Open Access

ARTICLE

Accelerating Hydrocarbon Maturation: The Role of Metals and Unconventional Resources in the Northeast Java Basin

Bagus Sapto Mulyatno^1,*, Muh Sarkowi¹, Ordas Dewanto¹, Asep Irawan¹, Suharso², Andy Setyo Wibowo³, Indra Mamad Gandidi^4,*

1 Department of Geophysical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, 35145, Indonesia
2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, 35145, Indonesia
3 Center for Geological Survey, Geological Agency, Bandung, 40122, Indonesia
4 Energy Conversion and Conservation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia

* Corresponding Authors: Bagus Sapto Mulyatno. Email: ; Indra Mamad Gandidi. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Integrated Geology-Engineering Simulation and Optimizationfor Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs)

Energy Engineering 2025, 122(8), 3099-3116. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2025.064336

Received 12 February 2025; Accepted 14 May 2025; Issue published 24 July 2025

Abstract

Rising global energy needs have intensified the search for unconventional hydrocarbon sources, especially in under-selected areas like the Northeast Java Basin. This region harbors promising unconventional hydrocarbon reserves, where source rocks function as dual-phase systems for both hydrocarbon generation and storage. This research investigates how metal-based catalysts, particularly iron (Fe), can expedite hydrocarbon maturation in such reservoirs. Combining well logging, geochemical assessments, seismic data, and advanced lab techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), we pinpoint optimal zones for exploration. Results indicate that the Tuban, Kujung, and Ngimbang formations contain economically viable unconventional deposits, exhibiting tight reservoir properties (permeability: 0.01–1 md) and moderate to good Total Organic Carbon (TOC) levels (1%–2%). Spatial analysis reveals elevated density concentrations in the northern sector, indicative of high-viscosity hydrocarbons typical of unconventional plays. Crucially, Fe additives were found to markedly enhance organic matter conversion, shortening maturation periods and boosting hydrocarbon yield. XRD data confirms that Fe alters crystalline configurations, increasing reactivity and speeding up thermal breakdown (shifting immature organic compounds toward maturity at an accelerated rate). These findings contribute to the evolving discourse on unconventional resource exploitation by proposing an innovative recovery enhancement strategy. The study also sets a precedent for investigating metal-assisted hydrocarbon conversion in geologically comparable basins globally.

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