Petroleum Geology of SE Asia

Maarten Wiemer 
5 half-day sessions online (or 3 full days F2F classroom)

Business context

Throughout the exploration cycle, from play-based exploration to prospect maturation, from near field exploration to appraisal, a sound geological knowledge of basin type, sediment-fill, and deformation phases, should underpin the regional play and detailed prospect specific mapping, modelling and subsequent risk and volumetrics work.

Based on the trainer's experience of NW Borneo hydrocarbon exploration and development, extensive use of outcrop analogues and relevant subsurface analogue data, the course aims for delegates to acquire knowledge not only on SE Asian basin settings, but also how their petroleum systems work. The subsequent petroleum geological focus is on reservoir/seal distribution as well as regional deformation phases and trap formation.

The course will make use of seismic, log and core data, but it will also make ample use of NW Borneo's first-class outcrops as analogues to the subsurface. Seismic stratigraphic principles underpin the Petroleum Geological evaluation.

Where relevant, sediment petrographic data and principles will be used to invoke reservoir effectivity discussion.

Who should attend

The course is aiming at geoscientists working on play-based exploration and prospect generation / maturation projects as well as near-field exploration / appraisal.

Course content

The course will be delivered as a 5-session (half days) VILT course, or as a 3-day classroom F2F course.

  • The approach this course takes is geological rather than tool focused.
    • Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia.
    • Overview of the petroleum systems and petroleum geological characterization of SE Asia basins.
    • Discussion of structural setting information and basinfill analysis based on seismic stratigraphy, log facies, core, and outcrop data.
    • A virtual reality field trip to outcrops linked to the NW Borneo Miri Oilfield case history.
  • Examples / Case histories include:
    • Indonesia's Kutei (Kalimantan) and South Sumatra Basins
    • Vietnam's Cuu Long and Nam Con Son Basins
    • Malay Basin
    • South China's Qiongdongnan Basin
    • Philippines' Palawan Basin
    • NW Borneo
  • Most case histories derive from NW Borneo Hc Provinces, Hc Plays and oil / gas accumulations.
    • Discuss reservoir / seal and structure of Baram province oilfields using northern Sarawak clastic outcrops as analogues including the onshore Miri Oilfield and a virtual reality fieldtrip to a Miri Hill outcrop.
    • The Sarawak Luconia Carbonate province gas-play and fields.
    • The large deltaic growth-fault oil/gas fields in Brunei and Sabah.
    • The DW oil and gas fields of Sabah deep water.
    • Labuan Island and KK area (Sabah) deep water outcrops are used as direct analogues.

Learning, methods and tools

  • The course makes use of data such as seismic, log, core, outcrop, and satellite images.
  • Method of teaching consists of a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises, while stimulating individual, team, and plenary discussion.

Day by day programme

Session 1: Introduction to SE Asian Plate Tectonics, Basins, and Petroleum Systems

  1. Course Introduction.
  2. Short Introduction of Seismic Stratigraphy: geology from seismic, depositional sequences and the systems tract basin margin model.
  3. SE Asia Plate Tectonic Setting (including exercise) and linked basin types.
  4. Introduction to the SE Asian Petroleum Systems.
  5. A quick Round of the SE Asia Petroleum Basins: NW Borneo Basins, Kalimantan Kutei Basin, South Sumatra Basin, Malay Basin, Vietnam Cuu Long and Nam Con Son Basin, South China Qiongdongnan Basin, and Philippines Palawan Basin.

 

Session 2: Baram Province Clastic O/G Fields and Miri Oil Field History and Virtual Fieldtrip

  1. Recap session 1
  2. Setting of the Sarawak Geological Provinces.
  3. Basic stratigraphy and Northern Sarawak depositional sequence boundary example in outcrop and on seismic. Discuss structurally driven sequence boundaries.
  4. Stratigraphic Architecture of a/o the Luconia Province Shallow Clastics (including exercise) and Baram Province Beryl gas field examples.
  5. Serendipity and the discovery of the Miri Oilfield including a virtual fieldtrip (with Carol Hopkins).

 

Session 3: Luconia Carbonate (Sarawak Offshore) Gas Province

  1. Recap session 2
  2. Discussion of setting and morphology of the Luconia Carbonate Gas Province.
  1. Carbonate depositional system, basal carbonate platform connectivity discussion.
  1. Build-up morphology and depositional relation with surrounding clastics (including exercise).
  2. Gas charge and column length: thief zones, top seal strength and pressure gradients.
  3. Build-up reservoir characterisation: PoroPerm distribution / karst / fractures (including exercise).

 

Session 4: Deltaic Growth-Fault Oil/Gas Fields inboard Brunei and Sabah margins

  1. Recap session 3
  2. Introducing the Labuan Island outcrops as a nearby outcrop analogue to Brunei /Sabah inboard deltaic oil/gas Fields.
  3. Regional deformation patterns.
  4. Seismic stratigraphy and trap / reservoir delineation (including exercise).
  5. Large delta depositional systems, nature of growth faults and linked trap and reservoir delineation (including several field examples).
  6. Structurally controlled basin margin (including exercise) and slope canyon trap and reservoir style.

 

Session 5: Deep Water Oil and Gas Fields of Sabah

  1. From Inboard Deltaic to Outboard Deep Water Setting (including exercise).
  2. Forced regression and sediment supply to the Sabah deep water
  3. Discussion of Deep-Water Depositional Processes, Products, and architectural elements, based on Sabah seismic and onshore (Kota Kinabalu) deep water facies outcrops.
  4. Mass Transport Complexes in outcrop (Labuan) and on seismic (including exercise).
  5. Reservoir challenges - thin beds (including examples and an exercise) based on seismic, log, core, and Labuan deep water thin bed outcrop.
  6. How to ''bring'' clastic reservoirs into deep water thrust based anticlinal traps.

 

Course wrap-up