FEASIBILITY STUDY OF BALIKPAPAN, PULAUBALANG, AND PAMALUAN FORMATION IN EAST KUTAI REGENCY AS SHALE GAS SOURCE ROCK BASED ON ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY AND PETROGRAPHY ALONG WITH BRITTLENESS INDEX ANALYSIS

• Main Author: Najmi Hutasuhut, Faujan
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Geologi, hidrologi & meteorologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/42028
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The research area is held in East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan Province. Geologically, the research area belongs to Lower Kutai Basin. This study used two Balikapapan shale, four Pulaubalang shale, and ten Pamaluan shale samples for organic geochemical analysis, seven shale samples for X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, five shale samples for SEM analysis, and nine samples for organic petrography analysis. All samples are outcrop samples. Geochemical analysis has been carried out to determine the quantity, quality, and maturity of the source rock. XRD and SEM analyses were done to determine the value of Brittleness Index (BI). Organic petrography analysis was carried out to determine the depositional environment. The results of geochemical analysis showed that the Balikpapan Formation has TOC of 5.98 - 7.88%; kerogen type III; and immature. The Pulaubalang Formation has a TOC of 2.61 - 25.57%; kerogen type III; immature. The Pamaluan Formation has a TOC level of 0.91 – 7.77%; kerogen type III; late mature (30%). The value of BI Balikpapan Formation is 51.76 – 64.99%; Pulaubalang Formation 49.2%; and Pamaluan Formation 47.9 - 82.02%. The higher BI value represents the tendecy of the rocks tobe fractured. The higher BI, the higher the probability for fracturing.The depositional environment in the research area is the transition zone – open sea. According to the maceral type, it can be concluded that the depositional enviroment is upper delta plain. Based on the comparative results of shale gas geological characteristics of North America and China, Balikpapan Formation and Pulaubalang Formation samples that are studied in the area are not worthy of being the source rock because of the insufficient of maturity. However, the Pamaluan Formation is worthy of becoming source rock for unconventional shale gas.