Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 73, May 2022, pp. 105 – 118

Characterization of naturally fractured basement reservoir and its play concept, South Pattani Basin, Gulf of Thailand

Ugi Kurnia Gusti1,2,3,*, Angus Ferguson1

1 Petroleum Geoscience Program, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phyathai Road, Patumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
2 Geological Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Sriwijaya University, Jl. Raya Prabumulih Km. 32 Indralaya, 30662, Indonesia
3 School of Earth, Environment, and Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 1E2, Ontario
* Corresponding author email address: ugikgusti@gmail.com

Abstract: Structural development and complex basin forming mechanism in Pattani Basin may have formed naturally fractured basement reservoirs. The basement of the South Pattani Basin is poorly understood, as a result of low seismic resolution in its deeper part and lack of wells that reach the basement. Hence, seismic interpretation may improve the understanding of South Pattani Basin basement fracture systems. This paper aims to investigate the geological and seismic characteristics of the fractured basement reservoir, identify the relation between basin evolution and fracture network and development, and proposed a play concept for naturally fractured basement reservoir. Seismic attributes exhibit prominent N-S fault and fracture trends in the study area. Three basement high areas revealed that open fractures distribution
identified using seismic ant-tracking technology has good correlation with regional maximum horizontal stress direction (N-S), but the intra-basement (central) area exhibits strong alignment with pre-existing fabrics (NW-SE). Open fracture networks in Zone A and B developed around major fault swarm features. Integrated qualitative and quantitative seismic analysis suggests that the three basement high areas have the potential for fractured basement reservoirs, with a complex fracture configuration and development due to poly-phase deformations.

Keywords: Fractured basement reservoir, Pattani Basin, Bu Do Granite, Pre-Tertiary

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm73202209

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.