Structural Styles and Hydrocarbon Exploration Challenges in the Babar-Selaru Fold-Thrust-Belt, Banda Sea Region, Indonesia

Abstract

Babar-Selaru exploration block is located within the collisional boundary between Australian continental plate and Banda Arc region of Indonesia. The area is characterized by wide deformation zone comprising of complex fold-thrust-belt, involving Mesozoic and Tertiary sedimentary sequences of Australian continental margin. Several large oil and gas field were discovered mostly from Jurassic sandstone reservoir particularly in the stable part of Australian continental margin (i.e. Abadi Field and Northwest Shelf of Australia). The main purpose of this paper is presented results of detail structural analysis for ramification tectonic evolution as well as mechanism of fold-thrust-belt in the study are including their hydrocarbon exploration challenges. Exploration in the fold-thrust-belt area is challenging and often difficult particularly conducting seismic interpretation due to complex structural geometries. To resolve such as issue, in this study we apply integrated seismic interpretation, palinspatic reconstruction using balancing cross-section approach and analogue sandbox modeling. We used new acquired board band 2D and 3D seismic data tied with wells from nearby Abadi Field. Analogue sandbox modeling is used particularly for supporting seismic interpretation as well as better understanding in term of geometry and kinematics. Seismic interpretations show two styles of faults developed in the area, which are thrust and normal faults system. Although, both structural styles occurred in separated locations, they are formed not only in the same time but also related in time and space. The overall results of the study is remarkable in term of understanding mechanisms and fault kinematics within the fold-thrust-belt which in turn contributes new knowledge of the hydrocarbon prospect in the area.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90259 ©2016 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 19-22, 2016