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TERTIARY TECTONIC OF BARITO BASIN, SOUTH

EAST KALIMANTAN, AND IMPLICATION FOR
PETROLEUM SYSTEM

Conference Paper November 2009

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 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009

TERTIARY TECTONIC OF BARITO BASIN, SOUTH EAST KALIMANTAN, AND

IMPLICATION FOR PETROLEUM SYSTEM

Lolita Marheni1), Reski Aditiyo1), Alanta Elyan Putra1), Esti Anggraeni1)

1)
Undergraduate Student, Department of Geological Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung 40132,
Email: marheni_lolita@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT sequence as the transgression progressively

Barito Basin is one of producing basins in
Indonesia. It is located in Southeast Kalimantan
along the southeastern edge of stable Sundaland
continent. This basin has produced about more than
800 MM bbls of oil (in place) so far. It caused by
certain petroleum system, which consist on
elements (source rocks, reservoirs, cap rocks, trap)
and process (maturity and migration). Some
tectonic activities occur in this basin. The most
dominant one is tertiary tectonic, which give some
significant influence of hydrocarbon potencies,
especially in petroleum system as seals and traps.
submerged rift margin basin at the end of Eocene
and Early Oligocene. Structural inversion were
greatly affected the basin from Late Miocene to
Pliocene time, and created anticlinal trap. Plio-
Pleistocene inversion might formed new anticlinal
structural traps as well as destroying previous
hydrocarbon accumulation. This possibility could
remigrated hydrocarbon to the newly formed
anticlinal structure.
Register Number : PITIAGI2009-183

The tectonic activity of this basin was

started by rifting of the basement in Paleo-Eocene.
The condition prevailed up to Oligo-Miocene
during which localized and regional subsidence,
lithospheric stretching, interrupted by uplifting,
impressed the basin. This rifting produced a set of
horst and grabens that were decisive for the
compression and uplifting, has reactivated the old
fault block rather than developed new structures
(Satyana, 1993).
Those tertiary tectonic activities sequences
were implied on petroleum systems. Synrift
sequence sediments were deposited in the
Paleogene grabens as the transgression progressed
northwest along the rift axes, hence alluvial
channels and fan prograding into lacustrine
environments, resulted in richness of source rock.
Postrift sequence sands, are potential for reservoir
rocks better than those deposited in synrift
sequence. The Upper Tanjung marine shales were
deposited across most of the basin also in postrift
INTRODUCTION
Barito Basin is located on eastern part of
Borneo, bounded by Meratus Range in the east,
Sundaland in the west, Paternoster Cross High in
the north, and Java Sea in the South. In Borneo,
there are a lot of basins beside Barito, such as
Kutai, Tarakan, Sadakan, Asem-Asem, and
Melayu-Ketungau Basins. Barito Basin has 70,000
km2 wide, and become a part of South Kalimantan
Province.(Figure 1).
Barito Basin is an asymmetric basin
oriented on NE-SW, forms basin (foredeep) direct
to east. The first discovery in this basin was made
in 1938 by BPM/Shell at Tanjung Field. Since then
only a few minor deposit have been located in
either Eocene Tanjung Formation sands or the
Miocene Warukin Formation sands. The estimated
total of 200 million barrels of proved recoverable
oil ranks the Barito last among the circum-Sunda
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009
Basins despite compelling evidence that good
source rocks should have generated and expelled
large volumes of hydrocarbon (Mason et al.,1993).
This basin had a long and disappointing
exploration history. The lack of successful
exploration is quite difficult to understand and
accept. Why has a basin with good source rocks,
good reservoirs, multiple trap forming tectonics
events and a setting and history similar to more
prolific surrounding basins so far produced so little
oil? This question called as Barito Dilemma.
Barito basin is the best example of the
effects of tectonic interaction on hydrocarbon
habitat. In this basin, tectonics controlled each
component of the hydrocarbon of the hydrocarbon
habitat (petroleum system).
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Barito Basin start developed in Late
Cretaceous, following a micro continental collision
between the Paternoster and SW Borneo micro
continent (Metcalfe, 1996; Satyana, 1996 op.cit.
satyana, 1999). Rifting that occurred in early
Tertiary creates accommodation space for alluvial
fan and lacustrine sediments of Lower Tanjung
Formation, derived from horst areas. In Early
Middle Eocene, the rift sediments becoming more
fluviodeltaic and eventually marine, as
transgression proceeded during the deposition of
Middle Tanjung Formation as the result of a marine
transgression. The marine transgression
subsequently submerged the rift in late Eocene-
earliest Oligocene time, resulting in the deposition
of wide spread marine shales of Upper Tanjung
Formation (Satyana, 1999).
After a short-lived marine regression in the
Middle Oligocene the development of a sag basin
caused renew marine transgression. The Late
Oligocene is characterized by the deposition of
platform carbonate of Berai Formation. Carbonate
deposition continued into Early Miocene, when it
was terminated by increasing clastic input from the
west. During Miocene the sea regressed, due to the
uplift of Schwaner core and the Meratus
Mountains. Clastic input resulted in the deposition
of eastwards-prograding deltaic sediments of the
Warukin Formation. In Late Miocene the Meratus
Mountain re-emerged. Followed by isostatic
subsidence of the basin which was situated in a
foreland position in relation to the rising
mountains. Sediments shed from this uplift were
deposited in the subsiding basin, resulting in the
deposition of thousands of meters of the Warukin
Formation. The uplift of Meratus Mountains
continued into the Pleistocene and resulted in
deposition of the molassic-deltaic sediments of
Pliocene Dahor Formation. (Figure 2). These
structural and depositional regimes still exist today
(Satyana, 1999).
Barito Basin lies between two Mesozoic
features, Sunda shield on the west and Meratus
range, a belt of mlange and ophiolite, on the east.
The basin cross section is markedly asymmetric, a
result of the uplift and westwards movement of
Meratus range. Neogene sediments are thickest
along the eastern part of this basin, thinning
westwards into the basement rocks of the Sunda
shield.
Sedimentation in basin was completed in a
single major transgressive-regressive cycle,
interrupted by minor local subcycles and
variations. The transgressive Tanjung Formation
(Eocene) which blankets the fairly low relief
basement, was deposited in shallow marine to
deltaic environment and comprises a sequence of
coarse classics, interbedded with shales and
occasional coals. Marine influence strengthened
through Oligocene and into early Miocene time,
resulting in the extensive limestone and marl
deposits of Berai Formation. The Proto Meratus
range then began to emerge in the late middle
Miocene, effectively isolating the eastern basin
margin from the open sea to the east.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009
The center of the basin submerged rapidly,
and uplift of both the continental core to the west
and the Proto Meratus range in the east, supplied
abundant sediment, which became the paralic and
deltaic sequences of Warukin and Dahor
Formations. An orogeny in plio-Pleistocene time
resulted in a strong westward movement of the
meratus block, which folded and thrust tha basin
fill into a series of tight anticlines that were, in part,
controlled by basement features (Siregar and
Sunaryo, 1980 op cit R.E. Wiiliams et al, 1986)
The largest oil field in this basin is the
Tanjung Field discovered in 1938, it had a
cumulative production up to 100 million barrels
through January 1985. The oil is highly paraffinic
with 33 to 41API gravity and is produced from
predominantly fluvial sandstones and
conglomerates of the Eocene age Tanjung
Formation. Oil production is also obtained from
fractured basements rocks.
The Warukin and Tapian Timur Fields
produce oil from the regressive Warukin
formation. (Miocene). The oil is more asphaltic,
with a gravity of 25 to 27API, and cumulative
production of the two fields to January 1985 was
about 13.50 million barrels.
STRUCTURAL SETTINGS
Recently, five fields are known
producing hydrocarbons. Those are the Tanjung,
South Warukin, Tambikin, East Tapian, and
Central Warukin Fields. All of them occur in
faulted anticlines dipping to the east. (Figure 3)
Middle Tanjung Sands (Middle Eocene) and
in the Lower and Middle Warukin sands (Middle
Miocene) provide good reservoir for hydrocarbons
formed, while Lower and Middle Tanjung coals
and carbonaceous shale, and Lower Warukin
carbonaceous shales generated hydrocarbons as
well. The main kitchen is located in the present
basin depocentre. The sealing rocks provided by
the intraformational shales.
The Tertiary tectonic events, imply
hydrocarbon behaviour in Barito basin, which were
generated, migrated, and entrapped since the Early
Miocene. Extensional tectonics in the Early
Tertiary formed rifted basin, provided tanjung
shales and coals source rock deposition in lacustrin
environment. Subsidence and submergence
controlled the wide distribution of Middle Tanjung
reservoir rocks. Extensional fault became channel
which controlled hydrocarbon migration in deeper
graben areas.
The Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the
basin is mainly roled by tectonics during Neogene
and Pleistocene. Basin inversion, associated with
the Meratus Uplift to form asymmetric basin. The
Barito basin dipping gently in the NW towards the
Barito Platform, and steeply in the SE against the
Meratus Uplift. Due to isostasy, the central part of
Barito Basin subsided rapidly, causing the Tanjung
source rocks to be deeply buried, maintained the
depth at which hydrocarbon were generated
(Satyana and Silitonga, 1994).
Compressional tectonism has created
the basin inversion. Asymmetric anticlines were
created along the reverse faults, hence
hydrocarbons disposed to fill that traps. Meratus
uplift was continuous during the Late Miocene,
through the Pliocene, and peaked in the Plio-
Pleistocene. Tanjung Source rocks were already
mature by the Late Miocene. Protoinverted
structural traps formed in the early Miocene.
Hydrocarbons filled the trap through the faults.
Considering that in the early Pliocene the Tanjung
source rocks had small capability to generate
hydrocarbon (Satyana, 1998). Gas was generated
instead at those times.
Plio Pleistocene tectonism imply on
Barito Basin inversion. Former traps were
destructed and replaced by new traps. Hence
hydrocarbons may remigrated there. At this time,
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009
Tanjung source rocks had to generate gas, instead
of generate oil. But, the Lower Warukin Shales
reached the oil window in the peak episode of
tectonism during the time. Oil generated, started to
migrate and accumulated in structural traps within
Warukin sands, made possibility for Warukin and
East Tapian Fields recharged.
Thus, how tectonics mainly controlled
the oil distribution. Farther tectonics period
destroyed pre-existing traps, provided new
hydrocarbons pathwat to accumulate in newly
formed traps.
PETROLEUM SYSTEM IMPLICATION
Source Rocks
Satyana in 1994 says that recent
geochemical studies have concluded that Barito
source rocks have generated and expelled large
volumes of hydrocarbon. The formations that
become source rock in this basin are Tanjung and
Warukin Formation.
In Paleogene, petroleum system of the
Barito Basin is sourced by carbonaceous shales and
coals of the Lower Tanjung Member which started
to generate and expel hydrocarbon some 20 Ma and
significantly some 15 Ma ago (Satyana, 1995).
Graben structures which are formed by extensional
tectonics in Paleogene creates such some basin.
Sediments were deposited as alluvial channels and
fan prograding into lacustrine environment (Figure
4). In Mid-Early Miocene until Late Miocene,
subsidence occurs because of normal fault shifting.
As a consequence, Tanjung Formation starts
become oil kitchen. This normal fault, continues to
subside and make the oil kitchen changes to be gas
kitchen in Pliocene.
In Late Miocene, all source rock in Lower
Tanjung that subsided, had already mature . it is
caused by uplifting of Meratus during late
Miocene. Consequently, in Early Pliocene Lower
Tanjung source rock in this area had exhausted
their liquid hydrocarbon generating capabilities
(Figure 5). Gas was generated and expelled, filling
the existing traps (Satyana, 1994).
Warukin formation was also have a
potencies to become source rock. This layer reach
maturity especially in Paringin Towards the center
of the basin during Plio-Pleistocene. Maturity was
also related with Plio-Pleistocene tectonism.
(Figure 6). Lower Tanjung source rocks had
ceased to generate oil and gas in the depocenter
since the section was by now firmly within the dry
gas window.
Reservoir
The formations that could become
reservoir rocks in Barito petroleum system are
sandstones of Tanjung Formation, limestone of
Berai Formation, sandstones of Warukin
Formation, and some lens of sandstone of Dahor
Formation. The proven reservoir rocks are Lower
and Middle Tanjung Sands (Middle Eocene),
Lower and Middle Warukin Sands (Middle
Miocene), fractured Pre-Tertiary basement rocks
and fractured Berai Carbonate (Late Oligocene-
Early Miocene). Hydrocarbon may trapped on
these formation if they are well positioned.
In Tanjung Formation, sand deposited as
graben fill in alluvial fan (distributary channel),
lacustrine delta front, and beach/barrier bar
environments (Satyana, 1995). Depositional
process of that graben fill consist of 3 stages,
restricted synrift sands of stages 1, postrift sag-fill
sands of stages 2 and 3 (Figure 4).
Synrift sands of stages 1 (A and B sands
or Z.1015 and Z.950 sands) were deposited in
alluvial fan (distributary channel) and lacustrine
delta front environments. These sands were
distributed restrictively in grabens. The net
thickness of these sands is 30 to 50 meters in the
central part of the graben. Generally, the reservoir
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009
character is strongly controlled by local
provenance.
Sands of stage 2 (C-and D-sands or Z.860
and Z.825 sands) represent alluvial fan (deltaic)
sands. The C/Z.860 sands are stacked, deposited in
alluvial plain channel, and found extensively
throughout the Lower Tanjung Formation,
reflecting a higher degree of sorting and
mineralogical maturity. The net thickness of these
sands is 25 to 30 meters, with average porosities
and permeability of 20% and 156mD respectively.
Unlike the C/Z.860 sands, the D/Z.825 sands are
thin and discontinuous (lenses). The sands are 3 to
5 meters thick, fine to coarse grained, and slightly
argillaceous.
Stage 3 reservoirs consist of E-sands
(Z.710 sands) and Z.670 sands. E sands were
deposited as beach/barrier bar in a regressive
shoreline environment. The maximum net
thickness of E-sands is 30 meters. Z.670 sands
were deposited overlying the Z.710 sands far off
shore in a prodelta area. The sands are 2 to 3 meters
thick, very fine to fine grained. (Satyana, 1994)
Sealing Rock
In early tertiary, there is an extensional
tectonic forms basin. subsidence occur and
continued so that rift structure was submerged,
wide spread shales were deposited which became
an important seal for underlying reservoir rocks.
The postrifting phase of regional
transgression/subsidence after the deposition of
sag-fill sediments has resulted in shallow marine
mudstone of the stage 4 Upper Tanjung Formation
(figure 4, satyana, 1994). These marine mudstone
provide a very effective regional seal to the Lower
Tanjung reservoirs. They consist of up to 800
meters of dominantly neritic shales and silty shales.
Migration
The kitchen of Barito Basin formed on
Middle Miocene based on maturity analysis on the
depocenter area from Paringin to Bangkau. The
start of hydrocarbon migration from source rock to
Tanjung Formation reservoir rock probably at this
time. Lateral migration during this time woulde
have resulted in updip movement north-northwest
from the basin center (Rotinsulu, 1993).
In the Late Miocene all of Tanjung
Formation was already mature and migrate
vertically and laterally, as the basin developed. The
Tanjung area was uplifted due to the Proto Meratus
uplift, forming structural traps. Hydrocarbon
migration pathway to these traps were up the fault
planes and along permeable layers. In Plio-
Pleistocene, there is tectonics that caused the
damage of exist structural traps and formed new
traps. Because of that, hydrocarbon that already
accumulated re-migrated to the newly formed
traps. In this time, migration system become more
complex. The migration continued northward, both
from Tanjung Formation and lower Warukin
Formation source rocks, into traps in Tanjung,
Berai, and Warukin formation (Rotinsulu, 1993).
Trap
Tectonic activity in Tertiary creates most
of structural trap in Barito Basin. Inversion of this
basin makes an asymmetric form of basin. In
northwest direction, the basin dip gently toward the
Barito Platform and in Southeast direction basin
dip steeply into Meratus Uplift. This activity
caused the central part of basin subside rapidly, and
the sediment that consisted in reach condition to
generating hydrocarbon. Onset of oil generation
and expulsion began some 20 Ma (Middle early
Miocene). The significant expulsion occurred
some 15 Ma (Figures 5) (Satyana, 1994)
The proto inverted structural traps formed
in early Miocene were continuously inverted as
basin compression developed, resulting in strongly
positive features. Hydrocarbon filled these traps
through the faults and along permeable sands
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009
(Satyana, 1994). In Late Miocene, Tanjung area
was uplifted due to the Proto meratus uplift,
forming structural traps. Hydrocarbon migration
pathways to these trap were up the fault planes
along permeable layers.
New inversion traps could have been
formed caused by Plio-Pleistocene tectonism. The
tectonism also caused the whole of the Barito Basin
tobe uplifted, folded, and faulted (rotinsulu, 1993).
These structures also destroyed some existing trap.
The hydrocarbon probably remigrated from old
trap that are tilted or breached to newly formed
structures.
In 1999 there are about 5 hydrocarbon
fields in Barito Basin. There are Tanjung ,
Kambitin, South Warukin, Central Warukin, and
East Tapian Fields. This paper will focused on 2
fields to discussed about trap and accumulation.
Those fields are Tanjung Field, Kambitin Field
(Figure 3).
In Tanjung Field, the dominant structures
is an elongate anticline, with a NNE SSW striking
axis, bounded by a reverse fault. ( Siregar et al.,
1980). This anticline was formed by the
propagation along reverse faults associated with
the uplift of Proto Meratus resulted in
compressional tectonism in the basin (Satyana,
1994). Oil migration into the anticlinal trap of the
Tanjug Field is believed to have occurred, in
association with Plio-Pleistocene folding, up dip
from the structurally lower source rocks in the
basin deep to the east. The dominant trap in
Kambitin oil is shale-out of the sand lenses.
However there is also structural trap such an
anticlinal nose crossed by several transverse fault.
(Siregar and Sunaryo, 1980).
CONCLUSION
1. Tertiary tectonics occurs in Barito Basin very
complex. Start with rifting, inversion,
compressional, and others activity.
2. Barito Basin has a good potencial of source rock,
in maturity, and richness as the result of tectonics
activity.
3. Tectonic activities that occur in this basin
influence petroleum system (trap and migration).
For example, inversion destroyed the old trap and
creates news traps, and the hydrocarbon remigrate
into a new trap.
Refferences
Formation Evaluation Conference Indonesia 1986,
PT Pacific Well Log & shlumberger
Jacobs, Stephen T. & Norman D. Meyer. 2001.
Direct Hydrocarbon Response technique
Application and Opportunity in barito-
Kutai Interbasinal High. 28th Annual
Convention and Exhibition Indonesian
Petroleum Association. Jakarta
Mason, Anthony D.M. et al., 1993. A Fresh Look
At The North Barito Basin, Kalimatan.
22th Annual Convention and Exhibition
Indonesian Petroleum Association. Jakarta
Oil & Gas Fields Atlas Volume V Kalimantan.
Pertamina & IPA
Rotinsulu, Lindi F, et al., 1993. The Hydrocarbon
Generation and trapping Mechanism
Within The Northern Part of Barito basin,
South Kalimantan. 22th Annual
Convention and Exhibition Indonesian
Petroleum Association. Jakarta
Satyana, A.H. & parade Silitonga. 1994. Tectonic
Reversal in East Barito Basin, South
Kalimantan: Concideration of The Types
of Invertion Structures and Petroleum
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009

System Significance. 23th Annual Search For paleogene Structures. 24th

Convention and Exhibition Indonesian Annual Convention and Exhibition
Petroleum Association. Jakarta Indonesian Petroleum Association. Jakarta

Satyana, A.H., 1995. Paleogene Unconformities In

The Barito Basin, Southeast Kalimantan:
A Concept For The Solution Of The
Barito Dilemma And A Key To the
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
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Figure 1. Location map of Barito Basin (Rotinsulu, 1993)

Figure 2. Stratigraphic chart of the Barito Basin showing major formations, their paleofacies, and coeval
tectonic episodes (Satyana, 1994)
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
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Semarang, 13 14 October 2009

Figure 3. Structural section across Barito Basin (Satyana, 1999)

Figure 4. Lower Tanjung graben fill facies. Productive sand bodies in Tanjung Field are indicated.
(Satyana 1995)
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
Semarang, 13 14 October 2009

Figure 5. retrodeformable sections across east barito basin showing the evolution of inversion
structures and associated petroleum indication. (Satyana, 1993)
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
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Figure 6. Restored section of barito basin and the hydrocarbon generation (Rotinsulu et al., 1993)
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
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Figure 7. Hydrocarbon Generation and Migration Pattern Map of Tanjung Formation (Rotinsulu
et al., 1993)
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Figure 8. Hydrocarbon generation and migration pattern map of warukin formation (Rotinsulu at al., 1993)
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
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Figure 9. Cross Section of Tanjung Field. Picture Shows Anticlinal Structure In This Field.

Figure 10. Cross Section of Tapian Field. Picture Shows Anticlinal Structure In This Field.
 PROCEEDINGS PIT IAGI SEMARANG 2009
The 38th IAGI Annual Convention and Exhibition
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Figure 11. Cross Section of Warukin Field. Picture Shows Anticlinal Structure In This Field.

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