Paper submitted to the 50th IPA Convention & Exhibition, by David Little (TGS)
Summary
The Kutei Basin in East Kalimantan is Indonesia’s most prolific hydrocarbon province. Recent discoveries such as Geng North-1, Gehem, and Gendalo-Gandang, now part of the Northern Hub development, underscore both its productivity and remaining potential. While mature, large areas—particularly in deep water—remain underexplored, with advances in seismic imaging and geological integration opening new opportunities.
This study develops a regional depositional framework using open-source geological and geophysical data integrated with extensive well information. A central element is the transformation of 119 vintages of 2D seismic (1969–2019) into a single “2D-cubed” volume covering 73,000 km², alongside modern 3D datasets. This provides a consistent platform for structural and stratigraphic interpretation. Calibration with 62 exploration and appraisal wells ensures strong geological control.