--> ABSTRACT: Exploration of the Mesozoic in the Eastern Part of Indonesia: Its Reward and Risk, by Abdul Wahab, Luki Samuel, Nandang Heriyanto, and Pudji Astono; #91019 (1996)

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Exploration of the Mesozoic in the Eastern Part of Indonesia: Its Reward and Risk

Abdul Wahab, Luki Samuel, Nandang Heriyanto, and Pudji Astono

The eastern part of Indonesia principally comprises islands of Sulawesi, Halmahera, Maluku, Timor, and Irian Jaya. The region is structurally complex, encompassing an interaction of volcanic arcs, fold/thrust belts, micro-continents and deep ocean basins.

Tertiary and Mesozoic offer dual reservoir targets for exploration in Eastern Indonesia. The Tertiary section has been proven to produce hydrocarbons while the deeper Mesozoic section is still being examined. During the last seven years, 44 wildcat wells were drilled, 21 of them targeting Mesozoic objectives. The signs so far are encouraging with two wells penetrated Jurassic reservoirs on the Bird's Head Peninsula of Irian Jaya and one well on Seram Island, encountered significant oil and gas accumulations. These reward and other Mesozoic exploration successes in the NW Australian Shelf and the Papuan basin have attracted more exploration drilling in the region. However, not all of them have been so successful as many geological and operational risks have yet to be overcome. Mesozoic stratigraphy and structural development in Eastern Indonesia were controlled by continental breakup, collision and rapid uplift associated with folding and thrusting to arrive at the present geological framework. Severe environmental conditions, remote locations and less developed infrastructure have also made field operations difficult and expensive.

To reduce these risks Pertamina is responding by granting exploration incentives and improving the profit split. To obtain a better geological database and exploration concepts, new data acquisition and studies is encouraged.

AAPG Search and Discover Article #91019©1996 AAPG Convention and Exhibition 19-22 May 1996, San Diego, California