Lusi2

SIDARJO/LAPINDO MUD FLOW FROM A WELL

IN EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

(LUSI Mud Volcano)

By : Yulini Arediningsih

January 7, 2011

University of Calgary

Outline

Objectives and Purposes LUSI (Lumpur Sidoarjo) Issues on Professionalism and Ethics Regulations and Guidelines Conclusions and Recommendations References

Objectives and Purposes

To overview the chronology of the disaster To outline hypotheses of its possible causes

and its controversy To discuss on some issues related to the disaster To outline some regulations and guidelines have been set

Facts on Lumpur Sidoarjo

It is named as a mud volcano called LUSI Located in the subdistrict of Porong, Sidoarjo in East Java, Indonesia. It has been on going since its birth on May 29, 2006 The biggest mud volcano in the world was created by the blowout of a natural gas well drilled by Lapindo Brantas Approximately 30,000 m³ (1 million cubic feet) of mud are expelled per day, and it is expected that the flow will continue for the next 30 years Although the Sidoarjo mud flow has been contained by levees since November 2008, resultant flooding regularly disrupts local highways and villages.

LocationGeology Map

Central – East Java

(taken from www.maps.google.co.id)

(Sawolo et al., 2009)

Chronology

On May 6, 2006 PT Lapindo Brantas started drilling BP-1 well.

On May 28, 2006 PT Lapindo Brantas targeted gas in the Kujung Formation carbonates in the Brantas PSC area by drilling BP-1 well.

1st stage : penetrated a thick clay seam (500–1,300 m deep), then sands, shales, volcanic debris and finally into permeable carbonate rocks.

On May 29, 2006 2nd stage : the drill string went deeper, to about 2,834 m (9,298 ft) to target the carbonate after which water, steam and a small amount of gas erupted at a location about 200 m southwest of the well

On June 2, 3 2006 Two further eruptions occurred about 800–1000 m northwest of the well.

Chronology

On May 27, 2006 A magnitude of 6.3 earthquake occurred in Yogyakarta approximately 250 kilo-meters South West from Sidoarjo.

Seven minutes after the earthquake a mud loss problem in the well was noted. After two major aftershocks, the well suffered a complete loss of circulation.

This mud loss problem was finally stopped when a loss circulation material was pumped in the well, a standard practice in drilling an oil and gas well. A day later the well suffered a ‘kick’, an influx of formation fluid into the well bore. The kick appears to have been killed within three hours. The next day, 29 May 2006, steam, water and mud began erupting 200 meters away from the well, a phenomena that is now known as Lusi mud volcano.

[edit]

(Sawolo et al, 2009) Image taken 8 hours after eruption 6/29/2006

Geology Settings

(Sawolo,et al, 2009)

Logging at 8500’, Prupuk formation not yet penetrated, mud cond. 300psiKick tolerant, drilled deeper

The Hyphotheses of the possible causes Hydro-fracturing of the formation a drilling related problem

Fault reactivation a seismic related natural event (Merapi eruption on May 26, 2006)

Geothermal process associated with adjacent volcano complex of the Arjuno-Welirang complex

Approximate Scale : 10-15m

Impact of the disaster

Mud has flooded total area of 377,715 Ha (3777 km2)

Fourteen people have been killed 30,000 people have been evacuated from the area.At least a dozen villages, with more than 10,000 homes have been destroyed Schools, offices and factories have also been wiped out and a major impact on the wider marine and coastal environment is expected.

An aerial view of the gas emission from the crater of LUSI mud volcano in Porong, East Java province May 29, 2008 (REUTERS/Sigit Pamungkas)Http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/06/sidoarjos_manmade_mud_volcano.html

Ikonos Satellite image of the LUSI and surrounding area, May 29, 2008 http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/06/sidoarjos_manmade_mud_volcano.html

Http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/06/sidoarjos_manmade_mud_volcano.html

Issues on Professionalism and Ethics

Controversy of what triggered the mud eruption : earthquake vs drilling activities: – Medco Energy (joint ventures) asserts gross

negligence on the part of the Operator (Lapindo Brantas) for failing to set casing of 9 5/8” at 8,500ft

– Operator, Lapindo Brantas, indicates that a seismic event triggered the incident- On 27 May, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred near Yogyakarta, 300km SW of Sidoarjo

Issues on Professionalism and Ethics

Violation to public safety Negligence to procedures on deep drilling

in high risk zone of high pressure formation

Negligence to public hearing from local government prior to drilling activities

Negligence to obtain expert advise in relation to active volcanic zone surrounding area.

Regulations and Guidelines

June 14, 2006 - Implementation on GOVERNMENT’s POLICIES FOR LAPINDO HOT MUD VICTIMS

June 15, 2006 Department of Energy and Natural Resources formed an Formation of INDEPENDENT TEAM to investigate the cause of the Mud volcano

June 27, 2006 Sidoarjo Subdisctrict Government formed an Integrated Mitigation Team of Mudflow Explosions in Subdistrict Porong, Sidorajodistrict.

August 14, 2006 Public Works Minister formed a MUD FLOW MITIGATION TEAM to handle the impact of the mud flow in Sidoarjo to evaluate and give resolutions and recommendations to the mud flow problem

September 8, 2006 NATIONAL TEAM IN CHARGE IN HANDLING THE MUD VOLCANO DISASTER IN SIDOARDJO (based on Presidential Decree No. 13 Year 2006).

Conclusions – Lessons learned

• The Government declared that the eruption of the mud volcano is a natural disaster•The hypotheses on the possible causes of Lusi are still debated by the earth scientists• Use cultural and social consideration for reviewing projects• Environmental consideration for mining in dense areas has to be controlled better• It provides a unique opportunity for the scientific community to conduct scientific experiments to further understanding on mud volcano.

Recommendations

Revisit drilling regulations on the East Java block to set maximum drilling depth

Hazard Analysis considering environmental concerns should be conducted prior to drilling plan

The Authorities and the Government must stand in the front without finger pointing who’s right, who’s wrong and who’s responsible

• As incident is a disaster so that the interest of the victims/affected communities should be prioritized

Recommendations

Utilization of the mud for construction materials which may provide job opportunity

A correct understanding on the phenomenon is a must and an important first step prior to attempting any relief effort.

Propose the mud volcano complex as national park

Monitor the activity of the mud volcano and propose mitigation plan

References

Davies, R. J., Swarbrick, R. E., Evans, R. J. and M. Huuse, M. 2007. "Birth of a mud volcano: East Java, May 29, 2006". GSA Today 17 (2): 4.Matthews, S. J. and Bransden, P. J. E., 1995. "Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic tectono-stratigraphic development of the East Java Sea Basin, Indonesia". Marine and Petroleum Geology 12 (5): 499–510Sawolo, N., Sutriono, E., Istadi, B., Darmoyo, A.B. 2009. "The LUSI mud volcano triggering controversy: was it caused by drilling?". Marine & Petroleum Geology 26: 1766–1784

http://www.mudvolcano.com/home.php# (01/06/2011)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidoarjo_mud_flow (01/06/2011)http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070125-mud-volcano.html (01/06/2011)http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/22/2604203.htm?section=justin (01/06/2011)http://www.socsci.flinders.edu.au/asiacentre/forums/conferencepresentations/KresnayanaYayha.pdf (01/06/2011)