PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar,

26 - 29 September 2011

HOW GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS LED TO A DISCOVERY: SOUTH SEBUKU-1 CASE BENGARA I PSC NORTH EAST KALIMANTAN
Andi Noventiyanto, Indra Wahyudi Exploration Division, PT Medco E&P Indonesia

ABSTRACT Sebuku-1 well was drilled by ARCO in 1976. Numerous hydrocarbon shows were encountered in the Tabul and Meliat Formations. In Sebuku-1 well, 33 sidewall core samples were taken and analyzed for light hydrocarbon yields. Data analysis showed that Heptanes accumulation was higher than many dryhole wells in other areas and considered enriched by migrated light hydrocarbon. High butane to heptanes and benzene to heptanes ratios indicated that the diffusive migration type had a large influence rather than bulk migration. It can be concluded that a nearby oil or condensate accumulation could be the source of this light hydrocarbon enrichment. New seismic interpretation indicates that the Sebuku-1 well was drilled off-structure down-dip of the northern flank of the South Sebuku structure, even though it is a gentle structure. Trap was the main geological risk. In 2009, the exploration team proposed South Sebuku-1 exploration well to prove hydrocarbon potential near Sebuku-1 well, approximately 2.4 km to the south west. The well discovered deltaic sandstone reservoir with gas and condensate in Tabul and Meliat Formations. Based on this experience, see that the geochemical analysis was helpful in predicting a nearby hydrocarbon accumulation that led to South Sebuku-1 well discovery.

INTRODUCTION Bengara I PSC is geologically located in Tarakan Basin, north-east Kalimantan (see Figure 1). Previously Bengara-I was known as part of onshore Sembakung PSC, where hydrocarbon exploration activities in 1970s and 1980s were intensively carried out by ARCO. In 1976 ARCO drilled Sebuku-1 well, which encountered indications of hydrocarbon shows. Thirty-three (33) samples from side wall cores were analyzed for hydrocarbon yield, which resulted in indications of hydrocarbon diffusion from a nearby accumulation. In 2001, Medco E&P Bengara became operator of the block and in 2003-2004 conducted a seismic acquisition program, including infill seismic near Sebuku-1 well to look for potential accumulation nearby. The first exploration well drilled by Medco E&P Bengara was Tiram-1 in 1997, in the southern part of the block, but the well was dry. Thereafter the exploration team proposed to drill South Sebuku structure. The structure was identified as gentle anticlinal closure to the south west of Sebuku-1 well. In 2009 South Sebuku-1 well exploration well was drilled and encountered gas pay in several deltaic sandstone reservoirs. Based

on this experience, this paper aims to share Medcos experience of predicting hydrocarbon accumulation by using geochemical data. DIFFUSIVE MIGRATION Interpretation of hydrocarbon shows is very useful for exploration to quantify secondary hydrocarbon migration and entrapment. In the subsurface, petroleum flow occurs by bulk transport driven by gradient in petroleum fluid potential. Capillary forces dominate viscous forces, and the flow is not turbulent. Some transportation is also driven by diffusion, occurring significantly only in the intermediate vicinity of the source rock and within a petroleum accumulation, England et al, (1987). Figure 2 illustrates the schematic of hydrocarbon flow in the carrier bed, accumulated when trapped/sealed. In a laterally continuous reservoir the rock is charged with hydrocarbons. We would generally expect to encounter two types of subsurface hydrocarbon shows. Type one would be a continuous-phase hydrocarbon occurrence that is associated with a trapped hydrocarbon accumulation of finite size. Type two would be a residual hydrocarbon stain along the migration path (Scholwater 1979).

PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

When oil accumulates in the static reservoir illustrated in Figure 3, the oil saturations as a percent of oil space increases upward through the oil column as the forces of buoyancy overcome the forces of capillary pressure. As oil saturation increases, the ability of oil to flow to the well bore increases to the point where water-free oil production occurs. The interval from water production at the base of the oil-saturated reservoir to water-free oil production higher in the reservoir is termed the oil-water transition zone. The thickness of the oil-water transition zone will depend on the capillary properties of the rock and fluid properties of the system. In the lowest zone there is still a small percentage of oil saturation, even though if perforated it will produce water only and called as water zone. When borehole penetrated this water zone with small percentage of oil, there will be seen some hydrocarbon shows. Light hydrocarbon analysis helps to quantify the type of hydrocarbon shows, whether it comes from residual show or is extended from the trapped hydrocarbon accumulation. When the oil is trapped and accumulates, hydrocarbon can still migrate through the diffusion process. Diffusion of low molecular-weight hydrocarbons in the water-saturated pore system of sedimentary rocks is a common process in the subsurface. Wherever concentration gradients develop, diffusion of mobile components should occur, especially in the contact region between gas-bearing reservoir rocks and overlying cap rocks. If the cap rocks were originally devoid or lean in hydrocarbons, one should be able to recognize concentration gradients away from this contact and extending into the cap rock, or, ideally, diffusion haloes within the cap rock strata. Low molecular weight liquid hydrocarbons partition between oil and water phases depending on their solubility. This causes a regular decrease in hydrocarbon concentration at a distance from the oil reservoir. Zarella et al. (1967) op. cit., Hunt, 1979, proposed using benzene, a highly soluble hydrocarbon, as an indicator of proximity to oil accumulation. They found that formation waters associated with production had generally higher benzene contents than those in barren areas. This paper attempts to describe the existence of the diffusion migration that occurs from the nearby petroleum

accumulation by analyzing the light hydrocarbon yields including Benzene. LIGHT HYDROCARBON ANALYSIS OF SEBUKU-1 Geochemical analysis of Sebuku-1 well was conducted in 1977. Thirty three (33) sidewall core samples were taken and analyzed for paleontology and geochemistry. The stratigraphic section penetrated by the well is characterized by amorphous sapropel and by subzones of woody and coaly kerogen. The mature section from 2000 to 5714 feet is dominated by amorphous sapropel, a good oil source. Geochemical analysis identified light hydrocarbon concentration in the side wall core sample. The term light hydrocarbon means hydrocarbon with low molecular weight, such as methane, ethane, propane and butane. In this case, the light hydrocarbon component analyzed was from ethane (C2) to heptane (C7). Analysis of light hydrocarbon of Sebuku-1 (Figure 4) showed that the heptane concentration was higher than in many dry-hole wells in other areas. The interval from 1800 to 3300 feet is considered enriched by migrated light hydrocarbons. The high butane to heptane and benzene to hexane ratios indicated that hydrocarbon shows come from diffusive type migration rather than from bulk migration/residual shows. Butane and benzene are much more mobile than their counterparts, heptane and hexane. The nearby oil or gas condensate accumulation could be the source of this light hydrocarbon enrichment. Lateral diffusion from an oil accumulation can extend at least two miles, based on ARCOs experience. There is no evidence of bulk migration of oil because none of the sixteen samples analyzed for heavy hydrocarbons show abnormal concentrations. SOUTH SEBUKU STRUCTURE After an additional seismic line was acquired in 2003, the exploration team identified that Sebuku1 was drilled off-structure, that the crest of structure was in the south-west of Sebuku-1, and that later it was called South Sebuku. Time structure maps of Miocene marker (see Figure 5) illustrate the two-way time structure after the drilling of Sebuku-1 with seismic control acquired

PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

in 1973, compared to the pre-drill map of South Sebuku-1 with additional seismic line acquired in 2003. South Sebuku structure is a faulted, simple four-way dip closure trending in west-east direction. South Sebuku structure is structurally more or less 30 ms higher than oil show bearing sandstone intervals penetrated in Sebuku-1 well. Combining the trap identified from the additional seismic line with the supporting geochemical data suggested an accumulation of hydrocarbon in the nearby Sebuku-1 and encouraged the exploration team to drill South Sebuku-1 approximately 2.8 km to the south - west of Sebuku-1 well. South Sebuku-1 drilling result indicated an accumulation of hydrocarbon gases in the reservoir at depths ranging from around 1300 ft to 2800 ft, and also one gas-bearing zone at a depth of around 4200 ft depth (Figure 6). CONCLUSION Hydrocarbon shows provide very useful information for petroleum explorers. Generally there are two types of subsurface hydrocarbon shows, a continuous-phase hydrocarbon occurrence that is associated with a trapped hydrocarbon accumulation, or a residual hydrocarbon stain along a migration path. Light hydrocarbon analysis can help to differentiate these two types of hydrocarbon shows. In this case, geochemical analysis was helpful in predicting the nearby hydrocarbon accumulation that led to South Sebuku-1 well discovery.

REFERENCE England W. A., A.S. Mackenzie, D.M. Mann, T.M. Quigley., 1987, The Movement and Entrapm,ent of Petroleum Fluids in the Subsurface, Journal of the Geological Society London, Vol. 144. Hunt. J.M., 1979, Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology, San Fransisco, W.H. Freeman, Scholwater T.T., 1979, Mechanics of Secondary Hydrocarbon Migration and Entrapment, AAPG Bulletin Vol. 63. .

PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

FIGURE 1: Location map of study area. South Sebuku-1 well is located at Bengara I PSC North East Kalimantan

FIGURE 2: Migration path of hydrocarbon (modified after Scholwater 1979). Residual stain occurs along the migration pathway and diffusion haloes can occur from the trapped hydrocarbon.

PROCEEDING PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

FIGURE 3. Illustration of oil accumulation in the static reservoir (modified after Scholwater 1979). In the water zone there is still occur some small percentage of oil saturation illustrating how diffusion process occurs from an accumulation.

FIGURE 4: Light hydrocarbon ydrocarbon analysis of Sebuku-1 well. The interval from 1800 to 3300 feet is considered enriched by migrated light hydrocarbons.

PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

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FIGURE 5: Structural trap identification. Time structure map pre drill South Sebuku-1 showing a closure of South Sebuku structure.

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PROCEEDINGS JCM MAKASSAR 2011 THE 36th HAGI and 40th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition Makassar, 26 - 29 September 2011

Figure 6: Arbitrary line crossing Sebuku-1 to South Sebuku-1. In general South Sebuku-1 is 30 ms higher than Sebuku-1.