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The Potential Of Liquefaction In Bali Based On Geology And Its Relation To

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PROCEEDINGS
THE 49TH IAGI ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION
Lombok, December 15-18th 2020

The Potential Of Liquefaction In Bali Based On Geology And Its Relation To Earthquake
Events
Ida Bagus Oka Agastya1Putu Ary Wijaya1, Ketut Ariantana1, Andrian Ade Pradana1, Dwi Kartika Prameswari1,
Yudhistira Satya1, I Putu Eka Pratama Putra1
1
Ikatan Ahli Geologi Indonesia Pengurus Daerah Bali

Abstract
The existence of a quite shocking liquefaction
phenomenon in Palu-Sulawesi in 2018 that caused many
areas with large earthquake potential had made the
liquefaction disaster as the second most threatening
disaster after earthquake and tsunami. This raised the
question of whether liquefaction could potentially occur
on the island of Bali. This paper will discuss the potential
liquefaction from a geological points and its relation to
earthquake events in Bali based on literature studies, field
data, and previous research data. The results of the study
showed that 4 regions in Bali have the potentials of
liquefaction to happen, namely Seririt, Gerokgak,
Perancak, and Teluk Benoa. All the four regions have the
average compositions of alluvium lithology, which are
discovered as big as the one happened in Seririt, however,
these areas are considerably potential to have
liquefactions because there are active faults such as the
Nusa Penida Strait with NE-SW alignment and faults
around the island of Menjangan with NW-SE alignments.
Key Words : Potential Liquefaction, Bali, Flores Back-
Arc Thrust, Earthquake
Introduction
The existence of a quite shocking liquefaction
phenomenon in Palu-Sulawesi in 2018 that caused many
areas with large earthquake potential had made the
liquefaction disaster as the second most threatening
disaster after earthquake and tsunami. This raised the
question of whether liquefaction could potentially occur
on the island of Bali. Bali itself is an island and is included
in a cluster of rings of fire, besides saving its natural
beauty, it also has a long history of geological disasters.
Earthquake disasters have contributed to the dangers that
have lurked the island of Bali so far, quite large
earthquakes were felt, namely the earthquakes in 1815,
1857 and 1976 which were referred to as "Gejer Bali".
This geological disaster was inseparable from the result of
the subduction of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates,
which led to the formation of a backarc thrust bali which
caused an earthquake in North Bali (Daryono, 2011). In
addition, the Mega Thrust earthquake in southern Bali is
also a threat that causes the potential for large earthquakes
and faults on land such as the Busungbiu fault in the
central part of the island of Bali (Wijaya, et al, 2020). A
gravel, sand, silt, and clay and these are identified loose
material and not well-lithification. The hydrogeological
conditions also support the existence of liquefaction where
the groundwater level is relatively shallow with 2 meters
of depth. Besides, based on the history of seismicity in
Bali, Seririt and Gerokgak has quite high liquefaction
potential because this area was listed in as the longest and
biggest earthquake history in Bali on a scale of magnitude
7 in years 1815 and 1857 associated with an active fault
Flores Back-Arc Thrust. Whereas the other regions such
as Perancak and Teluk Benoa are as well identified
geologically to have liquefaction potential but there is no
events of earthquake that has happened directly, usually
caused by offshore earthquakes in subduction zones. Even
though the earthquake events may not be
series of potential earthquakes in Bali are also the cause of
further hazards such as tsunamis and liquefaction. The
geology of the island of Bali which is composed of rocks
and sediments with a relatively young age provides an
opportunity for liquefaction hazards and urban
development in Bali Province, which occurs mostly in
areas with non-consolidated alluvium deposits.
Liquefaction research that has been carried out by the
geological agency in 2019 has resulted in several areas in
Bali that have potential liquefaction hazards such as
Perancak, Gerogak, Seririt and Teluk Benoa (Figure 1).
Based on this, we are interested in examining more deeply
the potential dangers of liquefaction in Bali and the
potential for earthquakes that can cause the liquefaction
hazard. So that this research can provide an overview of
the dangers of liquefaction and its mitigation efforts.

Figure 1. Map of research locations, groundwater wells

and hypocenter locations
of earthquake with a magnitude> 5 in Bali
PROCEEDINGS
THE 49TH IAGI ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION
Lombok, December 15-18th 2020

Geological Conditions and Lithology

Data & Methodology
This paper will discuss the potential liquefaction from a
geological points and its relation to earthquake events in
Bali based on literature studies, field data, and previous
research data. The data used are in the form of literature
studies, observations of rock outcrops and morphology,
google earth image data, seismic data obtained from the
Irish Earthquake Browser with earthquake data with a
magnitude of above 5 M and hydrogeological data in the
form of Groundwater Levels from each region. The data
is then analyzed to find out the further potential of the
liquefaction and the likelihood of the potential danger of
liquefaction from the factors causing it.
The island of Bali is regionally formed by volcanic
activity and partly by the process of shallow marine
sedimentation, where starting from the Late Oligocene age
begins with the formation of underwater volcanoes
resulting in the Ulakan Formation in the southeast, then
the volcanic process ends and is replaced by a
sedimentation process in the shallow marine environment
to produce the Asah Formation and the Selatan Formation.
As a result of the intense subduction in the Plio-
Pleistocene age, which raised the island of Bali and turned
the volcanoes that were developing at that time into land
volcanoes, some of these volcanoes managed to reach the
caldera eruption phase so that they formed land in
southern Bali, namely Mount Buyan-Beratan and Mount
Batur. Afterwards, the development of geological activity
in Bali was mostly caused

Result and Disscusion

by volcanic activities of Mount Batur and Mount Seririt and Perancak, researchers conducted a literature
Agung and partially the faulting process due to the review through the Regional Geological Map of Bali
subduction process resulted in a fairly complex geological Island (Purbo Hardiwidjojo et, al., 1998) and several
structure in the western part of Bali, in addition due to regional observations to determine the lithological
further geological processes producing alluvium deposits conditions of each area.
which are currently in occupy and become the
development of human civilization to developed cities like From the observations made, some lithological
today in Bali such as Teluk Benoa, Gerokgak, Seririt and information is obtained as shown in the table. Where in
Perancak. To understand the potential for liquefaction in general
Bali, especially in the areas of Teluk Benoa, Gerokgak,
the 4 research areas are composed of unconsolidated
alluvium deposits consisting of pebble, gravel, sand, silt
and clay which are almost evenly found, but in several
locations such as Perancak and Seririt, rock conditions are
quite resistant and have been litified into the Palasari
Formation, Asah Formation and Pulaki Volcano
Formation. In general, it is also controlled by the
depositional environment of the alluvium which is formed
in fluvial to transition environments such as deltas,
lagoons and beaches. Such conditions will certainly
greatly affect the potential for liquefaction, especially in
alluvium deposits which are loose and can store water
quite easily (saturated zone) so that if an earthquake
occurs, the area with alluvium deposits has a high enough
potential to form liquefaction.

Figure 2. Geology regional map Bali island (Purbo

Hardiwidjojo et, al., 1998)
PROCEEDINGS
THE 49TH IAGI ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION
Lombok, December 15-18th 2020

Table 1. Formation and Litology in Research Area studies of potential liquefaction maps issued by the
Geological Agency in 2019. The potential that has been
studied so far states that earthquakes have the potential to
Depositional
Area Formation Litology cause liquefaction. In Bali, especially in the Teluk Benoa
Environment
area with a strength of >7 magnitude, but what is
Pebble, gravel, interesting is that based on the data we examined through
Aluvium sand, silt, clay, Fluvial to deltaic earthquakes data taken from the Irish Earthquake
Perancak dan conglomerate, and shallow Browser, there are several earthquakes with a history of
Palasari sandstone dan marine considerable strength. Where the earthquake with a scale
coral limestone of >6 M is precisely in the north of Bali, in the near area
Pebble, gravel, adjacent to Seririt and Gerokgak which was caused by the
Gerokgak Aluvium Fluvial to deltaic
sand, silt and clay backarc thrust flores fault activity in 1815, 1857 and 1976.
Pebble, gravel, Meanwhile in the Teluk Benoa area and the Perancak area
sand, silt, clay, itself has a history of seismicity >5 M but does not reach
Aluvium,
Lava, volcanic the 7 magnitude scale. However, what needs to be
Asah, Fluvial, Beach,
Seririt breccia andesite- observed is the existence of the hypocenter of the
Pulaki distal of volcano
basaltic, partly earthquake in the area near Teluk Benoa, to be precise in
Volcano
intercalated with 2011 off the southwest coast of Nusa Dua, there was a
limestone large earthquake measuring 6.8 M which was triggered by
Fluvial, Delta, plate subduction activity. So that so far, based on the
Teluk Pebble, gravel,
Aluvium lagoon dan history of the earthquake, the Gerokgak and Seririt areas
Benoa sand, silt and clay
beach have the potential for large-scale earthquake sources and
are thought to cause liquefaction, so based on the
parameters we studied, namely the lithological conditions,
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Level hydrogeological conditions and the history of seismicity,
the Gerokgak and Seririt areas have a high potential for
Observation of hydrogeological conditions and liquefaction events while Perancak and Benoa Bay areas
groundwater levels was carried out through several sample have medium potential. However, in Perancak and Benoa
wells which were taken at several points by observing the Bay it also needs to be considered even though the area
groundwater level and general hydrogeological has historically been less seismic than the north, but the
conditions. From the observations, it was found that the threat from the megathrust earthquake, the Nusa Penida
Perancak area had a groundwater level of 2.86 bs, the fault and the Bali Strait fault also need to be considered as
Gerokgak area had a groundwater level of 2.78 bs, the a trigger from the occurrence of liquefaction hazards. In
Seririt area had a groundwater level of 2.0 bs while the addition, it is necessary to study in more depth the
Benoa bay area had a groundwater level of 2.3 bs where existence of the earthquake hypocenter both to understand
the four have relatively the same hydrogeological active faults on land and offshore because this will also
conditions, with a medium productivity aquifer but a wide affect the size of the liquefaction.
distribution (Figure 1). This condition has the potential to
support liquefaction because the soil or layer in the area is Table 3. History Earthquake Data in Bali with > 5 M
saturated with water (saturated zone) based on its (Irish Earthquake Browser)
hydrogeological conditions.

Table 2. Water Table Data from Ground Water Well in No Year Location Coordinate Magnitude
Research Area

Coordinate 1815 North

Water offshore,
Location 1
(22
-
table/meter November Seririt,
7
S E 1815) Singaraja
Perancak 08 23' 59,1" 114 35' 10,8" 2,86
1857 Northeast
Gerokgak 08 11' 30,7" 114 48' 47,1" 2,78 2 (13 Mey offshore, - 7
1857) Karangasem
Seririt 08 08' 25,9" 115 03' 13,1" 2,0
1917 Southeast
Teluk Benoa 08 44' 32,8" 115 09' 51,0" 2,3
3 (21 January offshore - VII MM
1917) Bali

Lat= -8.14
1976 Seririt,
History of Earthquakes 4 Lon= 6,5
(14 July 1976) Singaraja
114.89
Apart from the lithological and hydrogeological
Timur
conditions, the history of earthquakes also needs to be 5 1979 - 6,3
Karangasem
considered as a measure in determining the potential for
1985 Lat= -8.25
liquefaction. In Bali itself, several liquefaction potentials Offshore,
6 (20 february Lon= 5,2
have also been studied by several researchers such as in 1985)
Karangasem
115.07
Benoa Bay by Soebowo, 2011 and 2016 and through
 PROCEEDINGS
THE 49TH IAGI ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION
Lombok, December 15-18th 2020

2011 143 km Lat= -9.69 related parties. in the mitigation of liquefaction disaster in
7 (13 October Southwest Lon= 6,8 Bali Province
2011) Nusa Dua 114.65
Southwest Lat= -9.01 Refrences
2019
8 offshore, Lon= 5,8 Buana T.W., Hermawan W., Rahdiana R.N., Wahyudin
(16 July 2019)
Jembrana 114.47
R.W., Hasibuan G., Wiyono, Sollu W.P.,
2019, Atlas Zona Kerentanan Likuefaksi
Indonesia, Badan Geologi, Bandung
Table 4. Potential Liquifaction Events in Bali
Daryono, 2011, Identifikasi Sesar Naik Belakang Busur
Earthquake History Poten
(Back Arc Thrust) Daerah Bali Berdasarkan
tial Seismisitas dan Solusi Bidang Sesar, Artikel
Litol Hidrog Earth Liquif Kebumian, Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi
Area Dir Undi dan Geofisika
ogy eology quake action
ect rect
>6 Event
Purbo-Hadiwidjojo HM (1971) Geological map Bali,
s
scale 1:250.000, Geological Survey of
Peran Mode
V V - V - Indonesia
cak rate
Gerok Soebowo E., Tohari A., Sarah D., Potensi Likuifaksi
V V V - V High
gak
Akibat Gempabumi Berdasarkan Data CPT
Seririt V V V - V High
Teluk Mode dan N-SPT di Daerah Patalan Bantul,
V V - V - Yogyakarta, Jurnal Riset Geologi dan
Benoa rate
Pertambangan Jilid 19 No.2, Hal 85-97

Conclusion Soebowo, E, Kumoro, Y, Ruslan, M, Daryono, M.R,

Besides, based on the history of seismicity in Bali, Seririt Sukaca, Widodo, 2011. Model Mitigasi
and Gerokgak has quite high liquefaction potential Bahaya Likuifaksi Untuk Daerah Rawan
because this area was listed in as the longest and biggest Gempabumi di Daerah Sanur Benoa, Bali
earthquake history in Bali on a scale of magnitude 7 in Selatan, Laporan Teknis, Puslit Geoteknologi
years 1815 and 1857 associated with an active fault Flores – LIPI, Bandung.
Back-Arc Thrust. Whereas the other regions such as
Perancak and Teluk Benoa are as well identified Soebowo E., 2016, Geologi Teknik Sedimen Kuarter dan
geologically to have liquefaction potential but there is no Bahaya Amblesan, Likuifaksi di Serangan-
events of earthquake that has happened directly, usually Tuban-Tanjung Benoa, Bali, Jurnal Riset
caused by offshore earthquakes in subduction zones. Even Geologi dan Pertambangan Vol. 26, Hal 41-
though the earthquake events may not be discovered as big 54.
as the one happened in Seririt and Gerokgak, however,
Wijaya P.A., Agastya I.A.O., Satya Y., 2020,
these areas are considerably potential to have
Identification Busungbiu Fault Zone From
liquefactions because there are active faults such as the
Gravity Data, Earthquake Data and
Nusa Penida Strait with NE-SW alignment and faults
Geological Approach, The 45th Annual
around the island of Menjangan with NW-SE alignments.
Scientific Meeting of Himpunan Ahli
Geofisika Indonesia, Surabaya
Suggestion
Further research is needed on the technical characteristics
Acknowledgements
of the soil, in order to create a simulation model of the
Thanks to the IAGI Pengda Bali Team for their input and
potential liquefaction of these areas, besides that, it is
discussion during the work on this research. Then the
necessary to re-evaluate the spatial design of each area
seniors and colleagues who cannot be named one by one
with the need to consider aspects of geological disasters
for their support in this research activity.
and the need for further synergy with the Government and

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