Analysis of two-dimensional magnetotelluric inversion for the delineation of the petroleum system in the Kutai basin, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

The Kutai Basin in East Kalimantan is known as a potential area for oil and gas exploration. Two-dimensional magnetotelluric (MT) analysis is applied to investigate the geological structure and distribution of subsurface resistivity. This study aims to delineate the petroleum system using MT data and identify zones with potential for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. MT data has been collected at several strategic locations in the Kutai Basin, and two-dimensional cross-sections have been constructed to obtain vertical resistivity imaging at several depths. In this study, there were nine measurement points located on one line. The data is then inverted to obtain a two-dimensional resistivity model, which qualitatively represents the subsurface structure. The results of this study indicate that there is a low resistivity anomaly zone that identifies the presence of source rock with a resistivity value of 1-12 Ωm. In this line, it is suspected that the petroleum system that allows trapped hydrocarbons is found in the area, below the KT36 and KT13 measurement points. In this area there are folded structures in the form of synclines and anticlines, which raises suspicions about the types of traps formed from structural traps.