Identification of Quaternary Sediments and the Existence of Biogenic Gas Sources in the Topang Delta, Meranti, Riau

Abstract

Delta Topang, located in Topang Island, Riau Province is known to have the potential of biogenic gas. This research was conducted to identify the Quaternary sediment and the existence of biogenic gas reservoar. In this research has been conducted 75 points of surface geoelectrical measurements (38 points in Parit Jawa and 37 points in Parit Bintang) and 2 points of core drilling (BH-1 in Parit Jawa and BH-2 in Parit Bintang). Total Organic Carbon was also carried out on 10 samples (5 samples from each drilling core). Based on resistivity value of geoelectrical measurements from all points, in general are determined 2 sediment types, very fine sediment (silt and clay) and fine sand. We discussed in detail only point 11 representing Parit Jawa region and point 39 representing Parit Bintang Village. Both in point 11 and point 39, very fine sediment was identified from the surface down to 59 m and 58.5 m respectively, mostly dominated by hydrous clay. Below these, very fine sediment is identified as fine sand. Core drilling BH-1 and BH-2 (40 m length each) composed of thick layer of hydrous clay from the core surface down to bottom part, intercalated with thin layers of silt and fine sand. We considered fine sand found at depths between 24 to > 90 m (from all geoelectrical measurement points) as the closure of biogenic gas. At Parit Jawa biogenic gas closures are found at 2 locations, which are in south west and north east measurement area. At Parit Bintang biogenic gas closures are found at 3 location which are one in south and two in north measurement area. Total organic carbon analyzed from BH-1 indicate the highest percentage at 26-27 m depth with percentage 71.6%. From BH-2 the highest value is indicated at 33-34 m depth with percentage 78.0%. From all this information it is known that the formation of biogenic gas from the abundance of TOC is in the layers of hydrous clay and clay where is in an anaerobic sulfate-reduction environment.