Potential hazard of coalbed methane accumulation in quarterly

sandstone aquifer in Barito Kuala District, Indonesia

DIDIK Triwibowo1
1
Mining and Energy Office of South Kalimantan Province, Banjarbaru 70711, Indonesia

Abstract: The “blow-out” of coalbed methane gas was happened twice in Barito Kuala District, Indonesia, in November 2006 and
October 2008. The first blow-out, “Barambai blow-out”, has 1.5 m of height from land surface, releases mix of water, gas, and mud.
It is originated from a freshwater well (0.038 m in diameter) of local people that targeted on water in aquifer at depth of 138 meter.
Meanwhile the second one, ”Wanaraya blow-out”, is located 13 km away from Barambai blow-out. It releases only methane gas
freshwater well with 75 m depth. Both of these blow-outs are still active (May 2009). The methane gas is generated from coal
seams below the aquifer layer. It migrates through normal fault zone system, accumulated and trapped in the aquifer layer above
coal seams. The potential hazard related to the accumulation of methane in aquifer layer is the possibility of methane gas blows-out
as the methane accumulated and trapped within confined aquifer. Barambai blow-out caused 2 (two) homes nearby must be re -
moved to avoid dangerous condition i.e. fire and subsidence.

Keywords: coalbed methane, migration, freshwater well, aquifer, south kalimantan

1 Introduction and consumption. Electricity consumption in Indone-

sia was 469 kWh/cap in 2004 and it was the lowest
Indonesia is an archipelago country that comprised consumption compared with other neighboring coun-
of more than 17,000 islands situated in Southeast tries such as Malaysia, Philippine, and Singapore
Asia (Fig. 1). It is blessed with various natural (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, 2007).
resources such as rainforest, mineral and energy This consumption was increased by 505 kWh/cap in
resources. One of Indonesia’s abundant energy 2007 or 121.2 billion kWh of total electricity con-
resource is coal. sumption (Central Intelligence Agency, 2008).
In its National Energy Blueprint 2005-2025,
Indonesia has identified its energy resources both
fossil and non fossil energy to fulfill the growing
needs of energy in the future. One of the strategies to
secure future energy supply was by exploring and
exploiting coalbed methane (CBM) resources.
Potential CBM resources in Indonesia are 435 tcf in
which 92 % of them classified as highly prospective
(Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, 2007).
Ministry of energy and mineral resources Republic
Fig 1: Map of Indonesian archipelago of Indonesia has released ministerial regulation No
36, 2008 concerning CBM exploration and
Coal is an important Indonesian mining products exploitation in Indonesia. It was followed by another
for export and therefore important for Indonesian decree concerning decision on CBM working area,
economy. Indonesia is the second largest coal type of cooperation contract, terms and conditions of
exporter worldwide and the seventh largest hard coal agreement, and offer mechanism of CBM working
producer with total coal production reached 231.2 Mt area in Indonesia. By 2008, there were 14 (fourteen)
in 2007 (Organization/International Energy Agency, CBM cooperation contracts in which two of them
2008). Indonesia has 61.3 billion tons of coal located in South Kalimantan namely Barito Banjar 1
resources and 6.7 billion tons coal reserves. The coal and Barito Banjar 2 Blocks (Indonesia Embassy-
deposits are found mainly in two islands: Kalimantan Oslo, 2009). It was expected that the first CBM
and Sumatra Island. production would begin in 2011.
The government of Indonesia plans to utilize coal for The two CBM blocks in South Kalimantan located
electricity generation and sets project to build 10,000 in the same district, Barito Kuala. This district is one
MW coal-fired electricity generation. This ambitious of 12 (twelve) districts/cities in South Kalimantan
project is conducted because deficit electricity. There which is located about 30 km to the North West of
was huge imbalance between electricity production Banjarmasin, the capital city of South Kalimantan.
The two CBM blow-outs that were occurred in 2006 Sub-bituminus B (Tanjung). Warukin coal seams
and 2009 are located in this district. generally have 5100-6100 cal/gr of calorific value,
23-26 % total moisture, 1.2 % ash, 0.1-0.5 % sulphur,
and 40% volatile matter. Meanwhile, Tanjung coal
2 Geological Setting seams have 6100-7100 cal/gr calorific value, <10%
total moisture, 10-13 % ash, 1 % sulphur, and 42 %
South Kalimantan’s coal resources is the third volatile matter.
largest coal resources in Indonesia with The CBM blow-outs location in Barito Kuala
approximately 1.8 billion tons measured coal District, showed as red dot in the map (Fig. 2), is
resources and is found from tertiary rock formation. located in lowland area that mainly comprised of
Geologically, South Kalimantan region is comprised alluvial deposits such as silt and clay. As the coal
of three groups of rock formations from the oldest to seams dipping to North-West and there were several
the youngest: pre-tertiary rocks as basement rocks, uplift of basement rocks, in Barito Kuala District, the
tertiary rocks, and quaternary alluvial sediments younger coal seams laid down at depth of below 500
(Bemmelen, 1949). The older coal deposits (Eocene m.
age) is the coal seams within Tanjung Formation Above the tertiary rocks formation are tertiary-
(Tet), whereas the younger one (Miocene age) is from quaternary rocks ((Tertiary-Quartenary Dahor (TQd))
Warukin Formation (Tmw) that deposited after the that usually act as underground-water aquifer. Dahor
Berai Formation. These rock formations are deposited Formation is comprised of quartz sandstone and
in Tertiary Basins: Barito and Asam-Asam Basin with conglomerate that can be found at depth of below 75
Meratus Mountain (Meratus ophiolite) as separator of m.
these two in the middle (Fig. 2 and 3).
The coal dipping direction of coal seam on western
side of Meratus Mountain is relatively North-West
while on eastern side relatively South-East. The aver-
age coal thickness is 2-4 m for Tanjung coal seams
and up to 30 meter for Warukin (Rita, 2005). Further-
more, Friederich et al. (1999) stated that coal deposits
of Tanjung Formation (Tet) were formed mainly in
extensional tectonic settings while coal seams of Fig. 3: Cross section (B – B’ transect of fig. 2) of Barito Basin
Warukin Formation (Tmw) formed in a range of tec- in South Kalimantan. The rock formations from the oldest to
youngest: pre-tertiary rocks, Tanjung, Berai, Warukin, and
tonic settings. Dahor Formation (Sikumbang, N and Heryanto, R., 1994)

3 CBM blow outs

CBM blow-out from coal seams was identified

from earlier drilling activities in Kalimantan. Belkin
et al (2008) stated that conventional oil and gas wells
drilling activities that drilled through the coal seams
in Kalimantan tends to experience blow-outs and log
gas spikes. In South Kalimantan, there were two
B blow-outs happened in 2006 and 2008. Barambai
B’ blow-out (in 2006) released the mix of mud, water,
and methane gas, while Wanaraya blow-out (2008)
releases only methane gas (Fig. 5 and 6).
Coordinate location of Barambai blow-out is 114 0
42’ 21.4” East Longitude and 20 59’ 14.9’’ South
Latituden (upper red dot), whereas Wanaraya blow-
out is located on 1140 36 '05' East Longitude and 30
03’ 6” South Latitude (lower red dot) (Fig. 4). The
distance between these blow-outs is 13,000 m. The
area of these blow-outs is dominated by quaternary
alluvial deposits (Qha).

Fig.2: Map of coal-bearing formation in South Kalimantan

The coal rank of Warukin and Tanjung coal seams
can be classified as Sub-bituminus C (Warukin) and
 Fig. 4: Map of geological condition and location of Barambai and Wanaraya blow-out
Gas composition of the gas of Barambai blow-out
is CH4 99.28% and CO2 0.72 %. Meanwhile gas from
Wanaraya blow-out has composition as follows: CH4
89.2 %, C2 0.21 %, CO2 0.85 %, O2 1.07 %, N2 8.67
%.
These blow-outs were originated from aquifer at
depth of below 75 m. They were came out from
freshwater wells targeted this aquifer. The aquifer
layer is comprised of quartz sandstone and
conglomerate of Dahor Rock Formation (TQd)
whereas the coal seams are from two different rock
formations: Tanjung (Tet) and Warukin Formation
(Tmw) that are estimated located at depth of below
500 m. The accumulation of methane gas in this
Fig. 4: Barambai blow out releases mud, water, and methane aquifer layer occurred because there was
gas. The well diameter is 5 m at surface and height of blow out impermeable rock layer above the aquifer that acts as
is 1.5 m. cap rock layer.

4 The potential hazard

The potential hazard related to the accumulation of

methane in aquifer layer in Barito District area is the
possibility of blow-out as it happened in two freshwa-
ter wells when local people or government drill fresh-
water wells targeted on that aquifer. The Barambai
blow-out releases mix of water, mud, and gas up to
1.5 m in height. This phenomenon caused at least 2
homes nearby have to be removed. The two blow-
outs have spread fear on local people to drill freshwa-
ter well. They were afraid if they drill freshwater
well, the same blow-out will be happened.
On the other hand, constructing freshwater wells is
part of development projects in Barito Kuala District
to increase freshwater supply as the available surface
water does not fulfill water quality standard require-
Fig. 5: Wanaraya blow-out. Persons hold plastic with methane ments. There will be many freshwater well built in
gas collected from the pipe of the well. The water only came Barito Kuala District to fulfill increasing freshwater
out at the first time of blow-out demand.
The study of Mining and Energy Office of South
Kalimantan Province and Indonesia Geological Board
(2007) found that there was a sub-surface normal
fault zone system in Barambai area that became CBM
migration pathways from coal seams at depth of 500-
700 m to the aquifer at depth of below 100 m. The
study did not investigate the extent of subsurface fault
zone system and delineated only on the area sur-
rounding Barambai blow-out as prohibited area for
freshwater drilling activities.
In 2008, local people drilled freshwater well in Wa-
naraya that is located 13 km from Barambai blow-out Fig. 6: The cross-section of sub-surface condition of
because they think it safe from chance upon blow- Barambai
out. However, in this location another blow-out of 5.2 Wanaraya sub-surface fault zone
methane gas was happened from the well that reached
depth of 75m. Geo-electric investigation has also conducted at
many sites in Wanaraya. From this data, it can be
generated the sub-surface cross-section with
5 Sub-surface condition relatively North-West to South-East direction. The
two red circle in fig. 7 shows the indication of normal
In order to delineate potential hazard area of CBM fault at the depth of approximately below 100 m.
blow-out, the sub-surface condition investigation of
Barambai and Wanaraya is important to reveal the
sub-surface lithology and possible geological struc-
ture i.e. fault.
One method to investigate sub-surface condition is
using geophysical investigation such as geo-electric
or dc resistivity method. It is suitable for shallow sub-
surface investigation due to its fast and economical.
This technique based on the observation of electrical
fields caused by electrical current introduced into the Fig. 7: The cross-section of sub-surface condition of
ground (Sheriff, 1988 cited in Smith and Tracy, Wanaraya
2008). Different sub-surface lithology has different 5.3 Potential hazard area
resistivity and by determining their resistivity through
geo-electric investigation the sub-surface rock layer The potential hazard area refers to the area where
can be identified. the possibility of methane blow-out occurrence is
The sub-surface conditions of Barambai and Wa- high when drilling activity is conducted. This area is
naraya have been investigated by Mining and Energy delineated based on the result of geo-electric and geo-
of South Kalimantan and Indonesia Geological Board magnetic investigation. The geo-electric investigation
(2008). The general sub-surface lithological condition has revealed the sub-surface normal fault zones in
in Barambai and Wanaraya area from the shallowest Barambai and Wanaraya area.
to deepest layer is as follows: soil layer, clay and The normal fault planes that are showed from the
peat, clay, sandy clay, silt-clay, and quartz sand layer. cross-section with relatively north west to south east
The geo-electric investigation has also revealed the direction, indicates that the fault plane direction is
weak zone of sub-surface normal fault in both Baram- relatively south west to north east in which Wanaraya
bai and Wanaraya area. blow-out located at south west whereas Barambai at
north east (Fig. 8).
5.1 Barambai sub-surface fault zone The area along this normal fault plane / fault zone
The normal fault indication in sub-surface of is area that potentially becomes coalbed methane
Barambai blow-out area is identified from the section migration pathways from Warukin Formation (Tmw)
generated from geo-electric data. The section coal seams to Tertiary-Quartenary Dahor quartz sand
direction is relatively north west- south east. The red aquifer. Therefore, the area of potential methane
circle in fig. 6 shows the indication of normal fault at blow-out is the area of normal fault zone can be
depth of approximately below 150 m. delineated to the area surrounding this fault zone
(Fig. 8). However, the blow-out will be happened
only if drilling activity reaches the fault zone
specially after reaches targeted sandstone aquifer
layer (TQd). Geo-magnetic survey revealed sub-
surface sinistral faults with direction north-west to
south-east at Barambai area. These faults cut-off well drilling activities. The most restricted area for
normal fault plane at two locations, near Barambai any drilling activity is the area between Barambai and
blow-out and in the middle of Wanaraya and Wanaraya blow-out.
Barambai blow-out. The information related to the restricted area for
freshwater well drilling activity will be disseminated
BARITO KUALA
DISTRICT

GEO-ELECTRIC INVESTIGATION SITES

(BARAMBAI BLOW OUT)

GEO-ELECTRIC INVESTIGATION SITES

(WANARAYA BLOW OUT)

Fig. 8: Map of potential hazard area of coalbed methane blow out that should be avoided for freshwater drilling
activities. This area is along the fault zone systems: normal fault and sinistral fault zone
6 Discussion to local district government of Barito Kuala and local
The accumulation of CBM gas in another reservoir people. It is important to socialize the risk of blow-
such as porous sand aquifers can be happened due to out within potential hazard area because local people
the ability of CBM to flow or migrate from coal and local government will continue to drill freshwater
seams through natural fractures i.e. faults, joints, wells to fulfill freshwater necessity as the quality of
and/or human made structures such as water wells to surface water resources does not fulfill water quality
other reservoirs. standard.
The two CBM blow-outs that were happened in 7 Conclusion
Barito Kuala District, South Kalimantan Province,
Indonesia are started from CBM migration and The characteristic of Warukin coal seams - i.e. the
accumulation process in quartz sand aquifer through thickness and depth - is perfect to generate a lot of
natural fractures of fault zone. Both Barambai and CBM. Meanwhile, quartz sand aquifer in Barito
Wanaraya blow-out areas show the indication of Kuala is perfect for CBM accumulation as it is cov-
normal fault presence. The source of CBM is the coal ered by impermeable silt-clay layer. Fractures along
seams of Warukin Formation below the aquifer. The normal fault become pathways of CBM migration
thickness of these coal seams that up to 30 m and from coal seams into quartz sand aquifer. Based on
their ideal depth (500-700 m) are the perfect source to the result of geo-electric investigation, there were
generate CBM. This CBM migrated and perfectly sub-surface normal fault identified in Barambai and
accumulated and trapped in the aquifer as the layer Wanaraya. All these characteristics lead to high possi-
above it is impermeable layer of silt-clay layer. bility of methane blow-out if any drilling activity
The blow-outs are occurred when drilling activity reaches the aquifer.
broke the impermeable layer and reached quartz sand. However, further investigation - i.e. seismic 2D
Both of two blow-outs that are still active until now and 3D survey - is needed to fully understand the mi-
(May 2009) show that the CBM accumulation in gration process of methane, the coal seams character-
quartz sand aquifer is high. istics, the size of aquifer, and methane volume accu-
As the migration process of CBM from coal seams mulation within the aquifer.
of Warukin Formation into quartz sand aquifer Acknowledgements
through fractures of fault zone, therefore the area
alongside this zone can be categorized as area of I would like to thank to Team of Mining and En-
potential hazard area of CBM blow-out. This area is ergy Office of South Kalimantan and Indonesia Geo-
already mapped and should be avoided for freshwater logical Board. I acknowledge Prof Chongtao Wei for
giving me the opportunity to write this paper and for
his early assistance.

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