| Malaysia's continental shelf is made up of six major sedimentary basins. The favourable geological conditions affecting these basins provide ideal conditions for the creation of hydrocarbons - that is petroleum and natural gas.
The six basins are grouped into three main regions: Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Peninsular Malaysia
Within this region is the Malay Basin, which is located offshore east of Peninsular Malaysia. It is the most prolific oil and gas producing basin in Malaysia, with more than 12,000 metres of sediments. To the south, the Penyu Basin covers an area of 5,000 square kilometres.
Sarawak
The Sarawak Basin is a prolific oil and gas producing basin. Seven geological provinces have been identified in the basin, namely the West Baram Delta, Balingian, Central Luconia, Tinjar, Tatau, West Luconia and North Luconia. Exploration activities have been carried out in all seven provinces and commercial hydrocarbons have been found in three provinces: West Baram Delta, Balingian and Central Luconia. More exploration activities are being undertaken in the West and North Luconia provinces including the deepwater area to the north of these provinces.
Sabah
There are three major basins in Sabah namely the Sabah Basin, Northeast Sabah Basin and Southeast Sabah Basin. The Sabah Basin which is located in Northwest Sabah is mainly offshore while the other two basins cover some onshore areas in Northeast and Southeast Sabah. Significant recent oil discoveries in the deepwater areas have made Sabah a prolific deepwater region.
Please click to view the sedimentary basins of Malaysia
Please click to download and view the Chronostratigraphic Chart of the Cenozoic and Mesozoic Basins of Malaysia. |