Oil Shale Prospect in the

Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi,

INDONESIA

Hadiyanto, S.M. Tobing, and Hendro Fujiono

CENTER FOR GEO-RESOURCES

GEOLOGICAL AGENCY
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
LOCATION

CGR
 OIL SHALE STUDY

Deskwork study based on previous
investigations by the Center of Geo-
Resources (CGR).

This study used outcrop data of oil shale/
Buton’s asphalt/tar sand and drilling
activities results. Geochemical analysis
was also done for this study.

The goal was to estimate hypothetical oil
shale resources on Buton Island.

Three study area in the Buton Island:
Pasarwajo, Lawele and Sampolawa blocks.

Pasarwajo and the vicinity is about 48 kms from Bau-Bau (capital
city of the Buton Regency), that lies on the coordinates: Longitude
122° 45′– 123° 00′ E and Latitude 5° 15′– 5° 30′ S and of Map sheet
No. 2210 – 62 scale 1 : 50,000 (Fig.1) on Topographic Map of
Indonesia (Bokosurtanal, Edition I –1992).

Lawele block is administratively included in the Kapontori and
Lasalimu Districts, Buton Regency. Geographically included in Map
Sheet No. 2210-64 published by Bakosurtanal, with coordinates
122o45’00’’ - 123o00’00’’ E. Long. and 05o00’00’’ - 05o15’00’’ S.
Lat.

Sampolawa is administratively included in the Sampolawa District,
Buton Regency, geographically include in Map Sheet No. 2210-33
(Mambulu sheet) published by Bakosurtanal in scale 1 : 50,000,
with coordinates: 122o30’00’’ - 122o 45’00’’ E. Long. and
05o30’00’’ - 05o45’00’’ S. Lat.
 Study Area

Lawele (2002)

Pasarwajo

Sampolawa (2003; 2004)

CGR
 REGIONAL GEOLOGY

Buton Island is an
extension ofTukangbesi
– Buton, according to
geologists it frequently
in contact with Mandala
of East Sulawesi.

Composed of Mesozoic
Rocks (Triassic – Upper
Crustaceous –
Paleocene), and Cenozoic
Rocks (Tertiery –
Quartery)

Repeated tectonism
deformed the older
rocks resulting in
relatively steep dips.

CGR
 REGIONAL GEOLOGY

I. Mesozoic Rocks
Kalisusu
(Tertiary – Upper
Crustaceous– Paleocene)
Ereke
consist of:
Winto, Ogena, Rumu
and Tobelo Formations

II. Cenozoic Rocks (Early

Miocene – Plistocene)
Lawele consist of:
Tondo, Sampolakosa,
Kabungka
and Wafulaka
Formations.
These rocks covered
Sampolawa most of the Buton Island.
CGR.
 10 6

Regional Stratigraphy
ZAMAN
BUTON BURU SERAM
PERIODE TH S N C W E
HOLOSEN aluvial aluvial aluvial
PLEISTOSEN r e e f r e e f r e e f
PLIOSEN SAMPOLAKOSA TUFA

KENOZOIKUM
5.5

TONDO
FOLDING
• Winto Formation (Late
TERSIER
MIOSEN

22.5
Tertiary ), consisting of
DIASTROPISME
OLIGOSEN intercalation of shale,
limestone, calcarenite and
36

WANI ?
EOSEN

55
FOLDING FOLDING calcareous sandstone;
PALEOSEN
65 neritic-deep sea
TOBELO MITING environment.
• Tondo Formation (Early
KAPUR Miocene), consisting of
? ? ? intercalation of
conglomerate, sandstone,
MESOZOIKUM

130

KARTINA
silt, and reef sandstone in
RUMU
?
SASIFU
W
AC
KE
the lower part.
MEFA EY

?
GR
• Sampolakosa Formation
JURA

No data No data
(early Pliocene), consisting
OGENA

?
of napal and calcareous
sandstone with insertion of
195
WINTO cacarenite thin layer
TRIAS
DIASTROPISME
225
METAMORPHIK
PALEOZOIKUM (S C H I S T, P H Y L L I T E)

Serpih, Napal Batupasir, Konglomerat Karbonat

Stratigrafi Regional Daerah Buton CGR

BELT OF BUTON’S TAR SAND/ASPHALT

Courtesy: Muh. D. Guntur CGR

 Pasarwajo Block

Rocks formation containing oil shale and or
asphalt/tar sand particularly occurred in the
Tondo and the Sampolakosa Formation.

On the Tondo Formation, asphalt/tar sand and oil
shale deposits occurred on the layers of
sandstone and calcareous sandstone or napal.

On the Sampolakosa Formation, the content of
asphalt/tar sand and oil shale were accumulated
in the shape of lenses on the calcareous
sandstone and napal.

From some outcrops, thickness of layers
containing asphalt/tar sand/oil shale on the
Tondo or Sampolakosa Formation varied from
0.10 m and >5.0 m with its distribution.

Rock layers containing oil shale are present in the
Winto and Ogena Formations.

Oil shale in both formations occurred as grey, blackish
grey and black shale layers varying between 0.10 m
and 15.0 m thick.

In between shale layers occur thin laminations of
sandstone and limestone with thickness of 1 – 10 cm
commonly containing plant remnants of brown-black
colour, attached to upper or lower part of shale layers.

The rock outcrops occurred at Kumele Winto, Kumele
Kowiana, Batuawu and Mompenga Rivers. Seepage oil
is also found on the fault contact between Winto and
Sampolakosa Formation in the Winto River.
 Pasarwajo Resources

Two groups of oil shale resources: oil
shale resources in calcareous
sandstone of the Sampolakosa
Formation of Tertiary Age and oil
shale resources on blackish grey –
grey shale of the Winto Formation
and Ogena Formation.
 Sampolakosa Formation

Based on the asphalt/tar sand exploitation
area owned by State Enterprise/PT. Sarana
Karya, the distribution of sandstone
samples analyzed was about 2.5 km².

If the thickness of each outcrop was
between 2 – 6 m and the specific gravity of
2.78 kg/tons, the resources of this area
were: 2,500,000 x 4.0 x 2.78 kg/ton =
27,800,000 ton of asphalt/tar sand.
 Winto and Ogena Formation

The tonnage estimation is based on the distribution in the lateral
direction obtained from the correlation of several outcrops; there
were six (6) oil shale layers. Volumes in these six layers could be
estimated based on calculations.

One layer was correlated between outcrops separated by 1,000
m.

The layers were delineated up to a depth of 100 m vertically from
the line of the outcrop surface, thus the width of outcrops was:
W = 100/sin α, where α is dip angle of oil shale layer

Layer thickness is the average thickness of entire oil shale
included in that layer.

Oil shale resources can be calculated with the formula:
Resources = { [Length (m) x Width (m) x Thickness (m)] x
Specific Gravity (gr/ton)}
 No Length Width Thickness Specific Resources
Layer Dip
Outcrop (m) (m) (m) Gravity (ton)
AKB-42 a 30 2000 100 15.0 2.53 7,590,000.0
AKB-40 b 70 2000 53.2 2.20 2.04 477,523.2
AKB-39 c 40 2000 77.78 1.50 1.74 406,011.6
AKB-34
AKB-
d 41 2000 76.21 1.15 2.70 473,264.1
34A
AKB-35
ALB-04 e 20 2000 146.2 5.00 2.63 3,845,060.0
12,791,858.9
Lawele Block

Data of Lawele block indicated that oil shale deposits are
present within the sandstone layer of the Tondo Formation
and in the sandy limestone of Sampolakosa Formation.

Prospective yield occurred south of Suandala, Lawele, and
Kamaru villages. Oil shale of the Lawele block generally is
asphalt/tar sand in porous calcareous sandstone on the
Sampolakosa and Tondo Formations.

Megascopically, rocks contain oil shale in this area is
calcareous sandstone and calcareous limestone filled by
asphalt/tar sand seepage.

Retorting analyses of selected samples indicated that rocks
containing oil shale deposits that came from the Tondo and
Sampolakosa Formations, showed oil content of both
Formations ranged between 30 – 90 l/tonne.

Petrographic data shows that this block generally contains fine
clastic rocks consisting of carbonate and impregnated with
asphalt/tar sand.

The mean maturity level of rocks was Rv = 0.46%. Organic
material was dominated by lamalginite and neither liptinite nor
vitrinite were present. Lamalginite was present as very thin and
fine filmy sheets. Lamalginite presents medium fluorescence
intensity, yellowish pink in colour.

According to the assessment, the distribution of rock layer in
the Lawele Block indicates a distribution from Southwest to the
Northeast.

From previous drilling data, thickness of sandstone layer
bearing asphalt/tar sand seepage varied from 2.50 m – 10.30
m. On the lower part of the sandstone layer was intercalated
sandstone and claystone. The thickness of the sandstone
intercalation bearing asphalt/tar sand seepage on the lower part
with the claystone varied from 0.20 m – 0.50 m.

The previous information indicated that asphalt/tar sand are
deposited only along the east coast of the Lawele Bay and are
believed to be the lateral equivalent of asphalt/tar sand
deposits at Sampolawa area (Rongi village) and Pasarwajo
(Kabungka village).

The distribution of the oil shale based on the study indicates
that sandstone layers containing asphalt/tar sand seepage as
a sandstone layer well splitted to the Southeast or Northeast
having thickness of >6,00 m - 10,30 m.

However, toward the Northeast the asphalt/tar sand
sandstone layer thinned into 2,50 - 3,00 m, and it was similar
to the asphalt/tar sand sandstone layer on the southeast part
of the Lawele River which is 1.00 m thick.

Asphalt/tar sand sandstone layer thickness of the lower part was about
0.20 m – 0.50 m, and in the upper part about 2.50 m – 10.30 m.

Estimation of oil shale resources (asphalt/tar sand) was delineated for
oil shale layers with minimum thickness of 1.00 m.

Lateral distribution of each layer that could be correlated was
delineated up to 500 m from the last outcrop or stopped at the fault
structure.

Layer thickness is average thickness from oil shale layer from drilling
data or outcrop measurement included in one calculation block.

Based on the calculation result, oil shale resources up to 100 m depth
in the Lawele Block and vicinity was 60.991.554,38 tons asphalt/tar
sand.

Formula to calculate OIL Resources
Oil resources = [{Oil shale resource x Oil content (average
l/ton)} : 159]
 Specific
No Block Length Width Thickness Resources
Gravity
(m) (m) (m) (Ton)
(kg/ton)
1 A 1000 274,75 2,50 2,25 1.545.468,75
2 B 1100 373,20 8,50 2,25 7.851.195,00
3 C 1100 274,75 10,00 2,25 6.800.062,50
4 D 1300 274,75 7,50 2,25 6.027.328,125
5 E 1000 250,00 2,50 2,25 1.406.250,00
6 F 1100 450,00 8,50 2,25 9.466.875,00
7 G 1100 750,00 10,30 2,25 19.119.375,00
8 H 1300 400,00 7,50 2,25 8.775.000,00
Total 60.991.554,38
 Rock
Oil content Oil resources
No. Block resources
(l/ton) (Barrel)
(Ton)
1 A 1,545,468.75 60.0 583,195.75
2 B 7,851,195.00 67.5 3,333,054.48
3 C 6,800,062.50 63.0 2,694,364.39
4 D 6,027,328.13 35.0 1,326,770.34
5 E 1,406,250.00 60.0 530,660.38
6 F 9,466,875.00 90.0 5,358,608.49
7 G 19,119,375.00 60.0 7,214,858.49
8 H 8,775,000.00 60.0 3,311,320.75
Total 60,991,554.38 24,352,833.07
Sampolawa Block

Oil shale deposit layers at Sampolawa Block occurred in the
Winto Formation. There are at least twenty-four layers at the
26 m depth with thickness starting from 0.10 – 1.20 m. Total
thickness of the entire oil shale/shale layers was 10.34 m.

There were three main oil shale layers with the thickness of
>0.50 m - 1.12 m, 1,20 m and 1.05 m There were also six
oil shale layers with thickness of ~0.50 m. The rest (15
layers) relatively thinner less than 0.50 m.

Oil shale layer in the Winto Formation are intercalated
between silt/calcareous sandstone, soild, hard – very hard
and shale (as oil shale layer). Lateral distribution follows the
formation from Southwest – Northeast.

Oil shale layers are cut by fault structures that occur in the
Sampolawa Block. However, the continuity of layers can still be
traced across the fault.

In addition to oil shale in layers, oil shale deposits in form of
asphalt were also found in the Sampolakosa Formation at the
Rongi area (about 12 km northeast of the study area). The
calcareous sandstone layer thickness reaches more than 10 m
with its distribution aligned almost North – South.

Oil liquid/asphalt/tar sand of the oil shale deposit occurred in
layers of calcareous limestone resulting in black rocks, which
soil the hand on contact. When a rock sample is burnt, it has a
very strong asphalt/tar sand odour.

Petrographic analysis shows that all analyzed layers contain lamalginite
around 0.5 – 50%. Other organics that found were kutinite, sporinite,
and liptodetrinite of 0.1 – 2%, while dispersed organic matter
consisted of vitrinite macerals, liptinite, internite that varied from 0.5 –
50%. Fossil fragments were rare to absent, whereas iron oxide and
pyrite content ranged from 0.5 – 50%.

Oil shale deposit layers in Winto Formation can be categorized as oil
shale or lamosite of Rundel type influenced by marine sedimentary
environment.

The Winto Formation could be categorized as immature as shown by
mean value of vitrinite reflectance Ry ranging from 0.20% – 0.61%.
The values suggest a lower thermal gradient.

Petrographic analysis of the Winto Formation outcrop in the Buton
Island indicates similarity to oil shale of other study areas.

The study area is divided into three blocks of resources estimation
based on the fault structures presence in that area
 Rocks Oil
No. Thick Oil content
Layer Resources resources
Block (m) (L/Ton)
(Ton) (L/Ton)
1 1.05 10 286,177.50 2,861,775
2 1.20 20 345,000.00 6,900,000
Block I
3 1.12 20 325,864.00 6,517,280
4 1.48 20 486,772.00 9,735,440
Total 1,443,813.50 26,014,495
1 1.05 10 273,735.00 2,737,350
2 1.20 20 345,000.00 6,900,000
Block II
3 1.12 20 325,864.00 6,517,280
4 1.20 20 409,860.00 8,197,200
Total 1,354,459.00 24,351,830
1 1.05 10 457,884.00 4,578,840
Block 2 1.20 20 552,000.00 11,040,000
III 3 1.12 20 521,382.40 10,427,648
4 1.20 20 303,600.00 6,072,000
Total 1,834,866.40 32,118.488
TOTAL 4,633,138.90 82,484.813
CONCLUSIONS
– Asphalt/tar sand resources in the Pasarwajo
Block was 27.8 million tons; oil shale/shale:
12.8 million tons.
– Asphalt/tar sand resources in the Lawele Block
was 60.99 million tons ; oil resources were
24.35 million barrels.
– Oil shale/shale resources in the Sampolawa
Block was 4.63 million tons; oil resources were
518,772 barrels.

CGR

Oil shale deposit prospect occurring in the study
area have not yet be defined as to economic level.

The utilization of oil shale faces some constraints
related to the separation process between asphalt
rocks and asphalt/tar sand oil/hydrocarbon that are
relatively more difficult.

Based on the study by the CGR, the oil shale/shale
layers occurring in the Winto formation are quite
abundant and their distribution is very vast.
However, this conclusion is based on a very limited
data.

Deeper core drilling is recommended for further
development.
Tar sand Outcrop of Sampolawa Area

Intercalation between
oil shale layers and
calcareous silt of the
Winto Formation.

CGR
Tar sand Hill of Rongi, Sampolawa Area

White color is
calcareous sandstone,
weathered, not
permeated by asphalt

Dark color is asphalt

stone, in hill shape ;
delineation of
weathered rocks and
oil stained rocks is
very clear.

CGR
Tarsand/Asphalt Stone

Boulders of tar
sand/asphalt from
mining activity at the
Rongi area

Oil seepage / tar sand

/ asphalt from/in
calcareous silt of the
Winto Formation

CGR
Outcrop of tar sand /
asphalt open pit in the
Rongi area. Boundary of
weathered rocks and tar
sand / asphalt is very
clear. Asphalt / Tarsand
thickness >> 10 m

Tar sand / liquid oil

seeped in to calcareous
sandstone (Sampolakosa
Formation)

CGR
Calcareous sandstone
permeaeted by oil/asphalt
called asphalt stone/tar
sandstone. White color is
weathering calcareous
sandstone unstained by
oil/asphalt.

Asphalt / tar sand /

liquid oil dripping from
calcareous sandstone
Location is owned by
private company at
Rongi, Sampolawa.

CGR
Outcrop of Oil Shale

Outcrop of calcareous
silt intercalated with
oil shale layer (Winto
Formation)

Oil shale /
Shale within
calcareous silt (Winto
Formation).

CGR
Oil shale within Core

Core Sample; dark

color is oil shale;
bright color calcareous
silt. Oil staining visible
in core.

CGR
Outcrop of oil shale and
seepage of oil / asphalt
on Winto Formation

Outcrop of oil shale :

shale-clay stone
(Winto Formation)

CGR
Outcrop of oil shale layer
and seepage of oil (Winto
Fm).

Oil shale layers in

between calcareous silt
(Winto Fm).

CGR
Oil shale insertion
between two layers of
calcareous silt (Winto
Formation).

‘Stockpile’ of asphalt in
Rongi (Sampolakosa
Formation).

CGR
Oil shale outcrop in Kabungka area

Outcrop of shale containing

oil/tar sand in Kumele
Kowiana (Winto Formation),
Pasarwajo.

Outcrop of Calcareous
Sandstone containing tar
sand / oil (Sampolakosa
Formation) , Pasarwajo

CGR
Seepage of Oil / Tarsand in Kabungka

Oil seepage in Kumele

(Winto Formation),
Pasarwajo.

Seepage of tar sand formed

asphalt veins in soil surface
(Sampolakosa Formation),
Winning village, Pasarwajo.

CGR
Photomicrograph of Oil Shale

Lamalginite and bitumen

in rock sample
Sampolakosa Formation
(ultraviolet light ).

Lamalginite present as
layers/ lamellae on
claystone (Winto Fm)
(ultraviolet light).

CGR
Outcrop of Oil shale in Lawele

Outcrop of calcareous
sandstone containing
asphalt seepage at
Lagunturu village

Intercalation of Calcareous
sandstone and claystone
(Tondo Fm), River
Suandala, Suandala village

CGR
Core sample at Di Lawele

Core sample containing

Tar sand sandstone layer.
(Tondo Formation)

Calcareous sandstone
outcrop (Sampolakosa
Formation) containing
seepage from Tar sand in
Kamaru village

CGR
Outcrop of Oil Shale in Kalisusu (Muna Regency)

Seepage from oil /

asphalt / tar sand in
Tondo Fm. In Ereka
area.

CGR
Seepage of oil / asphalt in
River Siloi, Raimunah
Maligano village on
calcareous sandstone
Tondo Fm.

Oil shale layer

(Winto Formation) in
Labuan (Muna
Regency)

CGR
  Photomicrograph
of Oil Shale in
Sampolakosa
Formation
(Fluorescence
image)

Courtesy: Herudiyanto
CGR
Calcareous sandstone
outcrop containing
seepage of asphalt
from Sampolakosa
Formation, Lawele
Village

Calcareous
sandstone outcrop
containing seepage
of asphalt from
Sampolakosa
Formation Suandala
village

CGR