IPA13-G-027
PROCEEDINGS INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION
Thirty-Seventh Annual Convention & Exhibition, May 2013
SEDIMENTOLOGY AND DIAGENESIS OF ESTUARINE DEPOSITS SIHAPAS FORMATION,
WESTERN CENTRAL SUMATRAN BASIN, INDONESIA
Heri Setiawan*
Sani Yusmananto*
Imam Muda Gunawan**
Hendarman*
ABSTRACT
Sihapas Formation is known as a good resevoir in
Central Sumatran Basin. It is Early Miocene in age
and occurs as arenite sandstone with wide
distibution througout western Central Sumatra
Basin.
Observations of lithology, sedimentary structures,
and trace fossils in the Well X core interval indicate
four facies associations. Those facies are sand bars,
sand flat, transgressive lag, and mud flat. Sand bars
comprise moderate to fine sandstone, planar
bidirectional crossbedding, and locally found trace
fossil, upward we found sand flat and transgressive
lag as a mark of trangression. Rise and fall of
relative sea level changes are recorded in several
intervals upward of trangressive lag facies until
mud flat facies in uppermost section.
Bioturbation, compaction, cementation, and
replacement are recorded in twenty thin sections
sampled from conventional core indicating that the
sediments have been through eogenesis and
mesogenesis phase.
The objective of this paper is to provide detailed
sedimentological descriptions, petrography and
diagenesis of estuarine deposits of Sihapas
Formation to assist and encourage future
exploration and development.
Keywords: sedimentology, diagenesis, estuary,
Sihapas, central sumatran basin
INTRODUCTION
This is a study of the mountain front area of western
* P.T. EMP Tonga
** EMP Gelam
Central Sumatran Basin (Figure 1). Central Sumatra
Basin is one of a series of rift basins that occupy a
back-arc position along the leading edge of
Sundaland. It is the most prolific oil producing
basin in Indonesia.
Main reservoir in this area is Early Miocene Lower
Sihapas Formation. Lower Sihapas occurs as arenite
sandstone deposited in transition environment
widely distributed in the area.
This paper presents sedimentological descriptions
and discusses sequence stratigraphy and diagenesis
of main reservoir Lower Sihapas Formation.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The study area encompasses Mandian Graben in
western Central Sumatran Basin; the graben is
bounded by Barisan Mountains to the west, Langga
Payung high to the east and Dalu-dalu Uplift to the
south.
Stratigraphic column of Mandian Graben is shown
in Figure-2 (William & Eubank, 1995). Pre-rift
sequence is dominated by greywacke, pebbly
mudstone, and quartzite. This basement also is
called Mergui terrane (Eubank & Makki, 1981).
Unconformably, syn-rift depositional sequence
comprises Pematang Group. Overlying the syn-rift
deposits are Sihapas Group and Telisa Formation
conformably deposited as trangressive sequence.
Petani Formation overlies the Telisa Formation as a
regressive sequence.
METHOD
One conventional core was examined in detail and
comprehensive sedimentological descriptions of
facies, depositional environments, and sequence
stratigraphy were colaborated with well log data in
main reservoir Lower Sihapas intervals. Twenty
thin sections from core samples were examined
with reporting of petrographic description, sand
classification and diaganesis of reservoir that could
influence characteristic of reservoir, especially
porosity.
RESULTS
Two conventional cores were cut from Well-X with
data record up to 70%, these intervals are 87 feet in
length. Observations of lithology, sedimentary
structures, and trace fossils in the cored intervals
indicate four facies associations – sand bar, sand
flat, transgressive lag, and mud flat. Vertical
succession of this core descrition is shown in
Figure-3.
Facies Description
 Sand Bar
This facies exists in several intervals, with thickness
ranging 2 ft to 20 ft in intervals 5338-5342 ft, 5373-
5394 ft, and 5408-5410 ft. It is white grey to dark
grey, fine to medium grained sandstone; sand grains
are subangular to subrounded and well sorted.
Locally found vertical burrow trace fossils.
Sedimentary structures are planar bidirectional
cross bedding and mud drapes in between cross
bedding.
This facies interpreted as sand bar of estuary, mud
drapes is indication of tidal current influence,
bidirectional crossbedding indicative of
bidirectional paleoflow and as tidal indicator.
Vertical bioturbation (scholithos) indicate that this
facies was deposited in marine influence.
 Sand Flat
This regressive sequence comformably overlies the
sand bar facies in several intervals at 5315-5338 ft,
5345-5352 ft, 5364-5373 ft, and 5397-5408 ft. It is
grey to dark grey, very fine to fine grained
sandstone, sand grains are subangular to
subrounded and well sorted; abundant horizontal
and vertical burrow trace fossils. Sedimentary
structures are wavy lamination, parallel lamination
with mud drape.
Wavy and parallel lamination indicate relatively
low energy of deposition, mud drapes and
horizontal bioturbation (cruziana) are marks of tidal
current influence, this facies interpreted as a sand
flat, deposited in mixed flat environment.
 Transgressive Lag
This transgressive facies lies at depths 5342-5345 ft
and 5394-5397 ft. It is brown to grey, medium to
coarse grained sandstone, sand grains are
subangular to subrounded and poorly sorted,
bioclast in base section, and massive sandstone.
Interpreted as transgressive sediment in high energy
estuary system indicated by presence of bioclast and
marks as marine environment.
 Mud Flat
Shale facies with thin calcareous sandstone at upper
most section 5360-5364 ft. Shale in general is green
color, hard, growing coarser towards the base
becoming siltstone. Micro lense siltstone and
horizontal burrows were observed in the lower part.
This interval interpreted as mud flat facies of
estuary system, deposited in low energy regime.
Petrography & Diagenesis
Twenty thin section samples were collected from
conventional core, generally descriptions of these
sandstones are grey, fine to medium grained, grains
are subangular to subrounded, with matrix 6-10%,
categorize as Arenite Sandstone (Pettijohn, 1975);
quartz content 40-90%, dominantly monocristaline
quartz 15-80%. Feldsar content not in excess of
15%, rock fragments more abundant than feldspar
up to 43%. Based on Q-F-L diagram (Pettijohn,
1975) these sandstone are Lithic Arenite, Sublithic
Arenite, and Quartz Arenite (Figure-4).
Overall, based on Schmidt & McDonald (1979),
diagenetic phases observed in all samples are
mesogenesis stage, with type immature and semi-
mature (Table-1). Diagenetic processes in all thin
sections are dominated by compaction characterized
by low intergranular volume and type of grain
contact from floating contact to suture contact.
Other diagenetic processes observed are
cementation, dissolution and replacement.
 Thin Sections from interval 5315.5 – 5372.1 ft
In this interval, the only diagenetic process
exhibited is compaction and is mesogenesis
immature. Although it is categorized as immature,
this process lies at the end of immature phase,
indicated by dolomite that exists as a replacement
mineral. Porosity is intergranular and dissolution
 with range based on visual petrographic result
9.25% – 20.4%. At depth of 5367 ft and 5370.2 ft
samples have very low porosity, 3.0% and 6.75%
respectively. For comparison, based on routine core
analysis the porosity range is between 9.16% and
23.9% with permeability 0.85 – 618 mD (Table-2).
Reservoir quality in this interval is fair. The
processes affecting reservoir quality are
compaction, matrix and cementation. Compaction
process in this interval reflected by point contact,
concavo-convex contact and suture contact between
grains. The matrix is dominated by pseudo and
micro-quartz, and the cementation process is
dominated by silica cement, authigenic clay and
dolomite.
 Thin sections on interval 5375.3 – 5401 ft
In this interval, the diagenetic phase is mesogenesis
semi-mature dominated by both compaction and
chemical process (dissolution and recrystalization).
The dissolution process occured intensively as
reflected by common dissloution of quartz and
matrix component.
Porosity type in this interval is intergranular and
dissolution with range based on visual petrographic
results 10.5% – 22.0%. As comparison, based on
routine core analysis the porosity range is between
14.11% and 24.52% with permeability 1.36 – 1990
mD (Table-2).
Reservoir quality in this interval is better than the
previous interval. The principal processes affecting
or reducing reservoir quality are compaction, matrix
and cementation. Compaction process is reflected
dominantly by concavo-convex contact and floating
contact between grains, and observations of many
deformations such as fractured quartz. In addition,
at depth 5381.2 ft there is a quratz vein (Figure-5a)
and at depth 5391.1 ft there is some polycrystaline
quartz (Figure-5b) as result of matrix micro-quartz
recrystalization. The matrices are dominated by
pseudo and micro-quartz, while the cement is
dominated by silica, authigenic clay and illite.
Replacemnet process observed is feldspar which is
replaced by clay mineral. Sericite existance quite
dominant as indication of hydrothermal influence.
CONCLUSION
Based on obsevations of lithology, trace fossils, and
sedimentary structure on conventional core in
Lower Sihapas Formation interval, there are four
facies associations – sand bar, sand flat,
transgressive lag, and mud flat. Those facies occur
in several intervals, indicating that there are several
cycles of sedimentation of estuary transgressive and
regressive sequence.
Twenty thin section samples were analysed, the
results reveal that based on Pettijohn classification
(1975) these sandstones belong to Lithic Arenite,
Sublithic Arenite, and Quartz Arenite type.
Overall, diagenetic processes of these samples are
Mesogenesis Immature and Mesogenesis Semi-
Mature. Mesogenesis immature is dominated by
compaction only, while mesogenesis semi-mature is
dominated by both compaction and chemical
dissolution and recrystalization.
Petrography and routine core analysis reveal that
mesogenesis semi-mature samples display better
porosity than mesogenesis immature; the primary
processes affecting or reducing reservoir quality are
compaction, matrix and cementation which occur
dominantly in mesogenesis immature phase. While
the main process that affecting or increase reservoir
quality are dissolution and recrystalization in
mesogenesis semi-mature phase.
Gennerally, semi-mature phase occurs at depths
over 3000 meters. However, in this area, the
processes first occurrences are relatively shallow (at
a depth of 1600 meters is in the semi-mature phase),
possibly caused by regionally complex tectonic
influences.
In some thin sections is also found sericite minerals.
Sericite alteration forms from the dissolution of
kaolinite and K-feldspar. Kaolinite is a key mineral
in mesogenesis semi-mature phase. Kaolinite
mineral alteration may be caused by hydrothermal
process, this also is indicated by presence of vein
quartz and polycrystalline quartz. Hydrothermal
process accelerates the process of diagenesis and
increases secondary porosity of the reservoir.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank the management of PT
EMP Tonga and Ditjen MIGAS for allowing
publication of this paper. I would say thanks to
Ribka for her help in laboratory work, and to Mr.
Ildrem Syafri from Geological Engineering Faculty,
Padjadjaran University for advance materials and
discussions, and to EMP exploration team for their
support.
REFERENCES
Eubank, R.T., and Makki, A.C., 1981. Structural
geology of the Central Sumatera Back-Arc Basin.
Proceedings Indonesian Petroleum Association.
Jakarta.
Pettijohn, F.J. 1975. Sedimentary Rock, 3rd Edition.
Harper and Row Publisher, New York, Evanston,
San Francisco, London.
Schmidt, V., and Mc Donald. D.A. 1979.The Role
of Secondary Porosity in the Course of Sandstone
Diagenesis in: Schole P.A. and Schlunger, P.R.
(Eds). Aspect of Diagenesis. Society of Econ.
Paleon. and Mineral. Special Publication.
Williams, H.H., and R.T. Eubank, Hydrocarbon
habitat in the rift graben of the Central Sumatra
Basin, Indonesia, in Hydrocarbon Habitat in Rift
Basins, edited by J.J. Lambiase, pp. 331–371,
Geological Society of London Special Publication,
1995.
 TABLE 1

DIAGENETIC PROCESS CLASSIFICATION ON 20 SAMPLES FROM WELL-X

 TABLE 2

ROUTINE CORE ANALYSIS

Figure 1 - Research Location in Central Sumatra Basin.

 
 
 
 
  
 
 

 
 
Figure 2 - Stratigraphic Column in Mandian Graben (William & Eubank, 1995).
Figure 3 - Vertical succession of core description on well-X.
Figure 4 - Petrographic classification of well-X based on Pettijohn (1975).
Figure 5 - Quartz vein (a) and Polycrystallin Quartz (b).