Publications

Statoil was awarded in late 2011, with partner Niko Resources, a PSC in order to explore the frontier offshore Halmahera basin in eastern Indonesia. Even though geological studies started in the 1940’s, the knowledge and data coverage in this remote basin is still limited and a working petroleum system is yet to be proven. In this paper we discuss our latest geological understanding and the prospectivity of the Halmahera basin based on conducted studies including newly acquired 2D seismic data. The Halmahera basin has a complex geological history and is located at the convergence of the Philippine (or Pacific), Eurasian and Australian Plates. The present day deformation process in the Bird’s Head region of West Papua is dominated by major left lateral strike-slip movements along the Sorong Fault Zone (SFZ). Continental basement is most likely not present and the Halmahera basin sediment infill is believed to lie on oceanic crust. The Halmahera Basin is an isolated depression, enclosed on all sides by landmasses, shallow carbonates and/or volcanics. Geological complexities such as extensive carbonate platforms, complex structuration, and volcanic features are affecting the seismic data quality. Due to lack of wells and continuous tie-lines from onshore stratigraphy, the Halmahera basin stratigraphy and interpretation is mainly model-driven and is based on our understanding of regional geology and in-house studies. Previously, two reservoirs had been identified in the Halmahera Basin: Oligocene/Miocene Carbonate reefal build-up and re-deposited carbonate plays. New studies indicate the potential for a new volcanoclastic reservoir play. After acquisition and processing of more than 6000km of 2D seismic and detailed geophysical and geological studies, the identified prospectivity of this PSC is believed to be very limited. The Halmahera II PSC is now considered to be an area with very high subsurface risk and lack of follow-up prospectivity