed a
source rock to identify the maturity of hydrocarbon
in the Seblat and Lemau Formations. The results
showed that Seblat Formation has a better
maturity, classified to mature with kerogen type I
and II, while the Lemau Formation has immature –
early mature with kerogen type I, II, and III. Other
evidence showed a presence of an oil seepage that
was found in Padang Capo, Sukaraja District
which indicated potential hydrocarbons in the
Bengkulu Basin (Panggabean and Heryanto,
2009).
The Lemau Formation (Middle to Upper Miocene)
was deposited in shallow marine environment with
transgression toward to regression phase. That area
created a result because of the tidal and wave
energy dominated during the process of
sedimentation (Yulihanto et al., 1995). In the
research area, Lemau Formation deposited in
back-barrier system – shallow marine environment
with the presence of rock features of clastic
sedimentary rock of sandstone molluscs,
calcareous sandstone with limestone material,
carbonaceous siltstone, coal and claystone (Fathan
et al., 2017).
METHODS
The research focused on sandstone of the Lemau
Formation in two different locations. There are the
Tanjungdalam Village and Pondokbakil Village
which is located in Ketaun District, North Bengkulu
Regency. Samples that are used for the research are
four kinds of sandstones with a difference in
composition and bioturbation types. The analysis
that is used for the research is ichnofabric, porosity
by thin section analysis and permeability
measurement using Darcy’s Law equation. Darcy's
law is an equation used by fluids through a porous
object like a rock. Ichnofabric represents the totality
of bioturbation structures in a sedimentary rock, and
thus it includes the identifiable as well as the
unidentifiable structures. In this paper, Ichnofabric
analysis that is used refers from Ekdale et al. (1991)
by serving several parameters such as bioturbation
index (BI) using category BI 1 (1 – 5%), BI 2 (6 –
30%), BI 3 (31 – 60%), BI 4 (60 – 91%), BI 5 (91 –
99%), and BI 6 (Complete bioturbation),
ichnodiversity (ID), the number of ethology (NE),
Penetration depth (PD), and maximum burrow
diameter (DM).
ICHNOFOSSILS
The presence of bioturbation in two research
locations has different characteristics due to process
sedimentation. Bioturbation is generally filled with
fine-grained sediment that compared to the host
sediment. The ichnofacies shape relatively
unconnected and formed a horizon layer so that the
fluid migration will be discontinuous. The
population of bioturbation affected by the
differences energy during the sedimentation process.
When the energy increased, the population of
bioturbation will be decreased. There are ichnofacies
such Ophiomorpha, Thallasinoides, Chondrites and
Skolithos, BI (1-4), having a diameter 0,7 – 4 cm,
with a length of 0,25 – 9 cm found in Tanjungdalam
Village. Class of ethology takes place during
dwelling, resting and farming condition with shallow
penetration depth (Figure 2). The dominated
ichnodiversity is found by shaft, tunnel and complex
(shaft and tunnel). Based on measured stratigraphy,
the Ophiomorpha ichnofacies is found at the bottom
of the layer with low presence, in general having a
shaft orientation with sandy siltstone material. To the
upper layer, the sediment form relatively coarsening
upward succession and found development of
Thalassionoides ichnofacies.
The presence of ichnofacies in Pondokbakil
Village consist of Ophiomorpha, Thallasinoides,
and Skolithos, BI (0 – 3), DM (0,3 – 7,3 cm), with
length 0,3 – 13. Class of ethology takes place
during resting and farming (Figure 3). The
dominated ichnodiversity found by shaft, tunnel
and complex. The difference of grain size that
filled bioturbation has an effect on the rock
porosity value. Figure 5c indicate the ichnofacies
are filled by coarser grain (fine-medium
sandstone) than the host sediment while in figure
5a and 5d, the ichnofacies is filled with finer grain
(muddy – silty) than the host sediment, with BI 2
– 3.
When deposition occurs in shallow marine
conditions, salinity tends to be low as evidenced
by being less heterogeneous. An organism in the
research area that is not well developed, with the
sediment pattern shows relatively coarsening
upward (Figure 4 and 5) indicate an increase in
energy during deposition. Intercalation medium –
coarse sandstone present in the Tanjungdalam
Village indicates a fluctuation of tide-dominated.
Deep marine sediment such as calcareous
sandstone was inserted into sandstone body by sea
level decreased. Then bioturbation wasn’t spread
evenly and will be occupied by the several layers.
Reservoir Facies
Determination reservoir facies refers to
classification Pemberton and Gingras (2005) by
linking to rock properties and ichnofacies
development. The research area has three
reservoirs facies, that is weakly defined
heterogeneities (Facies 1), massive sandstone
(Facies 2), and cryptic bioturbation (Facies 3).
Facies 1 shows the presence of BI 2 – 4 with cross
bed and lamination structure, fine – medium
sandstone, shell fragment content in several layers
with the presence of Ophiomorpha and
Thallasinoides ichnofacies, sediment filler tends to
be coarser than the host sediment. Facies 2 shows
the presence of BI 0 -1 with cross bed and
lamination structure, very fine – medium
sandstone, rare of shell fragment in several layers,
found Ophiomorpha ichnofacies with low
intensity. Facies 3 shows the presence of BI 3 – 4
with lamination and low angle stratification
structure, very fine – fine sandstone, there are
abundant shell fragment, the presence of Skolithos,
Chondrites, and Thallasinoides ichnofacies
(Figure 4 and 5).
Permeability and Porosity of Sandstone
Measurement of permeability and porosity in the
research area shows the sandstone has potential as a
hydrocarbon. Measurement of rock samples showed
porosity value ranging 13,6 – 21,6 %, permeability
ranging 20 – 680 mD (Table 1). The relationship of
porosity and permeability is related to grain size,
grain shape and filler of bioturbation. Facies 2 with
single porosity and permeability without
bioturbation has a higher value than Facies 3. Facies
3 is dominated by filler bioturbation with finer
sediment filling with BI 2-4 (Figure 4 and 5), the
effect to reduce porosity and permeability value,
whereas the rock has coarser sediment than host
sediment and larger diameter, so that will show
improvement and form a good porosity and
permeability.
PETROLOGY
Sandstone contained in the research area generally
has very fine – medium sand, in several locations, the
carbonate shows have a strong calcite. Coral was
found in the several layers of sandstone that indicated
the deposition event with high energy. The
composition of rocks is composed of quartz (28 –
43%), feldspar (14 – 26%), biotite (5 – 14%),
glauconite (3 -12%), fossils (3 – 7%), and opaque (2-
7 %). The presence of glauconite mineral indicates
the research area is deposited in a tidal influence.
Matrix is composed of calcite dominated and silica.
Some of the minerals were altered to clay minerals
due to further erosion processes. The rock has a sub-
rounded – sub-angular with size 5 – 75 µm with
various grain shape. Grain shape sandstone in the
research area affect the results of porosity value, in
figure 6a the porosity value tends to be small due to
the relatively large mineral size. Whereas in figure
6b, 6c and 6d porosity value will increase that
affected due to the grain size is smaller and grain
shape relatively rounded and it will increase the
accommodation space. Thus the porosity has a good
value for hydrocarbon.
POTENTIAL BIOTURBATION OF
RESERVOIR SANDSTONE
Ichnofossils analysis, petrology, reservoir facies,
porosity and permeability measured can illustrate
sandstone that has bioturbation content, whether they
have a potential increase or decrease in reservoir
quality. The research area takes place during shallow
marine and influence by tide and wave-dominated.
Fathan et al. (2017) state that the causes of
bioturbation formation not to spread evenly from
bottom to the top of the layer. It was affected by high
energy conditions that bioturbation cannot live and
develop well and move to follow the wave currents.
Ophiomorpha ichnofacies giving the rise or down
value of porosity and permeability, because it has a
coarser rim clastic around. Thallasinoides
ichnofacies have a smooth texture to the surrounding
rocks and decrease the reservoir value. Bioturbation
can improve the potential reservoir quality by its
ichnofacies character with dominant ichnofabrics,
relatively coarse and continuous that developed to
the migration of hydrocarbon content.
CONCLUSION
Bioturbation with different characters has an effect
on the sandstone reservoir, especially in its
permeability and porosity. The permeability and
porosity value of the sandstone can be indicated from
the reservoir facies based on their ichnofacies
content. In the research area, reservoir facies consist
of weakly defined heterogeneities (Facies 1),
massive sandstone (Facies 2) and cryptic
bioturbation (Facies 3) with the ichnofacies content
of Thallasinoides, Ophiomorpha, Skolithos, and
Chondrite. Facies 1 shows a dual porosity and
permeability that enhance the value of porosity and
permeability. Facies 2 shows single porosity and
permeability without bioturbation presences but still
good in porosity and permeability value. Facies 3
contain high bioturbation presence with very fine-
grained sandstone that reduces the porosity and
permeability value. Based on the reservoir facies, the
characters of bioturbation are affected by the
reservoir quality. Ichnofacies of Ophiomorpha
increases the quality of the reservoir and
Thallasinoides decreases the quality of the reservoir.
In addition, the Chondrite and Skolithos are not
significantly affected by the hydrocarbon reservoir
.
ACKNOWDLEGMENT
We would like to say thank you for Geological Study
Program of Sriwijaya University, PT. Firman
Ketaun, and PT. Injatama Mining for the facilities of
our research and thesis. Then, thank you to Prof. Edy
Sutriyono, Dr. Aswan for the advices and
assessment. BU-Squad team such as Thea Ardelia
Hashilah, Rizky Dwi Renaldy, and Herawati for the
helps during geological mapping in Bengkulu and
surrounding.
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 TABLE 1

RESULT OF POROSITY BASED ON THIN SECTION MEASUREMENT AND PERMEABILITY

BY DARCY’S LAW EQUATION

No Rocks Reservoir Facies Bioturbation Porosity Permeability Class

(%) (mD)
1 Bioturbated Weakly defined Ophiomorpha, 20.36 110 Very
fine sandstone heterogeneities Thallasinoides Good
with shell (Facies 1)
fragment
2 Bioturbated 21.6 680 Very
medium Good
sandstone
3 Fine sandstone Massive sandstone - 21.13 90 Good
(Facies 2)
4 Very fine Cryptic Skolithos, 13.6 20 Poor
sandstone bioturbation Thallasinoides
(Facies 3) and Chondrite

 
Figure 1 - Structural configuration and location map in Bengkulu Basin (after modified from Yulihanto et al.,
1995: Fathan et. al., 2017)

 
 Figure 2 - Ichnofacies type in Tanjung Dalam and surrounding area

 
 Figure 3 - Ichnofacies type in Pondokbakil and surrounding area

 
Figure 4 - Stratigraphy column and associated ichnofabric for classification reservoir facies in Tanjung Dalam
and surrounding area

 
Figure 5 - Stratigraphy column and associated ichnofabric for classification reservoir facies in Pondokbakil
and surrounding area

 
Figure 6 - Thin section for measurement mineral composition and porosity of rock (a) Calcareous quartz
arenite, (b) Calcareous glauconite quartz arenite, (c) and (d) Calcareous glauconite quartz wacky
(Qz: quartz, Plg: Plagioclase, Fs: Fossil, Opq: Opaq, Cl: Clay, Glc: Glauconite, Clc: Calcite).