Abstract

The South Palembang sub basin is a part of the fault bounded South Sumatra Tertiary Arc Basin. To the west it is bordered by Musi Kikim High (as the Kikim Fault) and to the east the basin is gradually shallower to the Kuang High. Two major groups of faults which are trending NE-SW and NW-SE have important roles during basin formation. The NE-SW Lematang fault affected the subsidence of the Limau Graben, then the NE-SW Talang Babat Fault was important in the Talang Babat graben that was less influenced by the Plio-Pleistocene orogeny.

The Kuang area is one of the most stable parts of the South Sumatra Basin. Its morphology is deeper to the west at Merbau-Talang Babat hinge zone. Therefore global sea level change could be the most important aspect for controlling sedimentary patterns. Geological & geophysical reviews reveal three local unconformities. Firstly, the vadose zone on top of the Baturaja Formation. Secondly, turbidite sediment which developed during sea level drop when Gumai Formation was deposited, and thirdly the local unconformity within Air Benakat Formation. These phenomenas help to form a new exploration play concept for hydrocarbons in the area.