Abstract: International Megaregional Project--Principles and Results of a Regional Study in Eastern Indonesia

Allen J. Bertagne, Nat G. Smith, Djoko Purnomo

The International Megaregional Project is a worldwide project involving the compilation and interpretation of long regional seismic lines that cross several basins with the same transect. The goal of the project is to synthesize the current geologic knowledge of the areas traversed and to identify new areas of exploration interest. The international megaregional framework that has been established serves as a focus for the geologic efforts and seismic data compilation. This work is conducted with the cooperation of a consortium of multinational oil companies as well as host governments.

Megaregional lines can provide new insights into (1) what is and is not basement, (2) maturation history and migration pathways, (3) regional structure, and (4) regional stratigraphy. The lines can thereby lead to the development of new exploration concepts.

The poster session includes examples of several completed megaregional lines, with an emphasis on three areas in eastern Indonesia and another east of Natuna Island. A chief goal of this project will be to demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast tectonic and depositional styles and petroleum systems along a given line or between lines in areas quite removed from each other as a technical strategic planning tool for hydrocarbon exploration. The project is based on 4700 km of state-of-the-art marine seismic data acquired in 1993.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90982©1994 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 21-24, 1994