Publications

It has been considered that the Klasafet Formation only plays as a seal rock in the Bintuni and Salawati basins. On the other hand, this formation may serve as a potential source rock in this basin. This study aims to evaluate the Klasafet Formation as potential source rock in the Bintuni Basin by using detailed biostratigraphy, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Rock-Eval Pyrolisis analysis from a number of samples in 22 locations of the Klasafet Formation in the Arguni Bay and Kaimana District. The Klasafet Formation in the study area is characterised by claystone, siltstone and fine to medium sandstone with amorphous organic matter that indicate terrestrial and marine kerogen variation. The formation was deposited in the central and southern parts of the Bintuni Basin during a peak transgression from Early Miocene to Early Pliocene. However, the Klasafet Formation in Arguni Bay was deposited in a shallow to deep middle shelf while sedimentary rocks in Kaimana area show the depositional environment was in fresh water/swamp and estuary. The changes of paleodepositional environment may possibly be the result of base-level changes in a relatively shallow-water sea. Geochemically, the Klasafet Formation in the Arguni Bay and Kaimana areas are characterised by low to high organic carbon contents with TOC’s content up to 1.35% that indicates several samples are classified to good organic content. Hydrogen Index (HI) analysis shows gas prone potential with poor values which are ranging between 2 and 95 mg HC/g TOC due to the large influx of degraded woody material. The results of this study suggest that the Klasafet Formation in the Arguni Bay area has biogenic and unconventional hydrocarbon potential and is possible to increase as the maturity increases.