Field and well evidence for major unconformities in north Sarawak, compared to southwest Sabah, Malaysia

bgsm742022
Author : Peter Lunt
Publication : Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia
Page : 69 - 83
Volume Number : 74
Year : 2022
DOI : doi.org/10.7186/bgsm74202205

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 74, November 2022, pp. 69 – 83

 

Field and well evidence for major unconformities in north Sarawak, compared to southwest Sabah, Malaysia

 

Peter Lunt

SEACARL, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

Stratos Energy Advisors, 128D, Jalan Damai, off Jalan Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Author email address: pl@stratos-sea.com

 

Abstract: A review of biostratigraphic and lithofacies data is used to show that there is no major unconformity in the stratigraphic record of north Sarawak or southwest Sabah near the end of the Early Miocene (approximately 17-15 Ma). The existence of such an unconformity has been cited in many papers in the past decade and used as a data point in the construction of regional geological hypotheses. Exploration well and outcrop data identifies two major unconformities in SW Sabah (the base and top of Stage III; BMU and DRU; roughly 24 and 13-12 Ma), and in offshore west Sarawak a third unconformity (MMU c. 16 Ma) which fades in effect towards onshore Sarawak. In recent years the names of these distinct unconformities have become conflated as workers had overlooked the origins and definitions of these features. This history is reviewed here in order to clarify future work.

Keywords: Sarawak, Sabah, stratigraphy, unconformities

 

References

Allan, T., Trotter, J.A., Whitford, D.J., & Korsch, M.J., 2000.
Strontium isotope stratigraphy and the Oligocene-Miocene T-Letter “Stages” in
Papua New Guinea. Proceedings from Papua New Guinea’s Petroleum Industry in the
21st Century. Proceedings of the Fourth PNG Petroleum Convention, 155.

Aurelio, M.A., Forbes, M.T., Taguibao, K.J.L., Savella, R.B., Bacud,
J.A., Franke, D., Pubellier, M., Savva, D., Meresse, F., Steuer, S., &
Carranza, C.D., 2014. Middle to Late Cenozoic tectonic events in South and
Central Palawan (Philippines) and their implications to the evolution of the
south-eastern margin of South China Sea: Evidence from onshore structural and
offshore seismic data. Marine and Petroleum Geology. Evolution, Structure, and
Sedimentary Record of the South China Sea and Adjacent Basins, 58, 658-673.

Aze, T., Ezard, T.H.G., Purvis, A., Coxall, H.K., Stewart, D.R.M.,
& Wade, B.S. & Pearson, P.N., 2011. A phylogeny of Cenozoic
macroperforate planktonic foraminifera from fossil data. Biological Reviews,
86(4), 900-927.

Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V., & van Couvering, J.A., 1985. Neogene
geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In: N.J. Snelling (Ed.), The chronology
of the geological record, Geological Society of London Memoir Number 10.
Blackwell Scientific, Oxford. 343 p.

Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V., Swisher, C.C.,III, & Aubry, M.-P.,
1995. A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In: W.A.
Berggren, D.V. Kent, M.-P. Aubry, & J. Hardenbol (Eds.), SEPM Special
Publication – Geochronology, time scales and global stratigraphic correlation,
54, 129-212.

Blow, W.H., 1969. Late Middle Eocene to Recent planktonic
foraminiferal biostratigraphy. Proceedings from Proceeding First International
Conference on Planktonic Microfossils, 1, 199.

Blow, W.H., 1979. The Cainozoic Globigerininda. E.J. Brill, Leiden.
1413 p.

Bol, A.J., & van Hoorn, B., 1980. Structural styles in western
Sabah Offshore. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 12, 1-16.

Bowen, J.M., & Wright, J.A., 1957. Geology of the Crocker Range
and adjoining areas. Sabah Shell (unpublished). 191 p.

Breitfeld, H.T., Hennig-Breitfeld, J., BouDagher-Fadel, M.K., Hall,
R., & Galin, T., 2020. Oligocene-Miocene drainage evolution of NW Borneo:
Stratigraphy, sedimentology and provenance of Tatau-Nyalau province sediments.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 195, 104331.

Brolsma, M.J., 1981. Sedimentary history and paleofacies development
of Upper Oligocene to Pleistocene deposits in the Balingian, SW and Central
Luconia Provinces of Sarawak. Proceedings from Notes from Petroleum Geology
Seminar, Kuala Lumpur.

Brondijk, J.F., 1962. A reclassification of a part of the Setap
Shale Formation as the Temburong Formation. British Borneo Geol. Survey Ann.
Rept., 56-60.

Burley, S.D., Breitfeld, H.T., Stanbrook, D.S., Morley, R.J.,
Kassan, J., Sukarno, M., & Wantoro, D.W., 2021. A tuffaceous volcaniclastic
turbidite bed of Early Miocene age in the Temburong Formation of Labuan,
North-West Borneo and its implications for the Proto-South China Sea subduction
in the Burdigalian. The Depositional Record, 7(1), 111-146.
DOI:10.1002/dep2.132.

Cohen, K.M., Finney, S.C., Gibbard, P.L. & Fan, J.-X., 2013
(updated). The ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart. Episodes, 36,
199-204. URL: http://www.stratigraphy.org/ICSchart/ChronostratChart2020-03.pdf.

Core Laboratories Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., 2010. Engkabang-1; combined
geochemistry, petrology, sedimentology and seal capacity reports. Unpublished
report for JX Nippon Oil and gas Exploration Co.

Doust, H., 1981. Geology and exploration history of offshore Central
Sarawak. In: M. Halbouty (Ed.), Energy resources of the Pacific Region.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa. 578 p.

Gradstein, F.M., Ogg, J.G., & Smith, A.G., 2004. A Geologic Time
Scale 2004. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 500 p.

Hageman, H., 1987. Palaeobathymetrical changes in NW Sarawak during
Oligocene to Pliocene times. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia,
21, 91-102.

Hageman, H., Lesslar, P., & Fon, W.C., 1987. Revised
biostratigraphy of Oligocene to Recent deposits of Sarawak and Sabah.
(Exploration report 91111).

Hall, R., van Hattum, M.W.A., & Spakman, W., 2008. Impact of
India–Asia collision on SE Asia: The record in Borneo. Tectonophysics, 451,
366-389.

Hazebroek, H.P., & Tan, D.N.K., 1993. Tertiary tectonic
evolution of the NW Sabah continental margin. Bulletin of the Geological
Society of Malaysia, 33, 195-210.

Hemleben, C., Spindler, M., & Anderson, O.R., 1989. Modern
planktonic foraminifera. Springer-Verlag, New York. 363 p.

Hennig-Breitfeld, J., Breitfeld, H.T., Hall, R., BouDagher-Fadel,
M., & Thirlwall, M., 2019. A new upper Paleogene to Neogene stratigraphy
for Sarawak and Labuan in northwestern Borneo: Paleogeography of the eastern
Sundaland margin. Earth-Science Reviews, 190, 1-32.

Heybroek, P., & Crews, W.E., 1954. The geology of Labuan, Klias
coastal hills and associated islands; with notes on the palaeontology of Klias,
Labuan and adjacent islands by W. E. Crews, and comments by P. Liechti.
Unpublished report, Sabah Shell, GR 659.

Hutchison, C.S., & Vijayan, V.R., 2010. What are the Spratly
Islands? Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 39(5), 371-385.

Hutchison, C.S., 1996. The Rajang accretionary prism and Lupar Line
problem of Borneo. Special Publication Geological Society of London, 106,
247-261.

Hutchison, C.S., 2005. Geology of North-West Borneo: Sarawak,
Brunei, and Sabah. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam. 421 p.

Ho Kiam Fui, 1978. Stratigraphic framework for oil exploration in
Sarawak. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 10, 1-13.

Junaidi Asis, Sanudin Hj. Tahir, Basir Jasin, & Baba Musta,
2018. Lower Miocene, larger benthic foraminifera fauna and depositional
environment of limestone facies from Batu Luang, Klias Peninsula, Sabah.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 65, 125-130.

Kessler, F., & Jong, J., 2016. The South China Sea: Sub-basins,
regional unconformities and uplift of the Peripheral Mountain Ranges since the
Eocene. Berita Sedimentologi, 35, 5-74.

Levell, B.K., 1987. The nature and significance of regional
unconformities in the hydrocarbon-bearing Neogene sequence offshore West Sabah.
Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 21, 55-90.

Levell, B.K., & Tan, B.S., 1986. Correlation of the upper part
of Cycle I in West Balingian offshore Sarawak. Sarawak Shell Berhad,
Exploration report 50396.

Liechti, P., 1960. The geology of Sarawak, Brunei and the western
part of North Borneo (Bulletin 3). Geological Survey Department British
Territories in Borneo, Kuching Sarawak.

Luan, X., & Lunt, P., 2021. Controls on Early Miocene carbonate
and siliciclastic deposition in eastern Java and south Makassar Straits, Indonesia.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 227, article 105091.

Lunt, P., 2019. A new view of integrating stratigraphic and tectonic
analysis in South China Sea and north Borneo basins. Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences, 177, 220-239.

Lunt, P., 2020. Discussion on: A new upper Paleogene to Neogene
stratigraphy for Sarawak and Labuan in northwestern Borneo: Paleogeography of
the eastern Sundaland margin. Earth-Science Reviews, 202.

Lunt, P., 2021. Tectono-stratigraphic framework of Luconia
carbonates. SEPM Special publication, Cenozoic Isolated Carbonate Platforms –
Focus Southeast Asia. DOI: 10.2110/sepmsp.114.08.

Lunt, P., 2022. Re-examination of the Base Miocene Unconformity in
West Sabah and its part in the tectono-stratigraphic development of the region.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 230, article 105193.

Lunt, P., & Madon, M.B.H., 2017a. A review of the Sarawak
Cycles: History and modern application. Bulletin of the Geological Society of
Malaysia, 63, 77-101.

Lunt, P., & Madon, M.B.H., 2017b. Onshore to offshore
correlation of northern Borneo; a regional perspective. Bulletin of the
Geological Society of Malaysia, 64, 101-122.

Lunt, P., & Woodroof, P., 2021. Tectono-stratigraphic controls
on Cenozoic SE Asian carbonates. SEPM Special publication, Cenozoic Isolated
Carbonate Platforms – Focus Southeast Asia. DOI:10.2110/sepmsp.114.06.

Madon, M.B.H., 1994. The stratigraphy of northern Labuan, NW Sabah
Basin, East Malaysia. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 36,
19-31.

Madon, M.B.H., 1999. Geological setting of Sarawak. In: L.K. Meng
(Ed.), The petroleum geology and resources of Malaysia. Petronas, Kuala Lumpur,
273-290.

Madon, M.B.H., & Abolins, P., 1999. Balingian Province. In: L.K.
Meng (Ed.), The petroleum geology and resources of Malaysia. Petronas, Kuala
Lumpur, 343-368.

Madon, M.B.H., Leong, K.M., & Anuar, A., 1999. Sabah Basin. In:
L.K. Meng (Ed.), The petroleum geology and resources of Malaysia. Petronas,
Kuala Lumpur, 501-542.

Madon, M.B.H., Kim Cheng Ly, & Wong, R., 2013. The structure and
stratigraphy of deepwater Sarawak, Malaysia: Implications for tectonic
evolution. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 76, 312-333.

Mat-Zin, I.C., 1996. Tertiary tectonics and sedimentation history of
the Sarawak basin, east Malaysia. PhD Thesis, Durham University.

Mat-Zin, I.C., & Swarbrick, R.E., 1997. The tectonic evolution
and associated sedimentation history of Sarawak Basin, eastern Malaysia: A
guide for future hydrocarbon exploration. In: A.J. Fraser, S.J. Matthews, &
R.W. Murphy (Eds.), Petroleum geology of Southeast Asia. Geological Society,
London, Special Publications, 126, 237-245.

Morley, R.J., 1991. Tertiary stratigraphic palynology in Southeast
Asia: Current status and new directions. Bulletin of the Geological Society of
Malaysia, 28, 1-36.

Morley, R.J., 2000. Origin and evolution of Tropical Rain Forests.
Wiley & Sons, London. 362 p.

Morley, C.K., 2016. Major unconformities/termination of extension
events and associated surfaces in the South China Seas: Review and implications
for tectonic development. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 120, 62-86.

Murtaza, M., Rahman, A.H.A., Chow Weng Sum, & Konjing, Z., 2018.
Facies associations, depositional environments and stratigraphic framework of
the Early Miocene-Pleistocene successions of the Mukah-Balingian Area, Sarawak,
Malaysia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 152, 23-38.

Ogg, J.G., Ogg, G.M., & Gradstein, F.M., 2016. Neogene. In: Ogg,
J.G., Ogg, G.M., & Gradstein, F.M. (Eds.), A concise geological time scale.
Elsevier, Amsterdam. 240 p.

Pindell, J., Graham, R., & Horn, B., 2014. Rapid outer marginal
collapse at the rift to drift transition of passive margin evolution, with a
Gulf of Mexico case study. Basin Research, 26(6), 701-725.

Postuma, J.A., 1971. Manual of planktonic foraminifera. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
406 p.

Qianyu, L., Zhimin Jian, & Xin Su, 2005. Late Oligocene rapid
transformations in the South China Sea. Marine Micropaleontology, 54, 5-25.

Raharja, M., Carmody, S., Cherdasa, J.R., & Haribowo, N., 2013.
Dual Paleogene and Neogene petroleum systems in East Natuna basin:
Identification of a new exploration play in the South Sokang area. Proceedings
Indonesian Petroleum Association Convention, 37, 1-12.

Rahdon, A.E., 1971. Evaluation of the land acreage. Shell Report
Exp. 1854.

Rahdon, A.E., 1974. Reconnaissance core-drilling, Bintulu-Suai area,
Sarawak. Shell Report Exp. R.2106.

Reinhard, M., & Wenk, E., 1951. Geology of the colony of North
Borneo. Geological Survey Department of the British Territories in Borneo
(Bulletin 1). 160 p.

Robinson, K., Baltensperger, P., Thomas, A., & Noon, S., 2009.
The Middle Miocene unconformity (MMU) and globigerinid sands in deepwater
Sarawak. Proceedings from Petroleum Geology Conference and Exhibition 2009.
Geological Society of Malaysia, Paper 17, 28.

Sandal, S.T., 1996. Petroleum geology of Negara Brunei Darussalam;
1996 Revision. Muzium Brunei, Brunei. 243 p.

Simmons, M.D., Bidgood, M.D., Brenac, P., Crevello, P.D., Lambiase,
J.J., & Morley, C.K., 1999. Microfossil assemblages as proxies for precise
palaeoenvironmental determination– an example from Miocene sediments from
North-West Borneo. In: R.W. Jones & M.D. Simmons (Eds.), Biostratigraphy in
production and development geology. Geological Society Special Publication,
152, 219-241.

van Gorsel, J.T., Lunt, P., & Morley, R.J., 2014. Introduction to
Cenozoic biostratigraphy of Indonesia-SE Asia. Berita Sedimentologi, 29, 4-40.

van Hoorn, B., 1977. Stratigraphy, tectonics and hydrocarbon
habitat. Sabah Shell Pet. Co. Ltd. Exp. R. 70054.

van Vliet, A. & Krebs, W.N., 2009. The Middle Miocene
Unconformity (MMU) in North Luconia, deepwater Sarawak: How unconformable is
the unconformity? Warta Geologi, 35(4), 131-135.

Veenhof, E.N., 1997. A regional review of Balingian Province. Sarawak
Shell Berhad exploration report 50800.

Wade, B.S., Pearson, P.N., Berggren, W.A., & Palike, H., 2011. Review
and revision of Cenozoic tropical planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and
calibration to the geomagnetic polarity and astronomical time scale.
Earth-Science Reviews, 104, 111-142.

Wilson, R.A.M., 1964. The geology and mineral resources of the Labuan
and Padas Valley areas, Sabah. Geological Survey of Malaysia, Borneo Region.

 

Manuscript received 21 March 2022

Received in revised form 28 August 2022

Accepted 5 September 2022

Available online 30 November 2022

 

0126-6187; 2637-109X / Published by the Geological Society of Malaysia.

 

© 2022 by the Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License 4.0.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm74202205

 

 


Notice: Undefined index: request in /home/gsmorgmy/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jet-engine/includes/components/listings/render/listing-grid.php on line 1246