INDONESIAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOLOGISTS (IAGI)

Giant Field and New Exploration Concepts Seminar

Jakarta, 17 October 2002

Oligo-Miocene Reefs : East Javas Giant Fields

Awang H. Satyana

Exploration Department, Badan Pelaksana Migas

Gedung Patra Jasa Lt. 22, Jalan Jenderal Gatot Subroto, Kav. 32-34, Jakarta 12950, phone :
62-21-3816164, e-mail : awangsatyana@yahoo.com

Abstract

Two giant fields composing of the Oligo-Miocene carbonates and reefs have been discovered
recently in the East Java Basin. They are the Bukit Tua-Jenggolo (Gulf/ConocoPhillips Ketapang,
2001) and the Banyu Urip (ExxonMobil Cepu, 2001). These two fields represent the Kujung-
Prupuh carbonate sedimentation on the land-attached platform and the offshore isolated platform,
respectively. Geologic factors leading to the formation of giant field is presented and general
lessons are outlined. It is obvious that geology and petroleum systems elements should be cross-
related for giant field to form. We should be encouraged and comforted in the knowledge that
giant fields do exist in the East Java Basin and there are more remain to be found

Introduction

East Java Basin presents a good example for discovery of giant field in basin which has been
explored for more than 100 years. The East Java Basin was started being explored in the late
1800s. The first commercial discovery was Kuti Anyar Field, near Surabaya in 1888. The basin
had mainly been explored for the Miocene Ngrayong clastics. After more than 100 year-
exploration and production, in 2000/2001 it is obvious that this basin still owns substantial oil
and gas accumulations hidden so far for more than 100 years below the Ngrayong clastics and
stored within the Oligo-Miocene carbonates/reefs of the Kujung-Prupuh-Tuban-Rancak.

The oils from these carbonates have actually been found since 1970 (Cities Services JS-1 well)
in offshore areas and 1994 (Pertamina-Santa Fes Mudi-1 well) in onshore areas. However, year
2000/2001 marked the significant turning exploration trend at which Oligo-Miocene reefs have
become the primary target. This has lead to the discoveries of the giant fields.

Significant Recent Discoveries and Future Potential

Year 2000/2001 marked the beginning of the new millennium, new century, and actually the
beginning of large-giant oil and gas discoveries within the East Java Basin. These recent
discoveries have been reported by Satyana and Darwis (2001). There were 22 exploration wells
drilled in the basin during 2000/2001 targeted into the Oligo-Miocene reefs and 15 of which
found hydrocarbons resulting in almost 70 % success ratio. The most significant discoveries
during the period were : Banyu Urip-1 (ExxonMobil Cepu, tested 3985 BOPD), Sukowati-1

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(JOB Pertamina-Devon/now PetroChina Tuban, tested 7697 BOPD), Bukit Tua-1 (Gulf/now
ConocoPhillips Ketapang, tested 7361 BOPD), and Jenggolo-1 (Gulf, tested 3602 BOPD)
(Figure 1).

Up to 2001, the recent discoveries from the Oligo-Miocene reefs of East Java have contributed
new hydrocarbon recoverable reserves in excess of 880 MMBO and 600 BCF gas. This number
is continually increasing since 2002s exploration drillings still show success story.

Total resources (in place) of prospects and leads of the PSC contractors working in the East Java
Basin from the Oligo-Miocene reefs are around 15 BBO and 19 TCFG or 18 BBOE (billion
barrels oil equivalent) from 45 prospects and 43 leads. Future prosperity of East Java is within
these Oligo-Miocene reefs.

Tectonic and Stratigraphic Setting

Located at the southeastern margin of the Sundaland, the East Java Basin has recorded an active
geodynamic history. The basin developed from an oceanic basin in front of the Late Cretaceous
subduction zone to presently a backarc basin behind the volcanic arc. Three main structural
configurations can be established from north to south : the Northern Platform, the Central Deep,
and the Southern Uplift (Figure 1).

Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary tectonism segmented the East Javas basement into a series of
SW-NE graben and horst areas (Figure 2). Syn-rift deposits of non-marine to marginal marine
sediments of early to middle Eocene Lower Ngimbang sediments were deposited in the graben
areas. Marine transgression took place during the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene and deposited
post-rift Upper Ngimbang and CD shales and carbonates in graben and horst areas. After a
mid-Oligocene uplift and limited sands were deposited at shallow areas, the transgression
regionally flooded the basin during the late Oligocene to early Miocene. Post-rift to sag deposits
of Kujung siliciclastic and carbonates were deposited during this period. Transgressive
carbonates dominated during the tectonic quiescence in the early Miocene and consist of the
Kujung I/Tuban/Prupuh/Lower OK, and Rancak Formations/Member.

Tectonic inversion history starting in the base middle Miocene and related with the subduction
switch from SW-NE during the Late Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary to an E-W trend during the
Oligocene and onward up to the present day. The Ngrayong sands/Upper OK/base Wonocolo
Members were deposited at the basal middle Miocene. Transgressive shallow marine deposition
re-established since the deposition of Ngrayong sands and continued into Plio-Pleistocene time.
This was interrupted by several local regression related with the inversion history along the zone
of Rembang-Madura-Kangean wrench zone (Figure 1). Sediments of Wonocolo, Mundu,
Paciran, and Lidah Formations were deposited during the periods. These consist of shales
interbedded with sands and carbonates comprising shallowing depositional environments.
Volcano-clastic sediments poured into the deposition during the Plio-Pleistocene time. The
compressive activity reached its peak in Plio-Pleistocene time when regionally intense
deformation occurred. Reverse and wrench fault movements occurred along some old graben
boundary faults. To the south, thin skinned thrusting occurred in the Kendeng Zone.

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Sedimentation of the Oligo-Miocene Carbonates/Reefs

The Kujung-Prupuh-Tuban-Rancak carbonate formations represent a phase of continuous

transgression during the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene. The Kujung Formation is divided into
three units : Kujung III, II, and I (Kenyon, 1976). The basal Kujung III is a clastic-rich
regressive sequence. Kujung II is a transgressive sequence of shallow water carbonates and
calcareous shales with localized carbonate build-ups over high areas. By Early Miocene, most of
the region was undergoing carbonate sedimentation depositing Kujung I (Prupuh Member)
carbonates. High-energy clean limestones and common reefal build-ups developed. Early
Miocene Tuban and Rancak carbonates ended a series of Oligo-Miocene carbonate
sedimentation.

Two modes of Oligo-Miocene carbonate deposition can be distinguished : (1) deposition on a

land-attached platform, and (2) deposition on offshore isolated platforms (Figures 2, 3). A
continuous southwest-northeast-turning to west-east trending Oligo-Miocene shelf-edge bordered
these two domains of deposition. The bending of the shelf edge border from trending SW-NE
into west-east occurred to the south of Semarang and actually may represent two different
principal tectonic trends during the Paleogene and Neogene. The shelf-edge barrier has remained
in its present position during the Tertiary and has accommodated the change of sediments from
northern shelf to southern deep-water deposition from the period of Kujung to Ngrayong
sedimentation.

To the north of the shelf-edge barrier, the deposition of the Oligo-Miocene carbonates/reefs were
controlled by the segmented basements of the land-attached platform (Figure 2). The segmented
basement formed a number of horsts and grabens trending roughly southwest-northeast
facilitating the deposition of the carbonates. From west to east, the main horsts and grabens are :
the Karimunjawa Arch (horst), the Muriah Trough (graben), the Bawean Arch, the
Tuban/Bawean-Florence Trough, the JS 1 Ridge (horst), the Central Deep-Masalembo Trough,
the North Madura Platform (horst), the JS 5 Trough and the Sibaru Platform. Three carbonate
reef facies are recognized within this area (Figures 3, 4) : (1) fringing reef at rim of basement, (2)
basinal lime mud mound, and (3) patchreef over platform. Fringing reef at rim of basement is
characterized by extensive shoal water carbonate deposition, Camar Field is of this type. Basinal
lime mud mound is a shallow basinal area of open marine, fine clastic and low energy limestone
deposition, KE-5 and Poleng Fields are of this type. Patchreef over platform is an extensive, east-
west positive area of shallow water carbonate deposition characterized by a wave-washed, high
energy bank edge. The Bukit Tua-Jenggolo giant fields is of this type. In this northern platform,
reefal build-ups occurred mostly along the shelf margin and along the fault bounded basin
margins of the structural units. They are less developed in the more northerly shelf areas where
the rate of subsidence was insufficient to allow substantial vertical growth.

On the shelf-edge area, one type of carbonate facies is recognized namely the shelf edge barrier
reef (Figures 3, 4) characterized by a wave-washed, high energy bank edge along the southern
margin. The Ujung Pangkah, KE-2, and KE-30 fields are of this type.

To the south of the Paleogene shelf-edge barrier, the deposition of the Oligo-Miocene
carbonates/reefs were controlled by the segmented basements of the offshore isolated platform
(Figure 2). The segmented basement formed a number of horsts and grabens trending roughly

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WSW-ENE and laterally far much narrower than their counterparts in the northern land-attached
platform. These isolated highs are faulted basement highs. Reefs grew above these highs. From
west to east, the horsts and grabens are : the Pati Trough, the West Cepu High, the Kening
Trough, the East Cepu High, the Ngimbang Deep, the Kemandung Ridge, the North BD Half
Graben, the BD Ridge, the South BD Half Graben, the Central High-Southern Deep-South High
to the south of the Kangean Island. Carbonate facies developed off the shelf edge is called
pinnacle reef over offshore isolated platform since only pinnacle reefs on local paleo-highs were
able to keep pace with transgression (Figures 3, 4). The giant Banyu Urip Field is of this type.

Geologic Factors Controlling the Giant Fields

Recent hydrocarbon discoveries within the Oligo-Miocene carbonates/reefs of the East Java
Basin reflect the effectiveness of the related petroleum system involving mature source rocks
(kitchen area), migration pathways, good carbonate reservoirs, resilient seals, and good
stratigraphic traps (Figure 5). This is supported by match timing of generation-migration-
trapping and good preserved accumulation.

Bukit Tua-Jenggolo

Bukit Tua and Jenggolo structures are located at the northwestern part of the Ketapang Block
operated by Gulf Indonesia Resources (now ConocoPhillips) since 1998. The objectives of the
Bukit Tua-Jenggolo are Kujung I-III and basal sandstones.The two structures are separated by
low-relief saddle area at Kujung levels. The structures share one structure at basement level. The
Kujung carbonates of Bukit Tua and Jenggolo developed on the uplifted northwestern margin of
the North Madura Platform. The Bukit-Tua Jenggolo are very low-relief large Kujung
carbonate build-ups fringing shelf platforms (Caughey, 2001).

The recoverable reserves of the Bukit Tua-Jenggolo are estimated 300 to 400 MMBO and 100
BCFG. Bukit Tua-1 (2001) tested 7361 BOPD and 9.1 MMCFGPD (Harris, 2001a), Jenggolo-1
tested 3602 BOPD and 11.26 MMCFGPD from Kujung III-I.

Porosity development in this area may result from repeated exposure in the crest of the old
Madura Platform (Caughey, 2001; Mudjiono and Pireno, 2001). Migration pathways connect
these reservoirs to source kitchens via permeable Kujung I carbonates and near-basement carrier
beds such as basal clastics and Ngimbang and Kujung II/III carbonates. Faults are important to
connect source kitchens to carrier beds, which then transport hydrocarbons updip into traps.

The basement high underlying the Jenggolo adjoins the Central Deep source kitchen from which
hydrocarbons were derived. The Bukit Tua located more to the east is also well positioned for
hydrocarbon charge from Madura Basin (Figure 5). The source rocks are organic rich shales
(0.82 to 3.9 % TOC) and some coals (more than 40 % TOC) of the Eocene Ngimbang Formation.
The source rocks are of marginal marine, deltaic, and lacustrine origin of types I-III. Maximum
generation occurred during a broad span of time from Late Oligocene to Pleistocene (Mudjiono
and Pireno, 2001). Oil generation in the Madura Sub-Basin reached maximum generation during
the Late Miocene to Pleistocene.

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Shales in the Tuban Formation provides a regionally extensive seal. Intraformational shales in the
Kujung provide local seals.

Banyu Urip

Banyu Urip Field is located within onshore East-Central Java TAC (technical assistance contract)
block operated firstly by Humpuss Patragas in 1990. Since 2000, ExxonMobil operated this
block.

Banyu Urip structure is a high (around 1000 meters) and large-relief Oligo-Miocene Kujung to
Prupuh carbonate reefs developed on the offshore isolated platform of the East Cepu High.
Within this high are also located reefs of Mudi, Sukowati, Kedung Tuban - Randu Blatung
(Purwaningsih et al., 2002), Cendana, and Jambaran which all discovered oil and gas. Banyu
Urip is a pinnacle reef off the shelf-edge.

Banyu Urip structure was identified in 1998. The prospectivity of this structure was originally
proved by the Banyu Urip-3 (2001) well testing 3817 BOPD from Prupuh (equivalent with Early
Miocene Kujung I) carbonates. Banyu Urip-1 well located on the crest of structure suspended by
the first operator was continued to be drilled and tested 3985 BOPD from the Prupuh carbonates.
The published number of recoverable reserve of the Banyu Urip is 250 MMBO (Harris, 2001b)
with a maximum gross oil column of around 900 ft and almost 600 ft gas column of overlying
clastic section. However, maximum estimate recoverable reserve up to 700 MMBO and 600
BCFG is indicated.

Kujung-Prupuh-Tuban limestones of the Banyu Urip and other carbonate reservoirs of the
pinnacle reefs within the East Cepu High show good to excellent porosities of average 20-30 %.
Secondary porosity developed in vadose diagenetic zone is possible considering exposure when
the sea level dropped at 21 Ma (mid-Early Miocene time) (Koesoemo, 2000; 2002).

Eocene Ngimbang, Late Oligocene Kujung II/III, and Early Miocene Tuban shales and coals
deposited within the graben areas surrounding the East Cepu High (to the north is Kening Trough
and to the south is Ngimbang Trough) are source rocks generated hydrocarbons for the Banyu
Urip and other reefs on the high (Satyana and Purwaningsih, 2002) (Figure 5). Maturation of the
source was influenced by the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene inversion along the Rembang-
Madura-Kangean zone. Sources deposited at the flank of inverted structures became mature due
to subsiding into the oil window by isostatic compensation of the uplift inversion. Charging of
hydrocarbons took place through lateral migration by carrier beds or by interfaces between
Kujung-Tuban reservoirs and the sources as well as through faults from the older sources.

Shales in the Tuban Formation provides a regionally extensive seal. Intraformational shales in the
Kujung provide local seals.

General Lessons

The above two examples of giant fields of the Oligo-Miocene carbonates/reefs in the East Java
Basin present general lessons for requisites of giant field formation. Trap should be large in

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volume. Laterally, it can relatively limited but vertically very thick (Banyu Urip), or vertically
not thick but laterally broad (Bukit Tua-Jenggolo). Reservoir should be good to excellent, having
positive diagenetic alteration due to exposure history. The trap should be located frontal or very
close to more than one kitchen areas with mature organic-rich multiple source rocks. Bounding
fault to kitchen should be present to deliver generated hydrocarbons which then will associate
with porous carrier beds. Regional thick top and lateral seal and local intraformational seal should
be present.

Conclusions

Oligo-Miocene carbonates of the East Java Basin consisting of the Kujung-Prupuh-Tuban-

Rancak carbonates and reefs present large to giant hydrocarbon accumulations as revealed by the
recent discoveries. The carbonate deposition can be distinguished into two modes of
sedimentation : (1) carbonate deposition on land-attached platform (now offshore East Java), and
(2) carbonate deposition on offshore isolated platform (now onshore East Java). The giant field of
Bukit Tua-Jenggolo represents the first mode as low-relief reefs fringing the uplifted shelf
platform, and the giant field of the Banyu Urip represents the second mode as pinnacle reef
growing on faulted isolated platform. Petroleum systems elements of the two fields support the
requisites for formation of giant field.

Acknowledgments

Some data presented in this paper are unpublished and made available by the PSC contractors
working in the East Java Basin under supervision of the Badan Pelaksana Migas. The reserve
data are roughly and intentionally not detailed. I acknowledge explorationists providing the data,
especially of the Gulf Ketapang and the ExxonMobil Cepu. I thank Margaretha Eka (Geology
Institute of Technology Bandung) for sharing ideas on the western East Cepu Highs carbonates.

References

Caughey, C., 2001, Madura wildcat brings long awaited success to East Java, in M. Bennet, ed.,
Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) Newsletter June 2001, p. 6-7.
Harris, M., 2001a, E and P highlights January to May 2001, in M. Bennet, ed., Indonesian
Petroleum Association (IPA) Newsletter June 2001, p. 4-5.
Harris, M., 2001b, East Java the Kujung Formation revisited, in M. Bennet, ed., Indonesian
Petroleum Association (IPA) Newsletter October 2001.
Kenyon, C.S., 1976, Early Miocene carbonate depositional environments, East Java Sea,
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Koesoemo, M.Y.P., 2000, Prupuh Oligomiocene Carbonate Buildup Play System in Cepu Area,
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Koesoemo, M.Y.P., 2002, The Geology and Hydrocarbon System of the Giant Field at Cepu
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Mudjiono, R. and Pireno, G.E., 2001, Exploration of the North Madura Platform, Offshore East
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Purwaningsih, M.E.M., Satyana, A.H., Budiyani, S., Noeradi, D., and Halik, N.M., 2002,
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Satyana, A.H. and Purwaningsih, M.E.M., 2002, Geochemistry and habitat of oil and gas in the
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AHS/east java giants/13-10-2002

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