CHARACTERIZATION OF CHANNELS IN

SEPAT FIELD IN RELATION TO THE FLUVIAL

SYSTEM IN MALAY BASIN

TASVIR KAUR RAJASANSI A/P HARNAR SINGH

17987
PETROLEUM GEOSCIENCE
SUPERVISOR: MRS SITI NUR FATHIYAH JAMALUDIN
 P RESENTATION O UTLINE
B AC K G RO U N D O F S T U DY

L I T ER ATU R E R E V IE W

METHODOLOGY

RE S U LT S & D I S C U S SI ON
C O N C L U SI O N &
R E C O MME NDATI O N
 INTRODUCTION
Sedimentation in Malay Basin is very
much influenced by channel deposits
Sepat Field located in block PM313
A gas producing field
Located at central axial part of Malay
Basin
Most of the published study done on this
field focuses on gas seepage and reservoir
characterization
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Sepat Field is masked by gas cloud formation that leads to gas seepage

Results in poor seismic quality due to amplitude and frequency attenuation

Fluvial channels are often found below seismic temporal resolution

Leads to uncertainties in stratigraphic and structural detection (trap formation)

affects the hydrocarbon reserve estimation

Techniques: Volume attributes, spectral decomposition, well log analysis

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the fluvial

channel system in Sepat Field
To construct the depositional
environment model of Sepat
Field with relation to Malay Basin
 SCOPE OF STUDY
3D raw seismic data (cropped volume)
Stratigraphy group focus : Group A and Group B
Well log data Sepat 3, Sepat 8, Sepat Deep 1, Sepat Barat 1
Software used:
a) PETREL E&P Software by Schlumberger
b) GeoTeric 2016
LITERATURE REVIEW
Geological Setting Of Malay Basin
The Malay Basin is situated at the center of Sundaland, the cratonic core of Southeast
Asia
Formed as a result of transtension (related to both strike-slip shear and extension)
during Late Eocene to Early Oligocene
Collision extrusion of Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate followed by thermal
subsidence
It elongates from NW SE and spreads a zone of around 500km long and 250km wide
It is one of the deepest continental extensional basins in the region and the biggest
among the hydrocarbon bearing Tertiary basin of the Sunda Shelf
 CONTINUE
Separated from Penyu Basin
by Tenggol Arch &
Narathiwat separates Malay
Basin from Thailands
Pattani Basin
12 14km of Oligocene
and younger sediments
Underlain by pre Tertiary
basement composed of
metamorphic, igneous and
sedimentary rocks
Tectonic Evolution Of Malay Basin

Structural evolution can be divided into three tectono stratigraphic phases (Tjia,
1994):

Extension phase started during Oligocene - Sediment accumulation involved lacustrine

and fluvial sediments (Group M K)

Thermal subsidence which took place from Early Miocene to Middle Miocene -
Sediment accumulation was mainly paralic sediments, consisting mainly of coastal plain
sands, muds, and coals with interbedded transgressive marine muds (Group J H)
 CONTINUE
Compression stage which happened from Late Miocene to Pliocene Sediment
deposition was mainly within coastal plain to shallow marine environment consisting
of Group F A (Madon, 1999)

Malay basin experienced inversion during the Middle to Late Miocene happened
during the compression stage

Structural evidence - compressional anticlines, inverted and uplifted half graben and
reverse throws on the half graben normal faults
METHODOLOGY
 Volume Attributes
A Point bars A
defined

Relative Acoustic
Impedance
Clear thin tributaries
channels Channels boundary
Z = -108ms not clearly defined Z = -225ms

B Point bars not B

defined

Thin tributaries Variance

channels Channels boundary clearly
defined + detection of new
Z = -108ms channels Z = -225ms
Spectral Decomposition & RGB
Blending
Set source volume

Set decomposition parameters

Single volume preview RGB Colour Blend preview

Generate Frequency Volume / Blend

View result volume in 3D window

Output 2: 40Hz Output 3: 50Hz

Output 1: 30Hz
magnitude volume magnitude volume
magnitude volume
 A (30Hz) B (40Hz)

1 1

2 2
3 3

C (50Hz)
D (RGB Blend Volume)

2
3
Log Motif Analysis

Aggradation Prograding Prograding &

Retrograding Aggrading
Eolian, braided Crevasse splay, Retrograding
Fluvial point bar, Fluvial floodplain,
fluvial, channel fill, river mouth bar, Reworked offshore
tidal point bar, storm dominated
submarine canyon delta front, bar, regressive to
deep tidal channel shelf, deep marine
fill, evaporate fill of shoreface, transgressive shore
fill, tidal flat slope
basin submarine fan lobe face delta

Taken from Google Images

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Cross section of transect A A

Schematic diagram of cross section A A
TIME SLICE
INTERPRETATION
Similarities:
a) Hook shaped channel with developed
point bar seen on both time slices
Differences:
a) Tributaries channels seen more clearly
on variance attributes
Channel Direction:
N-S
 1

* Only repeating channels are

marked with numbers

Similarities:
a) Meandering channels and a straight
channel are observed
b) Oxbow lake and point bars are
observed
Differences:
a) Channels shape are more defined in
spectral decomposition than variance
Channel Direction:
NW SE, NE SW, N - S
 5 4
2
6 3
1

* Only repeating channels are

marked with numbers

Similarities:
a) Meandering channels and straight
channels are observed
b) Point bar observed
Differences:
a) No major changes observed
Channel Direction:
NW SE, NW NE, N S
 5
2
6
3

* Only repeating channels are

marked with numbers

Similarities:
a) Meandering channels and straight channels are
observed
Differences:
a) Frequency decomposition showed different
shape of channel that was initially traced in
variance attribute
b) A channel flowing from NE to SW was traced in
variance but not obvious in spectral
decomposition
Channel Direction:
NW SE and N S
 1

* Only repeating channels are

marked with numbers

Similarities:
a) Meandering channels and straight
channels are observed
b) Wide body of channel detected
c) Short straight channels with chaotic
arrangements detected
Differences:
a) None
Channel Direction:
NW SE, NE SW, N S
Represent the misinterpretation
from -504ms till 1062ms that was
thought to be a fluvial tract in
variance

However, after application of

spectral decomposition the
anticline structure emphasized and
the traced line represents the flank
of the anticline
Deep Incised Valley
Channel Dimension: l = 10.34km, d=1.39km, w=0.65km Meander scrolls/ Point bar

Tributaries

Channel

Indication of deep
incised valley

Z = -108ms
Seq 1

Well Log
Group
A1
Retrograd
ing

Interpretation
Seq 1
Group
A2
Retrograd
ing

TSL (t) & Sepat Deep 1 Sepat 3 Sepat 8

Depth (m)
Seq 2
Group B Z = -606, 909 Silty sand Sand Silty sand
Retrograd
ing Z = -729, 1094 Silty sand Shale Silty sand

Z = -864, 1296 Silty sand Shale Silty sand

Seq 3 Z = -930, 1395 Sand Silty sand Silty sand
Group D
Retrograd Z = -1062, 1593 Sand Sand Sand
ing

Seq 4
Group E
Progradin
g
Depositional Setting
A
Modified from Alqahtani et al., (2014)

B
Midstream
Midstream

Downstream
Downstream

Starting of anticline formation

 Noring Sepat Chao Phraya B
A Johore River flowing
NW SE

Inas

Bujang Deep 1

50 km

Modified from Alqahtani et al., (2014)

 Thailand high ground

Upper Coastal Plain

Chao Phraya
River into Gulf of
Thailand Lower Coastal Plain
Malay Basin

Sepat Field located in Downstream - South

axial Malay Basin China Sea

Depositional Model of Sepat Field in relation to Malay Basin

CONCLUSION
Type of channels: Meandering channels with well developed point bars and oxbow lake

Main orientation of channels: NW SE, N - S

Size and dimension:

a) Hook channel: l = 10.34km, d=1.39km, w=0.65km (deeply incised valley at the NE of Sepat
field)

b) Others: mostly long with shallow depth varies in width and length

Sediment type: Mainly shale and silt with interbedded sand

CONTINUE
Well log: Indicates fining upwards sequence/retrogradation as indication of fluvial depositional
setting

Sediment flow: Thailand highland (2500m) and Eastern Mountain (800m) from Peninsular
Malaysia

Depositional setting Lower coastal plain

Confirmed by thickness map Flat terrain

The hook shaped river have a high possibility to be a part of the major trunk river, the Chao
Phraya Johore River
 RECOMMENDATION
Geobody technique for extraction of fluvial body
Complete sequence stratigraphy study using seismic data, well log data
and core log data to aid in a better developed of depositional
environment
 REFERENCES
Alqahtani, F. A., Johnson, H. D., Jackson, C. A. L., & Som. M. R. (2014). Nature, origin and
evolution of a Late Pleistocene incised valley fill, Sunda Shelf, Southeast Asia. Sedimentology, Vol
62, pp. 1198 1232.

Madon, M.B. (1999). Basin Types, Tectono Stratigraphic Provinces, and Structural Styles. The
Petroleum Geology and Resources of Malaysia. Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 79 111

Madon, M.B., Abolins, P., Hoesni, M.J.B., & Ahmad, M.B. (1999). Malay basin. The Petroleum Geology
and Resources of Malaysia. Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 173 217

Tjia, H.D. (1994). Inversion Tectonics in the Malay Basin: Evidence and Timing of Events.
Geological Society Malaysia, Bulletin 36, pp.119 26.
QUESTION & ANSWER