PROCEEDINGS

JOINT CONVENTION MALANG 2017, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI – IATMI (JCM2017)

Ijen Suites Hotel, Malang, September 25 – 28, 2017

New Perspective for Exploration: Hydrocarbon Potential of Ngimbang Formation- Northeast

Java Basin
Riky H.B Pandito1, Risdi M Zainal2, Isnaini Rahman2and Abdul Haris3
1
JOB Pertamina Petrochina Salawati
2
JOB Pertamina Petrochina East Java
3
Universitas Indonesia

Abstract Also, the deposition is not conformable over the basement

rock. The Miocene and
North East Java Basin can be classified as a mature basin
that produces hydrocarbon in Indonesia. Almost all of the
formations are proven in containing oil or gas. From Oligocene rocks are exposure to the surface in the Southern
Eocene, Oligocene, through Pliocene, from Ngimbang, mountain which is located in the south of volcanic arc.
Kujung, Ngrayong, Wonocolo, and KawenganFormation Moreover, through to north of the arc, the two components
has a potential to produce hydrocarbon. One of the are Kendeng zone and Tuban Ridge (North Rembang Zone)
formation is reef rock in the KujungFm. In 2001, one of the which located in the outcrop of Miocene to Pleistocene
oil company found the potential of that formation. Almost sediments.
102 million barrel of oil has been produced. The peak
production is in 2010, which can be more than 45.000 Data and Method
barrel of oil from those field, Sukowati. Jimbaran and
Banyu Urip are the other fields that have a target of that In this research, we explain the methods that are used. We
formation as well. In 2013, there is a drilling activity of used the general overview of geology and geophysics
exploration well (S well) in East Java basin, as good news, approachment.
they found 22 MMCFD of gas from the limestone.
Biostratigraphy analysis indicates that reservoir zone is The data that are used:
located in the Late Oligocene, Ngimbang Formation, with
the calcareous nanofossil NP25-NP24 and a shallow marine • 10 seismic line 2D
environment. • 6 well data
Several geology and geophysics approaches such as • Post drilling evaluation
depositional environment reconstruction, passive seismic • Passive seismic analysis
measurement, and seismic inversion analysis have been • Biostratigraphy analysis
done to expose the new potential in surrounding those area.
Hopefully, it will encourage the momentum in exploring, The seismic data is the most dominant data in the objective
especially going deeper to Ngimbang Formation in the area which the acquisition has been done in 2013. To
North East Java Basin. improve the its to noise ratio signal and to make sure the
consistency of amplitude in the objective zone, in the 2015
Introduction there was a seismic reprocessing activity. In general, the
reprocessing gives a better image in the time of 1.68 s.
North East Java Basin is the one of the tertiary basins in Before the seismic processing, the reflection of the
West of Indonesia, which is located in the northern part of objective area is consistently increase to the south, but after
East Java, elongated from West to East around 250 km, the reprocessing with high density velocity picking the
including Semarang-Surabaya with the 60-70 km of width. seismic reflection has a tendency to fall in the South. The
The basin is bordered by Karimun Java arc and Sunda shelf result gives the evidence that the reservoir in the objective
toward Eastern and North western, while northern and study area is carbonate build up.
western are bordered by Meratus high and Masalembo high
which is located in the South East of Kalimantan. The
South volcanic arc or magmatic arc is the border of the
basin in the East through the South. The North East Java
Basin consists of Eocene Tertiary sediment up to recent
(nowadays) which is located in the basement rock pra-
tertiary. The North East Java tertiary back-arc basin has a
relation with subduction of the ocean and continental plate.
As a result, the volcanic activity can be found in the
Tertiary which produced the sediment in the southern part
of East Java Basin. The sedimentation has begun from the
tertiary to the recent which consists of 15.000 feet more
than the previous measurement in the Eocene to recent.
PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION MALANG 2017, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI – IATMI (JCM2017)
Ijen Suites Hotel, Malang, September 25 – 28, 2017

Figure. 1 Analysis Method based on well data, Geological

Data, Passive Seismic Acquisition and Seismic Data

Figure. 3 Seismic Section A North to South as keyline.

Before seismic reprocessing (above) and after reprocessing
(below).

Figure. 2 Study Area located in East Java Basin, edge of

shorelines Result and Discussion
Seismic inversion has been done to find out the widespread
of the properties in the objective zone. The result showed
that the reservoir has a Southern distribution tendency. It
can be seen from the similarity of impedance’s
characteristic with the Swell. The characteristic of the
objective zone, which is limestone, is a high value of
impedance with yellow to red around 1.68 ms with the
direction of distribution corresponding to the previous
geological model. One of the problems in this area is the
quality of the seismic data which is bad quality and
discontinuous amplitude. It happens because the
characteristics of the inhomogeneity limestone, Sakala fault
or other surface conditions that are Pliocene Limestone
induce the penetration of seismic wave while seismic
acquisition does not guarantee an optimal result, especially
in the deeper area.
To support the hypothesis of the reservoir's lateral
distribution, an extraction data has been done by using the
PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION MALANG 2017, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI – IATMI (JCM2017)
Ijen Suites Hotel, Malang, September 25 – 28, 2017
spectral decomposition of seismic. The principal idea of
this method is using the limitation in the seismic data
between 10 Hz, 20 Hz, and 30 Hz. As a result, the objective
zone cannot be seen clearly, although the frequency is fitted
with the frequency of the reservoir, which is 20 Hz. It
happens because the influence of the limestone (Kujung
Formation) that is located overlying with Ngimbang
Formation. This formation (Kujung) has a tendency to
absorb the seismic energy in the objective zone.
Figure 4. Seismic Inversion Analysis in S Well. High
impedance in objective zone spreading to south area.
Another analysis that has been done is low seismic
frequency measurement (passive seismic) between 0.1-20
Hz. The signals are including micro seismic signal, micro
tremor, and noise from the field. The measurement has
been done with the several durations, such as; 90 minutes
until 24 hours. The result showed that the high frequency is
the difference between 90 minutes and 24 hours. The signal
from that frequency indicates as noise which can be caused
by human activities. Also, the signal at the high frequency
(above 7 Hz) is not analyzed. The measurement and
optimal analysis can be done by using the measurement
data during 90 minutes.
Figure. 5 Passive Seismic Analysis at S Well before drilling
(left) and after drilling (right). We use two attribute for
analysis, V/H ratio (above) and IZ ratio. Both of them
showing the consistency of HC signal.
Also, the research has measured an equal point with the
difference time (time lapse). The point has been measured
at the Swell both before drilling (2010) and after drilling
condition (temporary plug condition, 2015). As a result, it
showed that the consistency tendency is in the all condition.
After that, the attribute analysis of PSD IZ and V/H ratio
have been done to determine the cutoff which can be used
to determine the zone of hydrocarbon. The passive seismic
response examines been made in the eight wells. There are
four wells that contain hydrocarbon, consists of AA well,
BB, CC, and DD. While, the rest wells are dry which
consists of EE well, FF, GG, and HH. Based on the PSD IZ
distribution from the eight wells, the bottom limit of PSD
IZ distribution at the wells to contain hydrocarbons is 80.
While, the lower limit of V/H ratio is 1, which means the
domination of the signal wheatear from the top or bottom
(vertical).
Then, the one-line passive seismic analysis from North to
South is used in the both attribute. The line crossed three
wells which are gas well in the North, dry well, and oil well
in the South. By using attribute’s cut off, the hydrocarbon
potential is located in the South, especially from the point
28 to 21.
Figure. 6 Response of passive seismic from north to south
with PSD IZ attribute.With cut off PSD IZ 80, we found
another prospect in south area..
The West Tuban cross seismic reconstruction has been
done to strengthen the geological condition of the objective
area. Modeling and play type analysis for the West Tuban
has to be done by using seismic key and wells that
penetrated through the rocks as well. There is five potential
of play type. From the potential of basement rock to
Wonocolo Formation. Almost all types of a play written
have been proven by drilling wells. Only basement rock in
S well that penetrates up to 180 feet. As a result of the gas
reading on the wells decreased, the potential basement rock
PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION MALANG 2017, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI – IATMI (JCM2017)
Ijen Suites Hotel, Malang, September 25 – 28, 2017

drilling did not proceed. This does not mean that the
potential does not exist. Exploration activity still needed to
be done again to prove the hypothesis.
The hydrocarbon’s evidence in the S well drilling well is a
one of opportunity in the Ngimbang Formation. The
geological reconstruction shows that in the South area of S
well there is a remaining reservoir in the potential zone.
The recent position will generate the reservoir to be higher
than in the well. It happens because of the tectonic
activation in the Plio-Pleistocene epoch. The Sakala strike
slip fault generates some of the part in the area to be uplift.
In the Southern area, it is believed that the carbonate in the
Ngimbang formation is still developing quite well. Karang
Anyar-1 well which is located in the South area has a
potential in containing hydrocarbon. It is because the area
is fulfilling the five requirements of the petroleum system.
The area has oil trace as evidence in containing
hydrocarbon. In the other area, which is Northern of Mudi, Figure 8. Recent Model of West Tuban Block with
the carbonate of Ngimbang formation is still developing. several field in surrounding area.
By comparing the 2D cross section between Mudi and
Sukowati, the high hydrocarbon potential in the area is
likely similar with the Mudi field. Conclusion

Based on the research, it can be concluded that

reconstruction study of North East Java Basin is the main
point to analysis the development of carbonate rock
especially in the Ngimbang formation. The reconstruction
has to follow the three phases of tectonic which are Eocene
epoch, Middle Miocene, and Plio-Pleistocene. The result of
passive seismic analysis can be used as reference data. It
has been tested on more than six drilling wells in the those
area. Furthermore, Ngimbang formation still has potential
as exploration target of North East Java Basin. The South
area of S well has a hydrocarbon reserve potential around
104 mmboe, with some hypothesis that shallower reservoir
than in the S well. As a result, the drilling time will be
faster, and the cost will be cheaper than S well.

References

Figure 7 Tectonic Evolution Model in West Tuban Block.

Burgon, G.E., (1993) The Petroleum Potential of the Tuban
Block, East Java, Indonesia, Internal Report JOB
PTT, Jakarta.
Badley, E, M., (1985) Practical Seismic
Interpretation.InternationalHuman Resources
Development Corporation. Boston.
Chopra, S., danMarfurt, C., (2007) Seismic Attributes for
Prospect Identificatioin and Reservoir
Characterization, SEG - EAGE.
Lapi ITB., (2010): GGR Study of West Tuban Block and
its surrounding East Java Basin, internal report.
Palaz, I., danMarfurt, K.J., (1997): Carbonate Seismology,
Society of Exploration Geophysicist, Tulsa, 95-119.
Pandito, R.., (2016) Passive Seismic for Hydrocarbon
Indicator : between expectation and reality, 41st
HAGI Annual Meeting.
PROCEEDINGS
JOINT CONVENTION MALANG 2017, HAGI – IAGI – IAFMI – IATMI (JCM2017)
Ijen Suites Hotel, Malang, September 25 – 28, 2017

Pandito, R., Haris, A., Zainal, M, R.., (2016) New Play

Concept Analysis of Ngimbang Formation North
East Java Basin, 2nd ISCPMS 2016 Indonesia.
Payton, C.E., (1997): Seismic Stratigraphy-applications to
hydrocarbon exploration-AAPG Memoir 26, The
American Association of Petroleum Geologists,
Tulsa, 117-133.
Satyana, H, W., Review of Indonesia’s Petroleum
Exploration 2000 - 2015: Where From, 2016
Technical Symposium, Indonesia Exploration, IPA.
Syaraf, E., Simo, J. A., Carrol, A, R., dan Shields, M.,
(2005) Stratigraphic Evolution of
OligomioceneabdSiliciclastics, East Java Basin,
Indonesia, AAPG.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank you to JOB PPEJ management,
PurwoHadiSuseno, MohImron,Isnaini Rahman and all of
exploration team JOBPPEJ for continues support.