Forty-Eighth Annual Convention & Exhibition, May 2024
ROKAN’S CENOZOIC FOSSIL ASSEMBLAGE IN CONVENTIONAL CORES, CUTTINGS
AND SIDEWALL CORES: SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AND GEOLOGICAL APPLICATION
Satia Graha* Agus Susianto* Rendra Olyuza*
ABSTRACT
The Rokan Block is one of Indonesia’s largest oil producers, contributing over 20% to the nation’s oil output. The Central Sumatra Basin harbors several facies resulting from three main tectonic events spanning from the Eocene-Oligocene to the Plio-Pleistocene periods, encompassing both non-marine and marine depositional environments. The rift period during the Eocene-Oligocene era is evidenced by the deposition of the Pematang Group, comprising the Upper Red Bed Formation, Brownshale Formation and Lower Red Bed Formation, all of which were deposited in non-marine to lacustrine settings. Following this, the Early Miocene witnessed the immediate post-rifting basin sagging, followed by marine incursion and regional transgression, as recorded by the deposition of the Miocene Sihapas Group. This group predominantly consists of marine sediments such as the Menggala Formation, Bangko Formation, Bekasap Formation, Duri Formation and Telisa Formation. The Late Miocene to Pliocene period marked basin uplifting and orogeny, characterized by the deposition of the Petani Group, with the youngest formation being the Minas Formation transitioning to a shallow marine back to a non-marine environment. The age and depositional setting of these formations were characterized using a biostratigraphy approach, a method applied to identify age and bathymetric changes of the depositional environment based on fossil assemblages within the formations. Pollen and spores are common methods for determining the age and depositional settings of non-marine sediments, while planktonic foraminifera are relied upon for age determination in marine sediments.. Benthic foraminifera were used to determine the common water depth range where the sediment accumulated. With over 16,000 wells in the Rokan Block, almost all exploratory wells have acquired various types of rock samples during drilling operations, including conventional core samples, drill cutting samples, and sidewall cores. A significant proportion of these sample types were processed for biostratigraphy analysis. Based on Rokan’s robust biostratigraphy database, a semi-regional sequence stratigraphic framework and a regional Miocene- Pliocene marine sediment age framework were developed in the late 1990s.
Foraminifera fossils, calcareous nannoplankton, pollen and spore assemblage in the
Sihapas Group have enabled a detailed biostratigraphic zonation in Rokan, facilitating the recognition of main boundaries of regional geologic ages such as 25.5 Ma, 22 Ma, 21 Ma, 16.5 Ma, 15.5 Ma, and 13.5 Ma sequence boundaries based on the existence of Cassigerinella chipolensis, Globorotalia kugleri, Globigerinoides primordius, Globigerina ciperoensis, Catapsydrax unicava, Orbulina universa, Globorotalia peripheroronda, as well as calcareous nannoplankton. Marine benthic foram assemblages were used to
* Pertamina Hulu Rokan
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develop paleobathymetry maps and sections, defining landward and basinward
directions of sedimentary deposition in each sequence mentioned above. Some common fossils found in the Sihapas Group are marine mollusk from the pelecypod class.
In the non-marine syn rift deposits of the Pematang Group, which consists of the Upper Red Bed, Brown Shale, and Lower Red Bed, some species of pollen and spore fossils were commonly found. Among them are Meyeropolis naharkontensis and Pediastrum spp , indicative of Eocene - Oligocene age deposited in freshwater environments. In some conventional cores of the Pematang Group, freshwater mollusks were also found, showing imbrication that indicates low energy, non-marine fluvial sedimentation processes. Some core samples in the Brown Shale Formation also exhibit other unique fluvial to lacustrine ichnofossils consisting of higher plant leaves.
INTRODUCTION
The main objective of the study is the Rokan Block of the Central Sumatra Basin, located in Riau Province. The Rokan Block has various Neogene Formations that were deposited in various paleobathymetries, from non-marine environments (lacustrine) to middle neritic bathymetries. Each formation has microfossils and macrofossils that are preserved and can be found in drilling samples such as core samples, washed and dried cuttings, or unwashed cutting samples.
There are more than 16,000 wells in the Rokan Block, and we have endeavored to collect, analyze, and interpret the types of fossil content. We have identified and applied the usefulness of the fossil content to construct age zonations and identify paleobathymetries to facilitate easier interpretations, mainly in correlation.
Based on fossil types, we have foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, pollen and
spores, and fresh water mollusks; in several core samples we could found evidence of past activity.
Rokan Block - Central Sumatra Basin Stratigraphy
The oldest packages in the Central Sumatra Basin is the Paleogene Syn-Rift unit of the Pematang Group, which consists of three syn-rift deposits from older to younger: the Pematang Lower Red Bed, Brown Shale and Pematang Upper Red Bed. These were deposited from the Eocene to the Oligocene. 3
Figure 1 - Central Sumatra Basin Stratigraphy (modified by Heidrick and Aulia, 1996).
Above the Pematang Group is the younger Early Miocene post-rift Sihapas Group, which consists of the Menggala Formation, Bangko Formation, Bekasap Formation, Duri Formation, and Telisa Formation. Based on foraminifera content supported by calcareous nannoplankton, the Sihapas Group was deposited in the Lower Miocene (N4 to N9) in a marine environment.
The Middle-Upper Miocene Petani Group is deposited above the Sihapas, indicating a regressive cycle of sedimentation. The last one is the Minas Formation, which was deposited as alluvial sediment, (Aulia et.al, 1997).
Fossil Distribution
As mentioned before, various fossils are preserved in formations that construct the Central Sumatra Basin. Spores and pollen, mollusks and leave fossils could be found in the Pematang Group, mainly in Brown Shale. On the other hand, some foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton could be found in the Sihapas Group. Their distribution is applied to a range of zonation age and paleo bathymetry changes. 4
Figure 2 - Miocene Biostratigraphic and Sequence Stratigraphic Framework, Central Sumatera Basin.
The distribution of planktonic foraminifera in the Sihapas Group is common to abundant
quantitatively. Some index taxa could be identified and arranged to create zonation mainly in the Sihapas Group section. The distribution of fossils includes not only foraminifera but also other microfossils such as Palynology (pollen and spores). 5
Figure 3 - Index Foraminifera distribution in Central Sumatra Basin Stratigraphy.
In the Sihapas marine section, foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, pollen and spore assemblage have allowed for a rather detailed biostratigraphic zonation in Rokan, enabling recognition of main boundaries of regional geologic ages such as 25.5 Ma, 22 Ma, 21 Ma, 16.5 Ma, 15.5 Ma, and 13.5 Ma sequence boundaries. The index taxa that could be identified are Cassigerinella chipolensis, Globorotalia kugleri, Globigerinoides primordius, Globigerina ciperoensis, Catapsydrax unicava, Orbulina universa, Globorotalia peripheroronda, and Globorotali fohsi. The appearance of benthic foram assemblage is used to develop paleobathymetry. Some other common fossils found in the Sihapas Group are marine mollusks from the pelecypod class.
Fossil Content Utility
The appearance of fossils, mainly foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton, is used
to identify relative age (zonation), changes in bathymetry, and geological tectonic events such as sea level changes. This is illustrated in the figure below, where their appearance proves to be very useful, mainly in detailed geological interpretation. The data is obtained from foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton collected and analyzed from various depth intervals in a single well. Several types of well sample drilling, such as core samples and cuttings, are combined to obtain detailed zonation and changes in bathymetry. 6
Figure 4 - Foraminifera and Calcareous nano distribution and utility from one of Rokan well.
The fossil data is integrated with lithological data (formation), allowing us to identify geological events such as transgressions and regressions.
Additionally, the fossil record and distribution aid in well correlation.
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Figure 5 - Rokan Block Correlation from West to East with foraminifera and calcareous nano distribution utility.
The correlation shown in the figure above is arranged based on foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton distribution in the Sihapas Interval form west to east. We observe differences in bathymetry between the western and eastern areas, with the western area being deeper than the eastern area during the Middle Miocene (15-16 Ma). An advantage of this interpretation is that the data would be more comprehensive if integrated with other well data, such as marked logs, enabling the identification of facies changes. This would be useful for earth scientists in identifying facies distribution, especially in exploration or development processes.
In 2016 (Fardiansyah etc, 2016), fossil distribution was utilized to construct
paleobathymetry in the Central Sumatra Basin, mainly in the Rokan Block. The distribution of fossils was integrated with water salinity data to cross-check data integrity. 8
Figure 6 - Early Miocene (17.5 – 21 Ma) paleogeography.
The paleobathymetry interpretation in the Early Miocene of the Rokan Block is dominated by marine influence, with the basinward direction being towards the west area. This is indicated by the distribution of benthic foraminifera, supported by water salinity data.
SUMMARY
The Rokan Block in the Central Sumatra Basin is characterized by various facies of sedimentary rock deposited in different times and environments. Each facies or formation has different fossil content, significantly differing in distribution from one another. In non-marine environments, leaf fossils, fresh water mollusks, and palynology can be found in the oldest facies, mainly in the Pematang Group. Conversely, marine taxa such as foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton are present in the Sihapas Group. Fossil appearances in the Rokan Block aid earth scientists in interpretation, mainly in providing data for age zonation, constructing paleobathymetry, interpreting well-to-well correlations. 9
REFERENCES
Aulia K, et al, (1997). Petroleum Geology of Central Sumatra Basin, Indonesia: Pertamina BPPKA publication.
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Fardiansyah I, et al, (2016). Early Miocene Paleogeography of Central Sumatera Basin:
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Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Lithology of The Upper Cretaceous (Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) and Palaeogene Succession of The Palmyrides (Syria)
Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Lithology of The Upper Cretaceous (Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) and Palaeogene Succession of The Palmyrides (Syria)
