Petroleum System and Stratigraphy of Malay Basin Province,

offshore Peninsula Malaysia

Arif Fazil
Department of Geosciences University of Wisconsin-Madison, Weeks Hall 1215 West Dayton Street, Madison Wisconsin 53706
Received 16 November 2011

Abstract
Malay Basin, an intracratonic basin, is a northwest trending elongate basin located in the north-eastern
part of peninsular Malaysia. It is composed of complex half grabens structure that filled with sediments that
are Tertiary to recent in age. The stratigraphy of Malay Basin is divided accordingly based on seismic
markers and well log readings that are confined by unconformities and sequence boundary. It was labeled
from Group A to Group M from younger to older strata. These sediments are mostly lacustrine shales, coal
and continental siliciclastics. The basin has undergone three major tectonic events that give rise to the
current structure in the basin; 1) Extension during Late Cretaceous to Early Miocene, 2) Thermal
subsidence during Early Miocene to Middle Miocene, and 3) Compression during Late Miocene to
Pliocene. Half grabens structure across the basin area was formed by the extension during Late Cretaceous
to Early Miocene. Fluvio-deltaic and lacustrine sediment from Group M, L and K that are Oligocene to
Miocene in age are recognized as the source rock for the petroleum system in this basin. The main reservoir
zone is in the Group K to Group D sediments that are mostly from fluvial origin was deposited during the
thermal subsidence event that occurs during Lower Miocene to Middle Miocene. The compression that
occur during middle Miocene to Pliocene reactivated the normal fault along the half grabens structure and
gave rise to domal anticlinal features, which is the main type of hydrocarbon trap in Malay Basin. The
widespread regional shale that occurs in Malay Basin reacts as the seal rock. All these petroleum system
elements are well-preserved and are correctly placed in time and space in the Malay Basin and provide a
suitable condition for hydrocarbon accumulation and production.
Keywords: Malay Basin; Miocene-Pliocene; Petroleum System; Source Rock, Reservoir Rock; Structural
Traps, Stratigraphy

1. Introduction
Malay Basin is a northwest trending elongate
basin located in the north-eastern part of peninsular
Malaysia (Figure 1). It is entirely offshore and
located in the South China Sea. Water depth at this
area is relatively shallow and averagely less than
200m. The basin is categorized as intracratonic
basin or interior extensional because it is located
within continental interior in stable cratonic areas
of Sunda shelf. The basin is filled with more than
14 km of Oligocene to recent sediment and covers
an area of up to 85,000 km2 with about 500 km2
long and 200km2 wide (Petronas, 1999). The
Oligocene sediments at this area have been
classified to have terrestrial origins with minor
marine influence, while the Miocene-recent
sediments are generally deposited in coastal plain
to shallow marine environment.
According to Bishop (2002) in the USGS

assessment of Malay Basin Province, this field has

produced more than 1.6 billion barrels of oil (as in
2002) and has the potential for recovery of known
reserves of more than 12 billion barrels. Malay
Basin is famous for its Tapis Blend petroleum, high
quality oil that has low sulphur content and has
high API gravity value. Malaysias Tapis is one of
the most expensive oil benchmark in the world
because this oil blend is light, sweet and is capable
of yielding more gasoline per barrel. Tapis blend
contains 0.0343 percent sulfur by weight and with
API gravity number of 45.9 (Penwell Corporation,
2000).
Petroleum exploration in this area began in
1968 and currently, in a relatively mature stage.
Numerous petroleum exploration activities that
were done by various oil companies in this region
have help to develop better understanding about
Malay Basin Petroleum System. Early petroleum
exploration by Esso Production Malaysia Inc. was

Figure 1: Location map of Malay Basin and its thickness

conducted by using seismic stratigraphy and has

established the stratigraphic subdivisions of the
Malay Basin that it is widely used today. Also,
other studies that cover the tectonic history,
structure, stratigraphy and petroleum geology has
been carried out as well. Even though Malay Basin
has been explored for more than 40 years now,
most of the studies that have been conducted by
these oil companies are unpublished. Recently,
various studies have become publicly available
with the help of Geological Society of Malaysia
and PETRONAS to accelerate the petroleum
development of Malay Basin.
In this paper, various studies related to
petroleum system of Malay Basin that have been
reported will be analyzed with an emphasis is on
the stratigraphy of the province. This paper will
tabulate the petroleum system elements and tied it
with the stratigraphy of Malay Basin. This will
determine whether the elements of petroleum
system in this province in term of its timing,
deposition of essential rock units, hydrocarbon trap
structure, generation and preservation of
hydrocarbon are in sequence in order to produce
hydrocarbon.
2. Geological background
The Malay Basin is located on a stable
cratonic core of Southeast Asia and can be
categorized as an intracratonic basin; it was formed
during the early Tertiary period. Malay Basin is

separated from Thailands Pattani Basin on the

north by the Narathiwat High, and the Tenggol
Arch separates it from Penyu Basin on the south.
Based on the well data that has been drilled in the
area, the basement rock of the Malay Basin
consists of igneous, metamorphic rocks and preCretaceous sedimentary strata in age. Interpretation
of seismic data suggests the contact between the
Jurassic basement rock and Tertiary sediment
exhibit an angular unconformity between the
truncated sections (Ngah, 1990).
An isopach map of sediment created by Esso
in the early exploration stage shows that the basin
is steeper on the southwest flank than the northeast
area (Figure 1) (Petronas, 1999). Seismic data
shows that the Malay Basin is a very highly faulted
area composed of numerous extensional grabens
(Figure 2 and 4) (Tjia, 1994). Structural framework
studies in southeastern, northwestern and at westcentral margin area show a different trend of faults
at different regions of Malay Basin. In the northern
part of the basin most of the faults trending northsouth, while in the southern area, the fault
predominantly trending east-west and northwestsoutheast.
There are three major tectonics events that
contribute to the fault alignment and the present
structure of the Malay Basin province; 1)
Extension during Late Cretaceous to Early
Miocene, 2) Thermal subsidence during Early
Miocene to Middle Miocene, and 3) Compression
during Late Miocene to Pliocene (Ngah, 1990).
The extensional phase during Late Cretaceous-Late

Figure 2: Seismic cross-sections A-A and B-B, showing fault block and half grabens structure
(Kong, 1994)

Miocene characterize the period of basin opening

and rapid sediment growth. This tectonic event
produced pull-apart basins and half grabens
features in most part of the Malay Basin area
(Figure 2). This event is related to the east-west
fault in the southern part of Malay Basin. The
collision between India and Asia during the
Miocene is responsible in the forming of major
axial fault in Malay Basin and has formed most of
the anticlinal structure that served as a trap for
hydrocarbon in this area (Figure 3) (Tjia, 1994;
Ngah, 1990). After the compressional period, the
anticlinal feature continues to grow locally due to
the subsidence and sedimentation during Pliocene
to Holocene period. All these tectonic phases
directly affect the stratigraphic development of
Malay Basin and have been positive for
hydrocarbon generation and trap development.
3. Stratigraphy
Most of the sedimentary section of the Malay
Basin is composed of siliciclastic sequences of
sandstone and shale. The alternating sandstoneshale sequences give good acoustic impendence
seismic markers reading that were used to construct
the stratigraphy for Malay Basin. One of the wellknown stratigraphic correlations was established by
Esso in the late 1960 and the sedimentary
succession was subdivided alphabetically into units

called Groups (Figure 5) (Petronas, 1999). The

stratigraphy of Malay Basin is divided accordingly
based on core sample, seismic markers and well
log readings that are confined by unconformities or
sequence boundary. It was labeled from A to M

Figure 3: Seismic cross section at Tapis Field

showing compressional anticline feature

Figure 4: Fault structures in the northwestern part of the Malay Basin (Tjia, 1994)

from younger to older strata; the oldest sediments

are Oligocene in age. As mention before, the
structural evolution of the Malay Basin play a

significant role in its stratigraphic record.

Figure 5: Generalized stratigraphy of Malay Basin (Petronas, 1999)

3.1 Lower Oligocene to Lower Miocene

Extensions that occur during Late Cretaceous
to Late Miocene have formed a series of graben
and horst block features that create large scale
depression in the topography. This provides
accommodation necessary for lake development in
the area (Ramli, 1988). During this extension
period, Group M, L and K were consequently
deposited. Group M, L, and K are well-known for
their fluvio-lacustrine origin towards the center of
the basin and have been considered as the source
rock for petroleum generation in this area (Figure
6). Group M, L and K also exhibit braided stream
deposits, coastal plain and lacustrine deltas
especially at the edge of the basin area (Petronas,
1999). Due to the deep depth of Group M, L and K
most of the wells drilled in the Malay Basin cannot
penetrate this group except at the flank area of the
basin. Specifically, Pulai Field at the southern part
of Malay Basin which is the shallowest part of the
Basin was drilled to study M, L and K Group.
Wells that have been drilled in the southern
portion of the Malay Basin by Exxon describe
Group M as shale dominated strata that interbedded
with siltstone and sandstone. The thickness of M
Group at this area is 1425 feet and divided into
upper shale member and lower sandstone member.
The upper shale is dark grey to medium brown,
firm, brittle and noncalcacerous. The depositional

environment for the upper shale member is

interpreted as low energy brackish and lacustrine
environment that have marine influence; it was
based
on
the
organic
content
and
paleontology/palynology data (Armitage & Viotti,
1977; Muhammad & Jamil, 2010; Creaney, Hanif,
Curry, Bohacs, & Redzuan, 1994). The lower
sandstone member is classified as light to medium
grey, with some lithic, fine to medium grained, fair
sorting, sub angular to subrounded and glauconitic.
It was interpreted to be deposited in a fluvial plain
environment that graded to coastal plain (Armitage
& Viotti, 1977).
The boundary between L and M Group is
determined using seismic reflector that indicates
unconformity between the two groups. In the
southern area, L Group is fairly distributed and the
well that has been drilled in Pulai Field No 1 shows
a thickness about 1132 feet of L Group. The top of
L Group consist of shale that is dark grey to brown,
silty, soft to firm in part. The bottom part of L
Group consists of white to light grey sandstone that
contains lithic and feldspathic fragments. The
lithology is fine to coarse grained, hard to friable,
and moderately well sorted. L Group was
interpreted to be deposited in a coastal plain
environment with brackish influences (Armitage &
Viotti, 1977).
The boundary between K and L Group is

Figure 6: Paleogeographic reconstruction of depositional environment for the Malay Basin Based
on EPIC (l994)

represented by the seismic reflector that records the

changes from shale of L group (low impedance) to
high impedance sandstone that belongs to K
Group. The thickness of K Group is 1290 feet at
Pulai Field and consists of interlayer of shale and
sandstone. The lower sandstone interval consist of
massive sandstone that is light grey to buff, silty,
with some lithics, very fine to medium grained,

slightly to moderately argillaceous, sub angular to

subrounded and well sorted. The upper shale
member is brown grey, silty, soft to firm, with rare
thin interbeds of siltstone. K Groups depositional
environment was interpreted as coastal plain with
some lacustrine influence due to the occurrence of
Miliammina sp. which is a characteristic species
that live in brackish marshes and mangrove

important hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir rock in

the Malay Basin. In term of depositional
environment, the presence of coal bearing strata in
this succession indicates that the basin most likely
is near the sea level during mid to late Miocene
(Petronas, 1999).

3.2 Middle Miocene to Upper Miocene

Constant thermal subsidence during the middle
of Miocene to late Miocene resulted in deposition
of Group J to D. These groups of deposits comprise

J Group is recognized based on the mappable

seismic horizon that was interpreted as timestratigraphic unit. It was divided into three
members: the basal, lower, and upper J member.
Exploration wells that have been drilled by Exxon
at the south area of the basin encounter 633 feet of
J Group thickness (Armitage & Viotti, 1977). The
presence of regional shale at the top of the basal J

and the basal member of J Group that was

deposited in offshore environment contain
sandstone units interbedded with silty sandstone,
siltstones and shale. Detailed descriptions of the
sandstone section in the lower and basal J based on
electric log profile and core sample are as
described in Figure 7.

Figure 8: Detailed facies and electronic log

profile of the lower and basal member of J
Group (offshore) (Ramli N., 1986)

Figure 7: Sedimentary logs from J Group at Malong Field. Left figure shows parasequence
representing offshore sandbars and right figure shows a shoreface parasequence (Ibrahim &
Madon, 1990)

that is identifiable on electronic logs and is

distinctively parallel with a high sonic reading has
been used as the datum for regional correlation.
The upper J Group member is composed of shore
face sediment that exhibits depositional
characteristics of a barred wave-and stormdominated environment while the basal and lower
member of J consists of offshore sediment (Ramli
N. , 1986). The upper member of J Group mainly
consists of sandstones that contain trough cross
bedded, fine to very coarse-grained, well sorted
with a few planar beds and plane-parallel
lamination (Figure 7). The sandstone is slightly
bioturbated
with
vertical
and
inclined
Ophiomarpha burrow and contains several
calcacerous bands (Ramli N. , 1986). The lower J

The boundary between J and I Group was

determined based on seismic marker. Group I strata
constitute large accumulation of reservoir rock in

reservoir rock for the central and northern part of

Malay Basin. Madon (1994) that study the
depositional and diagenetic histories of Group E

Figure 8: Group I cross section and core sequence from unpublished report by Campion (1997)

Malay Basin. Unpublished report by Campion

(1997) suggests that Group I was deposited in
fluvial and tidal environment (Petronas, 1999). The
lower member of Group I consist of fluvial-deltaic
sediment while upper member was deposited in
tidal estuarine environment. The lower member of
Group I exhibits braided fluvial channels feature
with scour feature on its base (Figure 8). It also
have blocky gamma log signature reading that
arecoarsening upward. The contact between upper
and lower member of Group I facies was
interpreted as major sequence boundary that reflect
the regressive cycle of sea level (Petronas, 1999).
Detailed stratigraphic section description on
Group H and F in Malay Basin is not well
published or studied due to its scarce occurrence in
Malay Basin. This was caused by the initiation of
the basin inversion event that restricts sediment
accumulation in Malay Basin. However, it is
inferred that Group H and F are dominantly consist
of marine to deltaic sediment (Petronas, 1999).
Also, some fluvial/ estuarine channel cut was
recognized in the seismic section in this strata time
slice and is understood to be cause by sea level
rise.
Stratigraphic description of Group E and D
was established based on the exploration well that
penetrated these strata in Jerneh Field; located at
the center of Malay Basin. Group D and E are
important because these formations serve as the

and D reservoir sandstone postulates that Group E

was deposited in deltaic-nonmarine environment
while Group D was deposited in brackish shallow
marine. Group E consists of fine-grain sandstone,
mudstone and interlayer of coal. Its standard

potential indicates a funnel-shaped motif that is

coarsening upward that represents progradational
sedimentation, which is probably deposited in a
deltaic setting (Madon M. , 1994). Thick and
widespread layers of coal are present at the top of
the coarsening upward strata. This group has
abundant of freshwater palynomorphs that is a
clear indicator of nonmarine environment. Detailed
core log descriptions are described in Figure 9.
Group D consists of greenish grey glauconitic
sandstones that are interbedded with laminated
siltsone and shales. Sandstones in Group D exhibit
blocky or slightly funnel shaped log motif that are
coarsening upwards. Also, there are numerous
sample of formanifera such as Ammonia and
Ammobaculites exiguus that are in the sandstone
bodies of Group D. The presence of glauconite,
coarsening upward series and foraminifera fossil
indicate that this strata was deposited in shallow
marine environment (Madon M. , 1994). Madon
(1994) also suggest subtidal channel deposit as one
of the possibilities of Group D environment
because of the erosional base and lenticular
structure of some sandstone bodies.
3.3 Lower Pliocene to Recent
Major tectonic compression event that occur
during Upper Miocene-Pliocene have created a
major unconformity between Group D and B.
Murphy (1989), estimate that almost 4000 feet of
sediment have been eroded during this period due
to the compressional deformation. The Pliocene to
Quaternary period that was relatively stable
without significance tectonic activity have
established a fully offshore marine environment at
Malay Basin area. Core data from from Pulai Field
at the southern part of Malay Basin indicate that
these strata consist of greenish grey claystone
containing abundant fossil fragments of
foraminifera. Thin beds of lignite, grey dolomite
and fine grained sandstone are found interbedded
with the claystone (Armitage & Viotti, 1977). Due
to abundance of foraminifera fossil fragments and
presence of dolomite, Armitageand Viotti (1977)
suggest that this starta were deposited in marine
environment.
4. Source Rocks
The major source rock for hydrocarbon
generation in Malay Basin come from lacustrine
sediment from group M, L and K, and fluviodeltaic
sediment that was deposited in Group I and E
(Muhammad & Jamil, 2010). The lacustrine source
rock from Group M, L and K comprise of shale
that rich in freshwater and marine algal component.

Figure 9: Core log of Group D and E at Jerneh

Field Madon (1994)

Figure 10: Photomicrograph of source rocks in

the Malay Basin (Muhammad & Jamil, 2010)

Based on the sidewall cores and cutting from

Group K, L and M, the quality of the source rock is
good and contain total organic carbon (TOC) about
1% to 4% and hydrogen index (HI) as high as 750
(Creaney, Hanif, Curry, Bohacs, & Redzuan,
1994). This source rock contain low oleanane
content and low pristine-phytane ratios (Pr/Ph),
indicative
of
low
oxicity
depositional
environments, and waxy fingerprints (Creaney,
Hanif, Curry, Bohacs, & Redzuan, 1994). Figure
10 shows an example of a photomicrograph from
source rock in the Malay Basin that was taken
under ultra-violet light. Most of the hydrocarbon
that originates from Group M, L and K are
common in the southeastern area which is the
flanks side of the basin. Group M, L and K are
generally within the oil window in much of the
basin margins and become over mature towards the
basin center (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Present day maturation map of the Malay Basin

The coal and coaly shale source rock from

fluviodeltaic environment are best developed in
Group I and E strata. Hydrocarbon from Group E
and I are common at the center area of the basin.
These source rocks have Pr/Ph value up to 8, and
generally are high in oleanane and resinous
compound (Creaney, Hanif, Curry, Bohacs, &
Redzuan, 1994). This indicates that the source
rocks have significant land plant component.
5. Traps
There are two main structural traps in Malay
Basin which are compressional anticlines and faultdip closure (Ismail, Abdullah, & Rudolph, 1994;
Ngah, 1990; Bishop, 2002; Tjia, 1994). Structural
features, geographic and stratigraphic distribution,
and relationship between source rock and reservoir
zone determine the trap styles in this area
(Petronas, 1999). Compressional anticlines
accounts for 70% of the discovered hydrocarbon
reserved in this basin (Bishop, 2002). The domal

anticlines structure was formed during the

compression period in Mid to late Miocene (at the
beginning of Group F deposition time). Most of the
anticlines are trending E-W and filled with half
grabens structure that are highly faulted (Figure 2,3
and 4). The hydrocarbon map in Figure 12 shows
that compressional anticlines in the northern part of
the basin are more disposed to gas while those in
the southern area are more likely to produce oil.
This is caused by the depth of the source rock zone
that determines the temperature range in which oil
and gas form. In the southern part of the basin, the
compressional anticlines are more oil prone due to
its shallow source rock strata and its position that is
located at the flank of the basin. The compressional
anticlines in the northern part of the basin are more
gas prone due to its deep source rock origin and the
geographic location itself that is located in the
center of the basin where the lithospheric flexural
is the greatest (Bishop, 2002). Figure 13
exemplified the trap styles in this area based on the
actual producing field example.

Figure 12: Hydrocarbon distribution map and its structural traps in Malay Basin (Petrona

Figure 13: Some examples of trap styles in Malay Basin based on actual hydrocarbon field
Hydrocarbon traps that are associated with
normal faults accounts for 29% of the discoverable
reserves in Malay Basin (Bishop, 2002). This type
of traps are usually are common in the
southwestern area of the basin. The collision
between India and Asia has resulted to the
activation of the fault in Malay Basin and has

provided the migration path for hydrocarbon

resources (Tjia, 1994). Frequently, the main
sandstone reservoir for this type of traps come
from Group H, I, J and K and sealed by the
interbedded claystone and shale in those particular
group units.

6. Reservoir Rocks
Group D down to K sandstones are identified
as the major hydrocarbon reservoir in this
province. The depositional environments for each
sandstone reservoir differ with the stratigraphy as
described before. The primary depositional
environment, burial diagenesis and mineralogical
contents of the reservoir sandstone play an
important role in the quality of the reservoir in
Malay Basin. Petrographic and diagenetic study
that was done by Shing (1992) indicates that Group
K, J, I and E show significant differences in their
sedimentary
texture
and
mineralogical
composition. Figure 14 shows the QFR diagram
plot for framework composition of Group D, E, H,

2000mD (Creaney, Hanif, Curry, Bohacs, &

Redzuan, 1994).
Group I reservoir rock depositional facies are
described as fluvial and tidal environment
(Petronas, 1999). Approximately 10% of the
hydrocarbon reserves in Malay Basin are in this
reservoir (Bishop, 2002). The sandstones in this
group have porosity value that ranging from 25%
to 30% and permeability value of up to 1000mD
(Bishop, 2002).
Group H to D 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; Petronas, 1999).
Almost 40% of the
hydrocarbon in May Basin area originates from

Figure 14: (a) Framework component for group E, I, J and K sandstone (b) group D (Shing 1992; Madon
I, J and K.
Group K was deposited in a coastal plain
environment and its sandstones are mainly medium
grained sand that is quartz cemented (Armitage &
Viotti, 1977). This group account for almost 15%
of the hydrocarbon reserves in Malay Basin
(Creaney, Hanif, Curry, Bohacs, & Redzuan,
1994). Group K sandstones have range of porosity
from 10 to 30% and permeability up to 1000mD
(Bishop, 2002).
Group K sandstones have
intergranular volume of 38% which is the smallest
value compare to other group reservoir due to
increasing depth burial compaction that increase
the grain packing matrix (Shing, 1992) .
Group J sandstone reservoir consists of shore
face sediment that is medium-grained in size and
moderately well sorted (Shing, 1992). It is
estimated that more than 20% of recoverable
hydrocarbon reserves are in this reservoir. The
porosity value for this sandstone reservoir ranges
from 11 to 30% and permeability of more than

these strata. These strata contains medium to very

fine grained sandstone with porosity value that
b 30% and 1000mD permeability value
more than
(Bishop,
2002).

7. Seal Rocks

Widespread regional shale and sealing faults

that occurs in Group D, E and J, I and H are
inferred to be the seal rock for most of the reservoir
in Malay Basin (Tjia, 1994). The regional marine
shale is associated with maximum flooding surface
that occur between the boundaries of the strata. In
traps that are associated with normal faults block,
shale smear and sand-shale juxtaposition that occur
along the fault plane act as fault seals in this kind
of traps (Petronas, 1999).
8. Discussion
Malay Basin can be categorized as a
traditional petroleum system that has all the
essential elements to produce recoverable
hydrocarbon. The petroleum system in this
province encompasses active source rocks and
includes all the geologic elements and processes
that are necessary for oil and gas accumulation to
exist. It has a very good quality source rock that
contain total organic carbon (TOC) about 1% to
4% and hydrogen index (HI) as high as 750. The
depth of the sediments provides a suitable
temperature condition for hydrocarbon to be
generated. The collision between India and Asia
during Eocene has reactivated the normal fault in
this area and create a migration path of the
hydrocarbon. The presence of high quality
sandstone reservoirs on the top of the source rock
strata has able to accumulate the hydrocarbon.
Based on the porosity-permeability cross plot on
different facies shows that he fluviodeltaic
sandstone that mostly in Group K, J, F, E and D
have the highest value of porosity and permeability
(Figure 15) (Petronas, 1999). The depth where
most reservoirs are located (around 1.5-2.0 km)
also give a high value porosity reading that will
entrap more hydrocarbon that have been generated.
On top of that, the regional marine shale that is
associated with maximum flooding surface that
occur between the boundaries of the strata react as
the seal rock for this petroleum system.
Compressional anticline and fault-dip closure
structure traps have able to accumulate and
concentrated the hydrocarbon that was produced.
Finally, all these elements are well-preserved and
are correctly placed in time and space so that
organic substance contained in the source rock can
be converted into a hydrocarbon accumulation.

Future potential for undiscovered petroleum to

be found in Malay Basin is optimistic. With the
advancement of new technology for drilling,
overpressure zone at the deeper strata in the middle
of the basin can be explored and executed. Also,
stratigraphic traps in the Miocene-Coaly Strata
(Group D and E) could be attractive exploration
target since most of the discrete sandstones bodies
have not been mapped yet. Most of the seismic
survey that was done in this area was conducted
during early 70s when 3D seismic data acquisition
has not been widely used yet. Using 3D seismic
survey will give a better resolution about the
structure of the basin and help to better understand
the geologic history of the province. Furthermore,
since some of the producing well in this areas such
as Jerneh and Tapis are in mature stage of
production, this provide a bright prospect for
carbon sequestration process to be tested.

Figure 15 (A) Porosity-permeability cross plot

on different sedimentary facies (B) Graph of
depth versus porosity from Group K
sandstone (Petronas, 1999)

9. Conclusion

Malay Basin is clearly an important

hydrocarbon bearing area in Southeast Asia,
particularly in Malaysia. The source rock for the
petroleum system in this basin is mainly fluviodeltaic and lacustrine sediment. The basin has
undergone three major tectonic events that give rise
to the current structure in the basin. The extension
during Late Cretaceous to Early Miocene has
formed half graben structures across the basin area
and deposited Group M, L and K, which are the
main source rock for the petroleum in this area.
The thermal subsidence period during Lower
Miocene to Middle Miocene is the period when
most of the reservoir rocks in Group K to D were
deposited. The compression that occur during
middle Miocene to Pliocene has reactivated the
normal fault at the half grabens structure and give
rise to domal anticlinal features, which is are the
main type of hydrocarbon traps in Malay Basin.
The widespread regional shale that occurs in Malay
Basin reacts as the seal rock. The basin nowadays
is at mature stage of exploration and continuous
effort has been made by various oil companies to
gain a better understanding of the basin. Even
though Malay Basin has been explored for more
than 40 years now, most of the studies that have
been conducted by these oil companies are
unpublished.
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