Publications

The Play Based Exploration technique has been widely used as a geological screening tool nurturing exploration concept to maturing drillable prospect in petroleum exploration. The method analyzes the critical components of petroleum system, reservoirs, seal, trap and charge (source). Prospective areas can be identified by recognizing the distribution of reservoirs and seal, as well as areas that allow trapping and charging to take place. This paper looks into applying the concept in assessing the upside potential of the mature South Sumatra Basin. The long exploration history of the basin has led to abundant secondary data which give a good understanding of the paleogeographic environment, structural framework, as well as the source rock maturity and distribution. A vast field and well database provide information on specific reservoirs and the effectiveness. South Sumatra Basin has been actively explored for more than a century. Reserves from the basin account for 23% of the total conventional hydrocarbon reserves in Indonesia and the basin has produced approximately 2,500 MMbbl of oil and 9.5 Tcf of gas. Three major plays are recognized in basin and these are the Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene Talang Akar fluvio-deltaic clastics, Lower Miocene Batu Raja carbonates and Pre-Tertiary Basement plays. These plays contribute to 70% of the basin total reserves but discovered reserves from these plays have declined for the past few years. Play Based Exploration technique was performed on under-explored minor plays in the basin to evaluate their potential upside and contribute in improving the reserves replacement ratio in the basin. Analysis was conducted on the Eocene Lahat syn-rift clastics play, Miocene Gumai shallow marine clastics play and the Late Miocene Air Benakat transitional to marine clastics play.