Publications

The offshore part of the Aceh Province, in the North Sumatra Basin (NSB), is a remarkably under-explored petroleum province with large potential. This is seen with the relatively few deepwater wells that have been drilled to-date in offshore North Sumatra Basin. As a result, subsurface depositional models and any prediction of reservoir quality are largely based on the interpretation of 2D seismic data. Tately NV, through its associated companies Zaratex, had acquired 3650 km2 of 3D seismic data in 2009/2010. This paper shows how the study of the present-day sea floor and the shallow seismic configurations increase the understanding of the depositional processes and how this understanding complements the subsurface interpretation. Seafloor images and near surface deposits using 3D seismic data show submarine canyon type depositional feature. The basin area is fed by two main canyon systems running with N-S and NW-SE trends. The presences of toe-thrust anticlinal structures in the sub-surface are also expressed in seafloor profile. We interpret that these toe-thrusts controlled the shape and geometry of the canyon. Ponded basin mechanisms observed on the slope area, are postulated to be a potential sand prone areas in a shale dominated slope system. Considering the hypothesis that the basin has not dramatically changed over a significant geologic time period, the recent depositional features can be utilized as analogues of a possible Pliocene and Miocene fairway system and would thus lead our understanding for clastic deepwater exploration.