Organic shale analysis using geochemical

data and seismic attributes: Case study of

Talang Akar formation, South Sumatera
Basin
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 1862, 030178 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4991282
Published Online: 10 July 2017

P. E. Manaf, S. Suparno, A. Haris, et al.

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AIP Conference Proceedings 1862, 030178 (2017); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4991282 1862, 030178

© 2017 Author(s).
 Organic Shale Analysis Using Geochemical Data and
Seismic Attributes: Case Study of Talang Akar Formation,
South Sumatera Basin
P. E. Manaf1, S. Suparno2, A. Haris2, a), A. Usman3, and A. Riyanto2
1
Reservoir Geophysics Program, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA),
Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
2
Geology and Geophysics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA),
Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
3
New Energy and Green Technology UTC PT. Pertamina, Indonesia
a)
Corresponding author: aharis@sci.ui.ac.id

Abstract. Organic shale analysis of Talang Akar Formation, south Sumatera basin has been carried out using integrated
seismic attributes, petrophysical and geochemical data. This shale layer has been deposited in sagging phase with low
deposition energy at transgression period, which results in abundant shale deposit. The paper is aimed at characterizing
the geochemical and petrophysical properties of shale rock formation and mapping their distribution using transformed
seismic data into acoustic impedance and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The assessment of this shale formation is carried
out by first analyzing rock physics properties to identify the interest zone of a reservoir. The next step is performing
geochemical analysis to quantify TOC and determine the maturity level of the shale formation. In order to map the shale
formation distribution, we transform seismic data into acoustic impedance and further into organic-rich shale (TOC)
distribution. Our analysis of petrophysical and geochemical properties shows that there are two interest zones, in the
depth interval of 2030-2182 m (zone A) and 2204-2396 m (zone B). Both zones are predicted as shale layer that has very
good organic richness criteria and fulfills sufficient maturity level. In addition, the shale layer distribution is represented
by inverted acoustic impedance and TOC, where we found the consistent information related to identified interest zone A
and B, which is indicated by relatively low impedance and relatively high TOC. Further, these two zones (zone A and B)
are predicted as the potential sweet spot to be explored as unconventional hydrocarbon resource.

INTRODUCTION
The speculative shale hydrocarbon as an unconventional hydrocarbon resource in south Sumatera basin is one of
the largest resources in Indonesia, which contains 56.11 TCF volume of gas in place. Shale layer, which is analyzed
in this study is classified into Talang Akar Formation (TAF), which is formed as the effect of the tectonic
mechanism when the shale was deposited in basin sag. TAF has formed at transgression phase in such a way that the
low deposit energy was causing abundant shale deposit and in the other way were causing this formation has less
sandstone than other formation around it [1].
The hydrocarbon system in hydrocarbon shale reservoir has changed the traditional approach of conventional
petroleum system into unconventional shale reservoir, where shale formations are both playing as source rocks and
reservoir rocks [2]. There is no need for migration and since the permeability is near zero, it forms its own seal. The
hydrocarbon may be trapped in natural fractures and inter-granular porosity, as hydrocarbon absorbed into kerogen
and clay- particle surfaces. The expectation of this research is that the abundant shale deposit at the target formation
has the sufficient quality and quantity either as source rock or as hydrocarbon reservoir. In this paper, we applied the
transformation approach of seismic data into petrophysical and geochemical data and use them to delineate the shale
layer distribution.

International Symposium on Current Progress in Mathematics and Sciences 2016 (ISCPMS 2016)
AIP Conf. Proc. 1862, 030178-1–030178-5; doi: 10.1063/1.4991282
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1536-2/$30.00

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 GEOCHEMICAL AND SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES APPROACH
The important aspect in prospecting shale hydrocarbon reservoir is performing integrated analysis on organic
richness (TOC), maturation level (Ro%), reservoir thickness, hydrocarbon-in-place, permeability, mineralogy,
brittleness, and pore pressure. In this study, we characterize shale formation based on the organic-rich analysis (TOC
and petrophysical analysis) and seismic transformation into petrophysical and organic-rich distribution. The
petrophysical and geochemical analysis of shale formation is performed to identify the quantity of organic richness
(TOC), quality (rock-evaluation analysis) and maturity (Vitrine Reflectance analysis) parameter of the shale
hydrocarbon formation. In this work, we used well log data and post-stack 2D seismic data over this field. Two of
available wells contain cutting data, which is important for assessing mineral content assessment and brittleness of
shale
The availability data in this study is limited, particularly organic richness data of the well log, which is not cover
for the whole depth. As a consequence, we estimate the TOC model based on the available electro log data. The
electro log data consists of gamma ray, resistivity, neutrons, density and sonic. This estimated TOC, which is useful
to patch the lack of data as function depth, is calculated by applying Multi-linear Regression [3]. The equation 1 is
derived an equation from Multi-linear Regression as the function of Gamma Ray (GR), Density (RHOB), Neutron
Porosity (NPHI), P-wave velocity (DT):
TOC = −1.74 + 0.00038GR + 1.023RHOB − 0.00582NPHI + 0.0062DT (1)
The beneficial of seismic attributes approach that has a spatial resolution is used to delineate the spatial
distribution of shale formation in the identified interest zone. The seismic attribute is presented in acoustic
impedance inversion by conducting seismic inversion. This work is transforming the seismic data into organic-rich
shale (TOC) data. However, the sensitivity analysis should be carried out to have a reference in defining shale
potential zones and defining the cut-off of between AI and TOC parameter.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Shale source rock of TAF is one of two the source rocks of oil producer in this basin, which was accumulated in
and distributed up to outside of graben [4]. A cutting sample of Well-1 from selected depth of 2182-2396 m, which
is classified as TAF, have been analyzed to obtain organic geochemical data and pyrolysis values. In term of organic
content, we found that shale rock contained a high classification of TOC ranging from 0.35 – 3.66 wt.%. Further
petrophysical analysis by using geochemical laboratory data is carried out to validate our TOC prediction, which is
based on Equation 1. The predicted TOC shows a good match with the laboratory data, which is indicated with high
correlation coefficient 0.92. The comparison between predicted TOC and laboratory data is illustrated in Fig. 1.
Based on our analysis, we identified two interest zones, in the depth interval of 2030-2182 m (zone A) as Upper
TAF and 2204-2396 m (zone B) as Lower TAF. Both zones are can be classified as good to excellent quality in term
of organic richness criteria. The hydrocarbon index (HI) is ranging from 107 – 278 mgHC/g. This hydrocarbon

FIGURE 1. Comparison between TOC lab with TOC model. The right panel is TOC lab; the left is continuous TOC model

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index represents that shale rock of TAF provides a good prospect to produce oil-gas. Figure 2 shows the
geochemical analysis of Well-1. The kerogen type of TAF shale rock of late Eocene to mid Miocene is classified
into kerogen type of I, II and III, which was indicated by the oil and gas prone. The results of this analysis were
compared with those of the published work [5] in order to better understand geochemical properties of the shale
hydrocarbon system throughout the region. The maturity level of the lower TAF is ranging from 0.82 to 1.3 and for
the upper TAF is ranging from 0.54 to 0.60.
In order to see the spatial distribution of TOC, we first transform seismic data into acoustic impedance by
implementing seismic inversion. Figure 3a shows acoustic impedance section of line-04 that pass through Well-1.
Organic shale layer with hydrocarbon potential is indicated by low acoustic impedance. It can be understood since
organic shale has a low density (less than shale itself) because of its kerogen content. Our analysis on petrophysical
properties, if shale hydrocarbon zone is assumed has a density less than 2.3 (gr/cc) and then it will have a relatively

FIGURE 2. Geochemical analysis of Well-1 including hydrocarbon potential, indicator, and maturity level

(a)

(b)
FIGURE 3. (a) Inverted acoustic impedance section of line-04. Organic shale rock is indicated by low AI (yellow color).
(b) TOC section of line-04. Relatively high TOC greater than 2 % is shown by yellow colored shale, which is dominating at
the time window range of 1780-1900 ms

030178-3
 (a) (b)

(c) (d)
FIGURE 4. Sweet spot distribution of predicted shale hydrocarbon (red dashed line) at Upper TAF for a) acoustic map and
b) TOC map and Lower TAF for c) acoustic map and d) TOC map. Red marked zones indicate the distribution of shale with
relatively low AI and relatively high TOC which is predicted as shale hydrocarbon.

low acoustic impedance (less than 27.500 ft/s*gr/cc). In the acoustic impedance section, the organic shale rock is
presented with yellow colored scale.
The predicted TOC in spatial distribution is generated by transforming acoustic impedance into of TOC by the
empirical approach the relation between acoustic impedance and TOC. Figure 3b shows the TOC section of line-04.
It can be seen that the target zone A (2030-2182 m) and zone B (2204-2396 m), which is located between Upper
TAF and Lower TAF surface, has relatively high TOC ( greater than 2 %). In contrast, we found relatively low
acoustic impedance at the same depth intervals.
The map distribution of acoustic impedance and TOC for upper and lower TAF is shown in Fig. 4. In term of
structural and stratigraphic interpretation, we identified the sweet spot of shale hydrocarbon potential is illustrated
by red dashed line. The shale hydrocarbon distribution is indicated by low acoustic impedance (less than 27.500
ft/s*gr/cc) and relatively high TOC (greater than 2 %), which is categorized as good quality [5].

CONCLUSIONS

Organic shale analysis of Talang Akar Formation, south Sumatera basin has been successfully performed by
using integrated seismic attributes, petrophysical and geochemical data. Based on our assessment on petrophysical
and geochemical properties we identified two interest zones, in the depth interval of 2030-2182 m (zone A) as Upper
TAF and 2204-2396 m (zone B) as Lower TAF. Both zones are can be classified as good to excellent quality in term
of organic richness criteria and fulfill sufficient maturity level. In addition, the shale layer distribution is represented
by inverted acoustic impedance and TOC, where we found the consistent information related to identified interest
zone A and B, which is indicated by relatively low impedance and relatively high TOC.

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