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Introduction
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TI-E STATE ff HYDROCARBON POLLUTION IN THE EAST ASIAN SEAS
BASED O{ STI.DIES IN TI.E SOUTH-EAST ASIAN SEAS REGIOi.I
Jaspar Bilal
Oil and Gas Technology Developmenl Center "LEMIGAS"
JakarLa. Indonesia
ABSTRACT
The description of the production and transport patterns for oil in
South-East Asian waters gives an indication of lhe actual and possible inputs of
oil contamination in the marine environment. The distribution of dispersed oil and
tarballs depends m the geographic and hydrographic features of the region. While
oil pollution is widely reeognized as a regional problem, its impact is difficult to
asses{t because available data are scarce and hard to compare.
It is universally eccepted that petroleum is derived from organic material. It resulted
from the combined ection of pressure, temperaLure and physical/chemical proceeses on
organic material such as plants and animals deposited in the last. 500 million years in layers
of sedimentary rocks.
Offshore hydrocarbm Feservoirs are found along the continental margins, particularly
on the continental shelf and the upper part of the continental slope. The existence of
commencially exploitable accumulations beyond lhe continental rise is considered unlikely in
the foreseeable future.
ln the Asia-Paeific region, oil and gas deposits are most promising in sedimentary
basins, many of which lie in mean basins limited by volcanic island chains.
It is now recognized that some of these basins may be loeated under the sea, and ihat
their nature cannot be predicted from land data. Recent findings from oil and gas exploration
in the offshore areas of South-East Asia confirm this.
The description of production end transport patterns for oil gives an indicetion of
actual and possible inputs of oil contamination in the marine environnent. Oil contamination
end accumulation in the form of dispersed oil in water, end floating and stranded tarballs are
global phenomena which depend on the geographic snd hydrographic features of the region.
Oil pollution of the marine and coastal environnpnt is widely recognized e a probhm
as noted at various regional reetings over the last few years. Horever, oil pollution and ita
impact m the environrnent, particularly in South-Eest Asian countries, re difficult to Bsess
because tlre needed research and anrvey data are so scarce and fragrnentary.
Hvdrocarbon producinq beaine
Tle actual and potential hydrocarbm producing bsine in the South-Est Asian Region
are fotnd in variabb geological settings.
In lrdmcria, the known besine extend from Sumatra, including t}re northern offshore
extension into the Streits of Malacea, through Java to Kalimantan, a well as the bains in
and offshore West lrian.