2.

1 SUMMARY OF THE GELAMA MERAH FIELD

Geological Area

: Sabah Basin

Area

: Offshore Sabah

Country

: Malaysia

Reservoir Structure

: Anticlines

Coordinate

: Longitude 114 59 06.34E

: Latitude 05 33 49.98N

Type of Field

: Oil and gas

2.2 INTRODUCTION
2.2.1 REGIONAL SETTING

Gelama Merah field is located in the offshore of Sabah Basin. It was believed that the
field is located nearby the Semarang Asam Paya Production Sharing Contract which in East
Malaysia at Sabah offshore. This field which is about 45 miles (72km) northwest of the
Labuan Gas Terminal is surrounded by shallow reed with the water depth of 30 feet (9m).
The location of the Gelama Merah field is shown in the figure below. Sabah, located in the
northern part of Borneo, lies at an important junction between the Eurasian, Indo-Australian,
Pacific and Philippines Sea plates. The Sabah Basin, which is located in North West of Sabah,
is mainly offshore while the other two basins cover some areas in the North East and South
East of onshore Sabah. The Sabah Basin contains 12-km thick Neogene sediments that were
deposited within the deep marine and progradational shelf slope environment. There are six
tectonostratigraphic provinces are identified in Sabah Basin which is Rajang Group FoldThrust Belt, Inboard Belt, Baram Delta, Outboard Belt, North West Sabah Trough and North
West Sabah Platform.

Figure 1.1 Location of Gelama Merah field

The Geographical Coordinate of Gelama Merah is 05 33 49.98 N, 114 59 06.34E.

There are three well on Gelama Merah field which is Gelama Merah 1, Gelama Merah ST-1
and finally Gelama Putih. The last and most recent tie-in to Samarang Asam Paya PSC is
from the nearby Sumandak field. The fault that is occurred in Gelama Merah is regional
wrench fault.

2.1.1 Plate Tectonic System

There are four major tectonics event occurred in Sabah Basin that contribute to the
fault alignment; 1) development and depositional during syn-riff phase(Eocene Oligocene),
2)transgression of deltaic deposits of during late syn-riff phase(Late Oligocene-Early
Miocene), 3) marked by tectonic quiescence during Middle Miocene, and 4) Inversion and
folding of tectonics during Middle Miocene-Pleistocene.
The tectonic setting and basin evolution of the Sabah Basin is very much related to
the closing of the proto-South China Sea/ Rajang Sea. The opening of the South China Sea
since Oligocene causing microcontinents of Dangerous Grounds and Reed Bank to drift and
collide with Sabah margin. Active tectonic plate movements throughout Eocene and Miocene
have resulted in the development of different provinces across Sabah Basin hence creating the
Inboard Belt and East Baram Delta where the Gelama Merah is located. According to the
regional setting of the Inboard Belt and East Baram Delta, Gelama Merah field is located
within a series of progradational deltaic system where rapid sedimentation was observed
forming the top set, fore set and bottom set facies. In each successive deltaic system, the
basin depocenter moved further offshore to the northwest.

Figure 2.1.2 Tectonic Event of Sabah Basin

2.1.2 Exploration Opportunities

The exploration of Sabah Basin was carried out by numerous type of oil companies. A
number of initiatives by PETRONAS and PSC contractors to test new play-types and
continuous studies to mature plays have resulted in recent discoveries. The success story
begins with the discovery of Gelama Merah by Gelama Merah 1 were drilled in September
2001. Then, seven more exploration well were drilled on the same play in the area between
2001 until 2003.
To date, twenty-eight (28) development wells have been drilled on Gelama Merah
area and the fields are currently on production. In order to further explore the hydrocarbon
potential of this area, a regional study with sequence stratigraphic approach was carried out in
2008. The main objective of this study is to generate stratigraphic framework of Sumandak
that can be correlated to the Sabah regional chronostratigraphic framework.
The generated stratigraphic framework will help to facilitate interpretation in the
Block SB310 and surrounding areas. In addition, the study was also aimed to identify any
upside hydrocarbon potential for further exploration. The approach adopted in this study was
based on Exxons techniques (Van Wagoner et. al. 1990) which defined Sequence Boundary
(SB) as a product of relative falls is sea level.

Seismic data and well data (logs, cores & biostratigraphic data were used to identify
major bounding surfaces in order to establish a framework in which genetically related facies
can be studied and a realistic depositional model can be constructed.

2.2 2-DIMENSIONAL CROSS IMAGING

Contour line that is in surface map indicate the depth of the area from top view.
Contour lines connect all the same elevation point and are used to illustrate relief on a map.
Contour maps for exploration may depict geologic structure as well as thickness of
formations. By this contour, the angle of a fault and where it intersects with the formations
and other faults as well as where the formations taper off or stop abruptly can be shown.
Basically, geologist used isopach maps to assist in exploration work which is to calculate how
much petroleum remains in a formation and to plan ways to recover it. The range of depth
that plotted on top of map is within 1300-1800m. There are a total of 9 layers of surface map
which are U3.2, U4.0, U5.0, U6.0, U7.0, U8.0, U9.0, U9.1 and U9.2. The maps were scaled
as 1:250m which is in A3 sizes. An identical scale of horizontal and vertical are
recommended for conventional cross section imaging as shown below.

Vertical Exaggeration (VE) = value of one unit measurement on the Horizontal (MAP)scale
value of the same unit of measurement on the Vertical z
= 1:250 = 1
1:250

Figure 2.1 Surface map for Unit 3.2

The depth of cross section was drawn to visualize the contour line in two dimensional
views that is obtained from the surface map. The vertical and horizontal cross sections were
both plotted using Microsoft Excel. The x-axis represents the horizontal line while the y-axis
represent the thickness of each zone.

The Water Oil Contact (WOC) is found to be at 1535m TVDSS while the Gas Oil
Contact (GOC) is at 1494m TVDSS. The distance between both wells is calculated to be
approximately 550m. From the plotted point, it can be seen that there is no minor or major
fault detected. The top zones from U3.2 to U9.1 can be see were slightly eroded. Zone U9.2
from the figures is set to be the base reservoir which confines the boundary of the reservoir.

2.3 PETROLEUM SYSTEMS

2.3.1 Source Rock
Success in the preservation of organic matter in the NW Sabah Basin seems to be
related to the high primary terrigenous productivity, high sediment accumulation rates and the
resistant nature of the Type III higher land plant waxes to oxidation and biodegradation.
Interestingly, as much of the Sabah shelf tended to be oxic during Middle Miocene, it appears
that anoxic depositional conditions were not essential for organic matter preservation. In
origin, deposited in generally oxic environments such as deltaic/peat swamps, brackish
mangrove swamps and lagoons.

2.3.2 Migration
The timing of maturation varies from Middle Miocene to the present. Most of the area is still
undergoing subsidence. Migration along faults is probably a major method of migration
though many faults act as seals. Some migration through sedimentary facies has presumably
occurred, especially in an up dip direction from condensed intervals.

2.3.3 Reservoir Rock

Reservoir rocks for Gelama Merah field consist of interbedded sandstone with thin shales
layer of non-reservoir. Upper shoreface sandstones of regressive parasequence sets and
fluvial and tidal sandstones filling incised valleys cut during lowstands. The depositional
environments for each sandstone reservoir differ with the stratigraphy. The primary
depositional environment, burial diagenesis and mineralogical contents of the reservoir
sandstone play an important role in the quality of the reservoir in Sabah Basin. Formation that
was deposited during middle to upper Miocene contains reservoir rocks that are deposited in
fluvial-deltaic, coastal plain and shallow marine environment (Madon M., 1994). These strata
contains medium to very fine grained sandstone with porosity value that more than 30% and
1000mD permeability value (Bishop, 2002).

2.3.4 Trap & Seals

Most producing reservoirs are anticlinal features. This can be shown through the horizontal
cross of the contour map in Figure 2.3. Based on the location of basin it is either rollover
anticlines produced by growth faulting or anticlinal features associated with morris faults.
Some reservoirs are related entirely to sealing against faults. The seals are either marine
flooding surfaces or faults within reservoirs. Furthermore, there are also stratigraphic traps
unrelated to anticlinal features according to the basin where the Gelama Merah located.

Figure 2.3 Horizontal Cross Section

2.4 Stratigraphy and Correlation
The correlation is done across well Gelama Merah-1 (GM-1) to well Gelama Merah-1 ST1
(GM-1 ST1). Top and base sand unit correlation data are given for GM-1 and GM-1 ST1.
Quality check of gamma ray log response is being used in order to identify the lithology of
the formation. Sand and shale unit identification is done using quick look method. Figure 2.4
illustrates the stratigraphic correlation from sand and shale distribution from the log response.

GR:
High
(radioactive
formation)-indicate shale

GR: Irregular readings

(low & high)-indicate sand
formation
interbedding
with shale layers

GR:
High
(radioactive
formation)-indicate
shale

GR:
Irregular
readings (low &
high)-indicate sand
formation
interbedding
with
shale layers

GR: Low
formation)
indicate
formation.

(clean
sand

GR: Low (clean formation)

- indicate sand formation.

GR: Irregular readings

(low & high) - indicate
sand
formation
interbedding with shale
layers.

Figure 2.4 : Well top correlations using Gamma ray log for GM-1 and GM-1 ST-1

It can be seen that the oil accumulation are distributed at a thick layer at zone U9.0, U9.1 and
U9.2 as shown in the multi-layered reservoir in Figure 2.3. The thin oil layered are showed
above the GOC is at zone U3.2, U5.0 and U9.0 above the GOC level. tectonic might have
caused another possible uplift that gives the Gelama Merah the current anticlinal shape it has
now. The hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs in Gelama Merah area are represented by topset 2D
cross section and also quick-look method from the logs proven by Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
calculations

2.5 Depositional Environment

Deposition and preservation of organic matter in the Gelama Merah field can be
assume likely the offshore North West Sabah Basin occurred in three broad
palaeoenvironments. For example, 1) coastal-lower coastal plain environments comprising
inter-channel swamps, back-mangrove swamps, lagoonal and inter-distributary areas, 2)
fluviomarine environments, and 3) continental shelf-deep marine areas.
The specific environment in which sediments are deposited is the depositional
environment as shown as in Figure 2.5. The other term that is refer as depositional
environment is sedimentary environments. Each layer of the depositional environment that
accumulate in the layer of the sediment will vary its characteristics that will give the vital
information about the geologic history of that area. The characteristics of the sedimentary
environment including its lithology (which is typically the rock type), its structure and any
fossil that it may contain can be observed and measured in a sedimentary rock.

Figure 2.5 Depositional Environment

Gelama Merah which is located in Sahah Basin area which likely has the depositional
environment that is dominated by the deltaic environment. Depositional facies and burial
diagenesis influence the reservoir quality in the Gelama Merah field which commence during
late Eocene and Early Miocene. There are less considerable variation in size and sorting of
the grain that was observed within the sand body contained in the units of the interest based
on the core data.
Gamma ray (GR) log correlation is used to aid the findings Figure 2.7 in order to
prove the theory of the depositional environment. Gamma ray log response will give two
indications, first, high reading of the log will indicate the shale zone (non-permeable) , second,
the deflection of gamma ray to the left shows the permeable zone while).
There are several serrated and smooth patterns for both cylinder and bell shape that
can aid in interpreting further information on the environments of the zone interest based on
the interpretation of logging from Petrophysicist. Abrupt changes in gamma-ray logs response
are commonly related to sharp lithological breaks associated with unconformities and
sequence boundaries (Krassay, 1998). The five log trends (figure 2.6) are bell shape (upwards
increasing in gamma counts), funnel shape (upward decrease in gamma counts), box-car or
cylindrical (relatively consistent gamma readings), bow shape (systematic increase and
decrease of gamma counts) and irregular trend (no systematic change in gamma values).

Figure 2.6 : Gamma-ray log trends

In Gelama Merah field there are three types of depositional environment that can be found
based on the shape of the Gamma-ray logs. The log is shown in the Figure 2.7.

Figure 2.7: Gamma Ray Log of Gelama Merah Field

Further information on the Gamma Ray trend of Gelama Merah field is stated in Table 1.

Shape

Serrated

Environments

Cylinder
Represents uniform
deposition

Deltaic distributaries
Turbdite channels
Proximal deep-sea fans

Bell Shape
Fining upwards sequences

Lacustrine sands
Deltaic distributaries
Turbdite channels
Proximal deep-sea fans

Funnel Shape
Coarsening upward sequences

Distributary mouth bars

Delta marine fringe
Distal deep-sea fans

Table 1 : Shape of Gamma Ray Log of Gelama Merah Field

The gamma ray log is often used to measure the shaliness of a formation. In reality
the shaliness often does not change suddenly, but occurs gradually with depth. Such gradual
changes are indicative of the litho-facies and the depositional environment of the rock, and
are associated with changes in grain size and sorting that are controlled by facies and
depositional environment as well as being associated with the shaliness of the rock. Figure
2.8 analyses the shape of gamma ray log responses for various depositional environments.

Figure 2.8 - Gamma ray log

2.6 Stratigraphy and Well Correlation

The purpose of conducting well correlation is to observe the lithology between wells in
the field. Sand unit was used in making the correlation between well. However, correlations
based on sands can result in numerous correlation errors such as either adding sands that are not
actually present or in missing sands that are which will lead to over-estimated and underestimated
reserves. Figure 2.8 shows the result of the sand layer in Gelama Merah 1 and Gelama Merah ST1 wells when compare using gamma ray log.

In conclusion, both well does not connected with each other and it will have their own
petroleum system, reservoir and rock properties. In order to reduce the errors, log data such as
gamma ray logs, resistivity logs, and neutron density logs will help to improve the results.

Based on Figure 2.9, gamma ray logs at the same sand unit does not present the same
lithology, this is due to the different type of reservoir characteristic between each well and the
well does not connected with each other. By comparing with resistivity logs at the same sand
units, Gelama Merah 1 and Gelama Merah ST-1 wells shows the existence of the hydrocarbon in
the same sand units. However, the fluid type is different when comparing using neutron density
logs.

2.7 GROSS ROCK VOLUME (GRV) CALCULATION

According to James et al, the Gross Rock Volume (GRV), is the volume of rock between a
top and base reservoir surface and above a known or postulated hydrocarbon-water contact in
a geological trap. We use the coordinate square method in determining the area of the
reservoir.

Figure 3.0 Area calculated by using grid square counting

STOIIP = 7758 GRV NTG So / Bo

Eq. (2.1)

Where,
STOIIP: Stock Tank Oil Initially in Place, STB
7758 : Conversion factor from acre-ft to bbl
GRV : Gross Rock Volume, acre-ft
NTG : Net to Gross
: Porosity
So : Oil Saturation
Bo : Oil Formation Volume Factor, bbl/STB

GIIP = 43560 GRV NTG Sg / Bg

Where,
GIIP : Gas Initially in Place, SCF
43560 : Conversion Factor from acre-ft to ft3
GRV : Gross rock Volume, acre-ft
NTG : Net to Gross
: Porosity
Sg : Gas Saturation: Gas Formation Volume Factor, cu.ft/SCF

Eq. (2.2)