IX.

1 INTRODUCTION
The first geological research after the second world-war on the Halmahera region has
been carried out by Van Bemmelen, as it reported in his famous book: "The Geology of
Indonesia (1949).
Obi Island is separated from Bacan and Halmahera by a strand of the Sorong Fault
strikeslip system. Its paleogeographic relations to the other two islands are unknown.
Obi differs from Bacan and Halmahera by the absence of volcanic rocks of Neogene age.
It appears not to have a direct relation to a presently active subduction system.
IX.2 REGIONAL GEOLOGY
IX.2.1 Tectonic Setting
The Halmahera Island has complex tectonic history, since the area is situated in a triple
plates junction of Philippine Oceanic Plate, Australian Continental Plate and Eurasian
Continental Plate (Figure 1). In the North of the region, the Philippine oceanic plate
moves eastward and subducted beneath the northern part of Halmahera Island. This
plate subduction continued to the southern part of Phillipine Arc. Whilst in the South,
the Australian continental plate moves relatively along the NE and is bounded by the
sinistral Sorong Fault. An oceanic plate of Molucca adjacent to the Halmahera Island
subducted in the West beneath the SangiheArc and in the East beneath Halmahera
(Figure 2).
To the South, there are three plate movements along the Sorong Fault Zone, which
drifted to the West continental fragments from the northern part of Papua New Guinea.
In the southeast part of Halmahera Island, the platelet comprises of thin layer of
Palaeogene coaly limestone. The limestone deposited overlies Pre-Tertiary ultrabasic
igneous
basement rock.
A NW-SE trending fault of Akamalo separated the Halmahera region from its northern
part. The Akamalo Fault may be activated by the Sorong Fault System which trends EastWest. The fault activation resulted in deep basin formation in the Weda Bay. The basin
has been filled of 20.000 feet thick of Palaeozoicum to Pleistocene sedimentary rocks.
The Weda Bay Basin itself has wide of 15.000 Km2.
Widi Shelf is a relatively basement high adjacent to the southwest part of the Weda Bay
Basin, which separated one each other by strike slip Widi fault. Miocene reefal carbonates
growth up on the Widi Shelf and has been growing up recently on the northern and
eastern parts of the shelf. Whereas, in the southern boundary of Widi Shelf there was

possibility that grabens developed on the Miocene Carbonate Unit. The shelf itself has
slowly been tilted to the northwest and passed up the Miocene carbonate level. The
uplifting, in turn, resulted in reformation of the Tertiary Southern Halmahera Basin, which
its provenance was the southeast onshore of Halmahera. The basin has wide of 1.700
km2, and filled by a 15.000 feet thick of Tertiary sediment.
A compressional zone of the uplifted Neogene bounded the Western part of Southern
Halmahera Basin and the Weda Bay Basin by sediment. The western area to the
compressional zone was deposited by Oligocene fore-arc sediment and OHA volcanic, as
the results of Palaeogene arch subduction.
IX.2.2 Stratigraphy
Halmahera Basin Sedimentary rocks with age of Mesozoic and Tertiary were deposited
more than 20.000 feet in the Weda Bay Basin, whereas, in the southern Halmahera Basin
more than 15.000 feet sediments were deposited since early Tertiary (Figure 3). The
onshore Halmahera stratigraphy is quite confusing because of limitation of the outcrops,
especially in the southern part of the island. In contras, the offshore stratigraphy is clear
and even can be correlated to the wells in the outside basins, such as Salawati basin to
the southeast.
The basement rocks in the Weda Basin consists of turbidity sandstones, shale and coal
derivated from Sibela-Tapas Formation, which was metamorphed and equals to Devonian
Kemum Formation in the Bird Head.
Pre-Mesozoic Carbonate Formation unconformably overlies the Permian fluvio-deltaic
sandstone, shale and coal basement The upper part of the pre-Mesozoic Formation
composes of oAdized clastics of red bed. Jurassic-Cretaceous (Mesozoic) rocks consist of
intercalation of shale, sandstone and fluvio-deltaic shale which unconformably overlies
the pre-Mesozoic sediments.
The Tertiary rocks unconformably deposited overlie the older sediments. In general, the
Tertiary rocks compose of shallow marine limestone, marl, shale, sandstone and coal.
In the Miocene time thick limestone of reefal, banks and platform carbonates was
conformably deposited overlies the older sedment in the Abda Bay Balm but it deposited
unconformably overlies the older sediment in the SoAh Halmahera Balm The carbonate
had been growth up to the Pliocene time, before it covered by marine claystone. In the
Plio-Pleistocene time, tectonic activities increased in Halmahera and its suuounding
region, coinaidentally with ophmurn of movement intensity along the Sorong Fault
Zone, so that baln subsidence and rocks deposition in the Weda Bay Basin increased

very fast. This Plio-Pleistocene sequence composed by volcano-clastic deposits at the

western pat of Halmahera, adjacent to the recent volcanic arch and shallow-deep
marine claystone deposited in the Weda Bay Bast.
Obi Basin
Ophiolitic Basement Complex
All members of a complete ophiolites sequence (oceanic crust) have been identified in
the Obi geology, hom ultramafic rocks to gabbros and volcanics. The ultramafic complex
must have a tectonic contact with the metamorphosed sedimentary unit in the
basement of Obi and with the Jurassic Leleosasso Formation, which is assumed to
overlay that unit. The nature of the contactis not dear but may be an unconformity.
Based on similarities with the ophiolites in the basement of Halmahera, a Cretaceous
age of the ultramafic complex can be expected. The complex is widely present along the
western and northwestern coast of Obi as well as in the central parts of the island.
Metamorphic Basement Complex .
The rocks are assumed to represent a corlineMal fragment Contacts of the metamorphc
rocks on Tapas Island are only with unconformably overlying Pleistocene reef
limestones. The rocks are of unknown age. The metamorphosed sediments occur rather
isolated from the surrounding geological units.
Leleosasso Formation
Leleosasso Formation consists of calcilutites associated with deformed shales and quartz
sandstone turbidities, where several beds are internally laminated. It is deposited in a
continental slope environment. No contacts have ever been reported. The Jurassic age for
these sediments is based on the similarities of the formation with Jurassic sediments
elsewhere in Eastern Indonesia. The largest occurrences of the Leleosasso Formation are
shown on the southern and eastern coast of Obi Latu, to the NW of Obi. Paleogene Volcanics
and Volcaniclastics Widely distributed volcanic and volcaniclastics rocks in Obi are preMiocene age and are assumed to be Paleogene to Early Miocene in age (Sudana and Yasin,
1983). They have an unconformably position underneath Miocene Limestones of the Fluk
Formation. The unit occupies the central part of Obi.
Fluk Formation
Massive calcilutites with abundant larger foraminifera and shell fragments outcrop at the
northern coast of Bisa Island, to the North of Obi. In southeastern Obi, Middle to Late
Miocene calcarenites are unconformably overlying volcanic rocks. These limestones
belong to the Fluk Formation of Early-Middle Miocene age (Sudana and Yasin, 1983).

Composition and age indicate that limestones are the lateral equivalent of the TingTeng
Formation of Halmahera and the Ruta Formation of Bacan.

Woi, Obit andAnggaiFormation

The Early to Middle Miocene limestones of the Fluk Formation are unconformably covered
by a large variety of Late Miocene to Pleistocene clastic sediments and coral reef
limestones. The sediments are subdivided into three formations; the Woi consists of
sandstone, conglomerate and marl, the Obit composed by volcanic breccia and andesitic
lava with tuffaceous sandstone and clay intercalation, and the Anggai consists of
limestone.
IX.3 PETROLEUM SYSTEM
IX.3.1 Source Rock
Halmahera Basin Analoging the Weda Bay Basin to the Bird Head region, therefore,
the hydrocarbon source rocks potential are shale, claystone and coal from swamp
deposit with age of late Permian. Transition deposit of early-middle Jurassic coaly
shale and Palaeocene marine deposits of shale and fine grained limestone are also
source rocks for the basin. In addition to these, Eocene transition deposits of coal and
shale, Miocene deep marine deposits of shale and fine grained limestone and Late
Miocene marine deposit of shale are also source rocks forthe Weda Bay and South
Halmahera Basins.
Burial history and maturity analysis on the Weda Bay Basin indicates that early
hydrocarbon generation was in Early Jurassic and continued to Recent time for the
other source rocks. Almost of the structures created during Middle Jurassic,
Cretaceous, Early Tertiary, Oligocene, Middle Miocene and Pliocene time are possible
for

facilitating

for

hydrocarbon

accumulation.

The

Mesozoic

deposits,

which

experienced basin subsidence during Late Miocene-Pliocene, are being maturity

reference for any potential source rocks in the basin.
Burial history and maturity analysis on the South Halmahera Basin indicated that
thermal maturation for the source rocks was happened during early Tertiary Late
Miocene and covering the area of 500 km2. If the hydrocarbon generation and
migration really existed, than they should be accumulated during Late MiocenePliocene time and even continued to the Recent. This condition applied to the Salawati
Basin.

Obi Basin
The few isolated outcrops of Jurassic sediments reported from Obi Island have been
describe as black shales (Hall et al, 1988) but there are no source rock data from
these sediments. One oil seep has been reported from Gommu Island, to the south of
Obi, which has not been confirmed a second time or could be proven natural.
IX.3.2 Reservoir Rock Weda
Bay Basin
The potential reservoir rocks in the Weda Bay Basin are Late Permian fluvio-deltaic
sandstones. The sandstone has good reservoir quality equal to Permian Aifam sandstones,
which produced 40 MMCFGPD from well Mogoi Deep-1, to the southeast Bintuni Basin. The
other Early-Middle Jurassic fluvio-deltaic sandstones equal to the reservoir rocks in the giant
oil field Wiriagar /Tangguh, which has gas reserve of 17 TCF. Carbonaceous fluvio-deltaic
sandstone and Palaeocene-Eocene sandstone and carbonate also have moderate-good
reservoir quality. Miocene carbonate equals to the hydrocarbon producing Kais limestone in
Salawati Basin. Tough seismic analysis predicted that carbonate build-up in the Weda Basin
was not well developed but high energy shelf/platform carbonate would have wide
distribution in the basin.
South Halmahera Basin
The main reservoir rocks in the South Halmahera Basin is Miocene carbonate which equals
to Kais Carbonate. The reservoir carbonate composed by reef carbonate and shallow shelf
carbonate deposit. In the Salawati Basin, the same reservoir has moderate - excellent
reservoir quality. Reef carbonate of Kais in the oil fields: Walio, Kasim and Cendrawasih
have porosity of 25-30%. In several oilfields in the Salawati Basin, such as Kasim,
Cendrawasih, Jaya, Sele, Linda, Matoa, Baratlaut Obi and Arar, the main reservoir rocks
are the Miocene Kais limestones. This carbonate possibly well developed in the south
Halmahera Basin.
Obi Basin
The entire Tertiary stratigraphy of Obi is very poor in quartz. Sandstones are all lithic in
composition and poorly sorted or very fine grained. Coral reefs offer the best reservoirs in
the area.
IX.3.3 Seals
Halmahera Basin Seals in the Weda Bay Basin composed of intraformational shale and
claystone, which covered the pre- Miocene carbonate reservoir.

Seals at the lowest level of Miocene reef consisted of Miocene calcareous shale, and deep
marine sandstone. The off-reef equals to the Miocene carbonate. Whereas the top seal
should be the same with the lowest carbonate build-up level, when the very thick
mudstone of late Miocene Weda Group produced excellent seals for the highest reef level.
Ifthe potential Weda reservoir really existed, it should exist within the claystone.
Plio-Pleistocene sequence of volcano-clastic presents in the west Halmahera, close to
the Recent volcanic arc. Whereas, in the Weda Bay Basin deposited a shallow-deep
marine claystone.
Obi Basin
The Obi stratigraphy is poor in clays. Real clay units are apparently missing and this is
thought to be the immediate effect of the composition of the eroding areas that
provided the clastic sediments.
IX.3.4 Traps
Halmahera Basin There are two main hydrocarbon traps in the Halmahera block, they
are: structure and stratigraphy traps.
Structural Traps
The structural traps are anticlines and faults, which dominated in the northern part of
the Weda Bay Basin. The anticlines associated with faults. The anticlines have NorthSouth trend and perpendicular to the main compressional stress, which trends EastWest, same as the plate collision.
The first period of regional fault system is trending East-West, as shown by East-West
trending Akemalo fault. This crossed the northern part of Weda Bay basin. Some
prospects and leads are identified along the fault.
Stratigraphic Traps
The stratigraphic trap in the South Halmahera Basin comprises of carbonate build-up,
which well developed in the basin. Equals to those in the Salawati Basin, the Miocene
Carbonate Formation was well developed and has a shallow shelf facies with strong
energy and reef facies. The other traps are sandstone lenses and slope and floor fans
deposits.
Obi Basin
Hydrocarbon traps in the basin compose of stratigraphy and structure traps. The main
stratigraphy trap is coral reef limestones of Late Miocene-Pleistocene Anggai Formation.
The structural trap is anticlines related fault.

IX.3.5 Migration Pathway

The source rocks are present within the deeper part of the basin and oil migration into the
reefs through the Widi Fault System. During Late Miocene, migration took place from a
kitchen area to the south. Some of oil trapped in reef reservoir before tilting of the Widi
Shelf and subsequently retained. More promising migration path may occur from the East
of the Widi Shelf where the bounding fault is oriented North-South.
IX.4 Hydrocarbon Play Weda Bay Basin
The potential play in the Weda Bay Basin is Late Permian fluvio-deltaic sandstones, which
has good reservoir quality equal to Permian Aifam sandstones in the Bintuni Basin.
Hydrocarbon potential in this play sourced from shale, claystone and coal, which deposited
in the swamp with age of Late Permian.
The other potential play in the Weda Bay Basin is Early-Middle Jurassic fluvio-deltaic
sandstones, carbonaceous fluvio-deltaic sandstone and Palaeocene-Eocene sandstone.
Miocene carbonate equals to the hydrocarbon producing Kais limestone in Salawati Basin is
the other objective play which sourced by argillaceous shale and Early Miocene Mudstone
and Coals. The hydrocarbon trapping in the Weda Bay Basin is mainly structural trap,
which dominated in the north part of Weda Bay Basin (Figure 3).
South Halmahera Basin
The main potential hydrocarbon play in the South Halmahera Basin is Miocene carbonate
which equals to Kais Carbonate. The reservoir carbonate composed by reef carbonate and
shallow shelf carbonate deposit.
Eocene transition deposits of coal and shale, Miocene deep marine deposits of shale and
fine grained limestone and Late Miocene marine deposit of shale are the source rocks for
the Miocene Carbonate Play. The Hydrocarbon trapping in the South Halmahera Basin is
mainly stratigraphic trap comprises carbonate build-up (Figure 4).
Obi Basin
The main hydrocarbon play for the basin is coral reef carbonate play of the Late MiocenePleistocene Anggai Formation.
References
Darman H., and Hasan Sidi F., 2000, An Outline of The Geology of Indonesia, Published by
IAGI-2000, pp 131-140.
Mobil-GRDC, 1993, Geology and Hydrocarbon Prospects of Halmahera, Bacan and Obi, East
Indonesia.