--> Abstract: Deformation Due to Eruption of a Mud Volcano: The Lusi Mud Volcano (2006-Present), East Java, by Hasanuddin Z. Abidin, Richard Davies, Mipi A. Kusuma, Prihadi Sumintadiredja, Heri Andreas, and Muhammad Gamal; #90082 (2008)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Deformation Due to Eruption of a Mud Volcano: The Lusi Mud Volcano (2006-Present), East Java

Hasanuddin Z. Abidin1, Richard Davies2, Mipi A. Kusuma1, Prihadi Sumintadiredja3, Heri Andreas1, and Muhammad Gamal1
1Geodesy, Institute of Technology Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
2Earth Sciences, Durham University Science Labs, Durham, United Kingdom
3Geology, Institute of Technology Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

Since 29th May 2006, gas and hot mud has been gushing from the ground in Sidoarjo, East Java, 35 kilometers south of Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya. Some 50,000 cubic meters of hot mud were erupting every day as of August; in September, the amount increased to some 125,000 cubic meters daily. On November 24th, a gas pipeline exploded near the mud extrusion center and killed several people. Deformation of the area is expected due to this massive mud extrusion.

GPS observations, both in campaign and continuous modes, were conducted to study this deformation phenomenon. This paper present and discuss the deformation characteristics as obtained by these GPS measurements. GPS surveys were performed on 18 stations using dual-frequency geodetic type receivers, with observation session length of about 5-7 hours. Seven GPS campaigns have been conducted so far, namely on June 2006, July 2006, August 2006, September 2006, October 2006, February 2007 and March 2007. Several GPS continuous stations are also operated to study this mud volcano related deformation. Field survey to check the surface representation of deformation phenomenon was also conducted.

Based on GPS-derived results, it is obtained that the area about 3.5 km around the extrusion center experience subsidence with the rates of about 1 to 4 cm/day, and horizontal displacements of about 0.5 to 1 cm/day. This observed deformation might consist of ground relaxation due to mudflows, loading due to weight of mud causing the area to compact, land settlement and/or geological structure/ tectonic activities. The GPS-derived deformation is consistent with InSAR-derived deformation obtained by the Japanese researchers.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa 2008 © AAPG Search and Discovery