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approved: February 15, 2017; available online: March 20, 2017
Abstract - Three seepage gas samples collected from Boto Area, Bancak, Semarang, Central Java, were studied to
determine their chemical characteristics using GC and GC-IRMS methods. They are composed 53 - 85% of methane
predominantly. However, gas seep Site 3 sample has the highest N2 compound and the lesser extent to the samples
Site 2 and Site 1 respectively. The two hydrocarbon gas seeps (Site 1, 2, and Site 3 samples) that are characterized
by δ13C methane of -35.61‰ and -27.97‰, and values of δD methane of -112‰ and -109‰ respectively, are each
isotopically distinct from all others suggesting, at least, they are derived from different maturity level. The Site 3 gas
sample is suggested to be more mature than the others.
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Keywords: isotope, gas seepage, methane, Boto, Bancak
© IJOG - 2017. All right reserved
110 20'0" E
o
110 40'0" E
o
7o0'0" S
7o0'0" S
7o0'10" S
7o0'10" S
G 7o20'0" S
7o20'0" S
N
O
0 2.5 5 10
km
Study area
110o20'0" E 110o40'0" E
62
Geochemistry of Natural Gas Seepages in Boto Area,
Bancak, Semarang, Central Java (H. Amijaya and P.A. Pameco)
between -40‰ to -15‰ (Hunt, 1996). Berner and ages appear through this formation. In the west-
Faber (1996) also provided empirical relationships ernmost part of the Kendeng Zone, the formation
between the value of carbon isotopic of methane, has been divided into two parts: Merawu Member
ethane, propane, and vitrinite maturity level for and Penyatan Member. The Merawu Member,
different organic matter types. Methanogenic correlated with the Lower Kerek Formation, is a
bacteria also utilize lighter hydrogen than the volcano-clastic sequence consisting of conglom-
heavier (deuterium) one, so methane formed by eratic layers with pebbles of quartz, basalt, andes-
the bacteria had isotope deuterium values (δD) itic tuffs, and limestones. The Penyatan Member
more negative than -250%, relative to standard is essentially clastic and tuffaceous corresponded
mean ocean water (SMOW) (Hunt, 1996). to the upper part of the Kerek Formation.
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Kendeng Zone have been described by numerous
authors (e.g. van Bemmelen, 1949; de Genevraye
and Samuel, 1972; Sukardi and Budhitrisna,
1992; Smith et al., 2005). The stratigraphy of the
area is summarized below using a lithostratigra-
phy nomenclature.
sandstones, and volcanic breccia alternating with
marls bearing planktonic foraminifera.
Late Pliocene
The Damar Formation lies conformably on the
argillaceous Kalibiuk Member. The Damar For-
mation consists of andesitic tuff-sandstones and
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Stratigraphy conglomerates beds bearing the first vertebrate
The studied area is located in Kendeng Zone fossils. In the west and central Kendeng Zone,
(van Bemmelen, 1949). Kendeng Zone is a west Pucangan Formation unconformably overlies
- east trending anticlinorium which extends from the Upper Kalibeng carbonate and consists of
the Gunung Ungaran Volcano in the west to the continental coarse pyroclastic sediments, those
Brantas River in the east. de Genevraye and are volcanic conglomerates and sandstones.
Samuel (1972) distinguished Kendeng Zone into
three parts. The studied area is included in the Early Pleistocene
IJ
western part (Figure 2) which has a high content The continental Notopuro Formation rests un-
of volcanic material and major structural compli- conformably either on the Kabuh Formation or on
cations. The stratigraphy of the western part of the Pucangan Formation. The formation consists
Kendeng Zone according to de Genevraye and of coarse to very coarse volcanic conglomerates,
Samuel (1972) is: tuffaceous sandstones, tuffs, and lahar deposits.
63
64
110o30'0" E 110o40'0" E
Godong Western Kendeng Zone
N
Age
Blow
Letter
Stages
0 5 10 km Gubug Ungaran Northern Southern
Zonation
n
(1969-1970)
G. Turun kana area flank flank
tang
Tun N23 Notopuro/
K. Pleis- Notopuro/volc
tocene Puncangan
N22
N21
Damar
N20
Tgh
Lower Kalibeng
Pliocene
o
N19 Kalibiuk
7o10'0" S
7 10'0" S
G. Surolojo Djuwan N18 Kapung limestone
G. Ungaran Banyak
N17
Penyatan
Larte
N16
N15
N14 Merawu
N13 Upper Kerek
Ambarawa N12 Tf
Suluk
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Middle
N11 ?
Miocene
N10
N9
Lower
Salatiga
Study Area
o
N8
7o20'0" S
7 20'0" S
o o
110 30'0" E 110 40'0" E N7 Pelang
O
Damar Fm Notopuro Fm Young volcanic products
Early
N6
N5
Upper
Banjak Fm N4
Upper Kalibeng Fm Te
Kabuh Fm Boundary of Formation P22 (N3)
marly facies
Kerek Fm Putjangan Fm
Upper Kalibeng Fm Fault P21 (N2)
Indonesian Journal on Geoscience, Vol. 4 No. 2 August 2017: 61-70
Volcanic facies
Lower
limy facies ?
Pelang Fm Lower Kalibeng Fm Assumed Flexure P20 (N1)
Putjangan Fm
with Kapung limestone argillaceous facies
P19
Oligocene
P18 Tcd
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Figure 2. Geological map and general stratigraphy of western Kendeng Zone (de Genevraye and Samuel, 1972). The gas in the studied area leaks through Kerek Formation.
Geochemistry of Natural Gas Seepages in Boto Area,
Bancak, Semarang, Central Java (H. Amijaya and P.A. Pameco)
Beside the longitudinal reverse faults that by the emergence of gas bubbles in the rice fields
spread along the anticlinorium, the latter is trans- (see Figure 3b). One of the seepages, the Site 3
versely cut by numerous wrench faults. Wrench (see Figure 3d), had been cemented and the gas
faults between the Tuntang River and Salatiga, is streamed and utilized by local residents. Flame
are structures which occur in the studied area characteristics of gas when burned in daylight
(see Figure 2), and are believed to be deep-seated condition are partially reddish yellow colour
faults originating from the basement. The most and some are invisible (see Figures 3c and d for
conspicuous examples of the relative displacement example).
transversely to the Kendeng Zone trending west
- east, occur in its westernmost and easternmost Sampling and Analytical Methods
parts. Westernmost block, which is the studied A field observation includes determination of
area, is situated between the Gunung Ungaran location and visual observation of the seepage
faulted area and the Tuntang River/Salatiga net- condition has been done. Samplings of gases
work of deep-seated faults. It has been displaced were using some traditional equipments, such
towards the north as shown by the northwards as vacuum pump, gas sampling bag, hose, and
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shift of the anticlinorium axis in this area.
65
Indonesian Journal on Geoscience, Vol. 4 No. 2 August 2017: 61-70
137.5
87.5
125
9201000
9201000
137.5
5
3
1 Gunung 7.5
1
Panggung
137.
137.5
125 Bantal
5
137.
13
7.5
Boto
137.5 137
.5
9200000
9200000
Godean
125
Krasak 75
87.5
16 5 75
137.
2.5
3
87.5
2
Galeh 112.
5 125
Bancak 75
100
87.5
125
112.
100
Bancak
5
12
112
9199000
9199000
5
.5
100
100
.5
100
2
11
112.5
2.5
11
100
87.5
175
.5 112.5
137 87.5 87.5
87.5
125
162.5
5
Salaran 11
2 .5
12 125
125
187.5
275
11
22
137.5
9198000
9198000
N
2
5
.5
.5
Legend
2
125
11
23
175
7.5
212.
5 Gas seepage location
16
2.5 Road River
150
150
175
26
.5
112
2.5
200 m
250
150
16
250
2.5
453000 454000 455000 456000 457000
c d
G
O
Figure 3. Locations of the three natural gas seepage samples found in Boto Area (a) showing flame tips indicating high hy-
drocarbon content on Site 1 (b) in Dusun Gunung; Site 2 (c) and Site 3(d) both are in Dusun Galeh, around 1.5 km to the
southwest of the Site 1.
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Table 1. Location of Gas Seepages in the Studied Area
Table 2. δ13C and δD Isotopic Methane and Gas Composition of Gas Seepages in the Studied Area
66
Geochemistry of Natural Gas Seepages in Boto Area,
Bancak, Semarang, Central Java (H. Amijaya and P.A. Pameco)
that all the seepage gas samples are generally have oxygen. It is interesting to note that N2 content is
the similar hydrocarbon compositions. Gases in very high compared to the other samples.
the studied area as expected are dominated by N2 is sometimes a major constituent of natural
methane which normalized hydrocarbons to reach gases, but the origin of this N2 is still enigmatic.
more than 99% (not shown in the table). Other While atmospheric air contains some 78% N2 and
than that, other hydrocarbon gases, i.e. ethane and 21% O2 by volume along with other components
propane, are found but in a small percentage. With and rare gases. Unless otherwise N2 in the gas
exception to the N2 for the seepage gas sample seep samples come from the atmosphere during
from the Site 3, in general, nonhydrocarbon gases sample collection, relatively high N2 fraction may
found are relatively small percentage of CO2, be released from sedimentary organic matter dur-
N2, and O2. Relatively high O2 compound in the ing burial, several nonsedimentary sources of N2
samples are probably as atmospheric contaminant may also contribute to the natural gas.
due to improperly samples collecting tool.
Isotopic Composition
Gas seepage composition of Site 1 Sources of CH4 include natural gas reservoirs,
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From several gas seepages in the Site 1 area,
only two seepage gas samples have a good pres-
sure capacity and suitable to be sampled, i.e.
Seep 1.1 and Seep 1.2 gases. These gas samples
are compositionally similar (see Table 2) con-
sisting of ± 85% CH4, < 1% C2H6, < 1% CO2, ±
10% N2, and ± 5% O2. After normalization for
gas associated with oil and coal, landfills and the
products of anaerobic degradation of organically
contaminated groundwater. Although, there are
many ways to characterize the methane source,
a combination of C and H isotope analysis of
natural gases is a powerful tool to discriminate
different origins of gases. A plot of δ 13C vs. δD
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the gas hydrocarbons only, the composition of (see Figure 4a) not only reveals a distinction of
gas seepage samples are almost identical with biogenic and thermogenic gases from different
methane predominant to reach more than 99%. environments, but it also allows delineating mix-
The presence of oxygen is probably atmospheric tures between the different types. For example,
contamination. plots of the stable isotope ratios for C vs. H (e.g.
Schoell, 1983) can be used to distinguish petro-
Gas seepage composition of Site 2 leum groups.
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The composition of the seepage gas sample Identifying the gas origin may be very much
in the Site 2 (see Table 2) has a different compo- more complicated if there is more than one source
sition with that of in the Site 1, showing lower of methane exists, and where compositional
hydrocarbon composition ± 68.93% CH4 only evidence alone is used. It is important to have a
and relatively higher nonhydrocarbon gases in well-defined database for the likely composition
percentages of respective ± 0.08% CO2, ± 19.91% of possible source gases and to evaluate whether
N2, and ± 11.08% O2. The smaller CH4 composi- changes in composition have occurred during
tion is due to higher non-hydrocarbon content gas migration. Stable isotope ratios of carbon
(see Table 2). and hydrogen (i.e. 13C/12C, 2H/1H) potentially
provide additional means by which methane
Gas seepage composition of Site 3 can be characterized, but such data are scant for
The composition of gas in the Site 3 (see Table sources in Indonesia.
2) is dominated by hydrocarbon gas which com- Different gases δ13C values of given hydrocar-
prises ± 53.74% methane. Other hydrocarbons bon generally increase with the increasing thermal
found are ± 0.326% ethane and ± 0.11% propane. maturity. Migrating methane could be enriched
Non-hydrocarbon gases found are ± 0.17% car- in 12C or 13C as 1 - 3‰ depending on the amount
bon dioxide, ± 34.80% nitrogen, and ± 10.86% of organic matter on shales, the mechanism of
67
Indonesian Journal on Geoscience, Vol. 4 No. 2 August 2017: 61-70
a b
C-, H-isotope signatures of CH4 sources Sample 1.2 Sample 3
-120 -70
-100
-60
Diagenetic?
Bacterial
Carbonate “M”
Reduction
d Cmethane, (ppt)
-80
Bacterial -50
mix T
d13C-methane ( / , PDB)
and Ms
Bacterial transition
-60 Methyl--type
oo
13
o
Fermentation
Atmospheric
-450
G Mantle ?
Figure 4. (a) Plotting of δ13C and δD methane values on the CD diagram (Whiticar, 1968; in Whiticar, 1999) showing sample
3 is derived from humic source, but samples 1.2 is not accurately plotted on humic. (b) Plotting of carbon stable isotopes and
-150 -50
-20
68
Geochemistry of Natural Gas Seepages in Boto Area,
Bancak, Semarang, Central Java (H. Amijaya and P.A. Pameco)
in the Site 3 correlated with Ngimbang Forma- Desa Boto, Kecamatan Bancak, Kabupaten
tion rock sample from Rembang 1 well which is Semarang. Laporan Penelitian, Fakultas
also mixed kerogen source rock (Wiloso, 2008; Teknik Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogya-
Wiloso et al., 2008). karta. 28pp. Unpublished.
There is a linkage between gas and oil in Berner, U. and Faber, E., 1996. Empirical carbon
the studied area. However, it can not be known isotope/maturity relationships for gases from
whether it is a result of oil thermal alteration algae kerogens and terrigenous organic matter,
process or source rock thermal cracking process. based on dry, open-system pyrolysis.Organic
It requires an isotope analysis of ethane and Geochemistry, 24, p.947-955. DOI: 10.1016/
propane (Katz, 2002) which are not found in the S0146-6380(96)00090-3
gas seepages. BNPB, 2010. Topography map of Semarang
District scale 1:250.000. http://geospasial.
bnpb.go.id/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/
Conclusion and Future Work indeks_peta/250K/ID-N09-250K.pdf
de Genevraye, P. and Samuel, L., 1972. Geology
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Natural gases in the Boto area consist of
methane predominant amounting 53 - 85% and
more than 99% after hydrocarbon normalization.
Those seepage gas samples that are dominated
by thermogenic gas are each isotopically and
compositionally distinct from all others. The
exception to the Site 2 sample, the gas tends to
of The Kendeng Zone (Central and East Java).
Proceedings of First Annual Convention
Indonesian Petroleum Association, p.17-30.
Hunt, J.M., 1996. Petroleum Geochemistry and
Geology. 2 nd Edition. W.H. Freeman and
Company, New York. 743pp. DOI: 10.1017/
S0016756800007755
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indicate being derived from mixed organic mat- Jenden, P. D., Drazan, D. J., and Kaplan, I. R.,
ter source rocks. The Site 2 sample has not yet to 1993. Mixing of thermogenic natural gases in
determine its source rock due to lack of evidence northern Appalachian Basin. The American
in this study. Further work is needed especially in Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin,
term of isotope study of gas in order to disclose 77, p.980-998.
the gas potential within the region. Katz, B.J., 2002. Gas geochemistry - a key to
understanding formation and alteration pro-
IJ
cesses. Proceedings of 28th Annual Convention
Acknowledgements Indonesian Petroleum Association, p.789-802.
Laughrey, C. D. and Baldassare, F. J., 1998. Geo-
This research project was supported by Uni- chemistry and origin of some natural gases
versitas Gadjah Mada. Special appreciation is in the Plateau Province, central Appalachian
directed to Y. Andriani for her assistance on Basin, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The American
laboratory analysis in LEMIGAS and S. H. Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin,
Gunawan for the information on isotope analy- 82, p.317-335.
sis laboratory. The authors wish to thank E. A. Pramono, W., 2008. Studi Geokimia Rembesan
Subroto, R. Susilawati, and I. B. Sosrowidjojo Minyak Bumi di Daerah Bantal, Kecamatan
for their valuable suggestions. Bancak, Kabupaten Semarang, Propinsi Jawa
Tengah. Bachelor Thesis at Geological Engi-
neering Department, Faculty of Engineering,
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