Regional earthquake as a trigger for enhanced volcanic activity:
Evidence from MODIS thermal data

ABSTRACT
World-wide, mud volcanoes have been documented in areas of overpressure where explosive expansion of trapped methane has occurred during argillokinesis. In an area with high sedimentation rate, such as the Gulf of Mexico or the South Caspian, there may be no time for fine-grained sediment to de-water before being covered by impermeable material.

MUDFLOW GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS STUDIES IN PORONG,
SIDOARJO, EAST JAVA
Mudflow Expert Team
Indonesian Association of Geologist (IAGI)

This report prepared by an expert team from the Indonesian Association of Geologists (IAGI) examines in detail the geological factors leading to the eruption of the Sidoarjo mud volcano (LUSI) on May 29, 2006.  The report clearly links the eruption to recent tectonic movement in the area and refers to the long history of seismic disturbance in the region.  The report states that the eruption was part of a natural geological process.

REVIEW OF BANJAR PANJI-1 INCIDENT
PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF DRILLING PROGRAM

This detailed technical examination of the drilling procedures for Banjar Panji 1 was prepared by two leading drilling experts, Maurice Dussault Phd, of Waterloo University, Canada and Baldeo Singh Phd an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The report concludes that all drilling operations were in keeping with accepted industry procedures and to the highest standards.

REVIEW OF BANJAR PANJI-1 INCIDENT
PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF DRILLING PROGRAM

This detailed technical examination of the drilling procedures for Banjar Panji 1 was prepared by two leading drilling experts, Maurice Dussault Phd, of Waterloo University, Canada and Baldeo Singh Phd an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  The report concludes that all drilling operations were in keeping with accepted industry procedures and to the highest standards.

Banjar Panji 1 Well Control Incident Report
Prepared by Ralph Adams
April 3, 2007

This blow-by-blow due diligence investigation of the drilling program for the Banjar Panji 1 gas exploration well was prepared by Ralph Adams, a senior drilling specialist with nearly 30 years experience in the oil and gas exploration business in Indonesia.  Adams examined all  drilling data related to the period of the Yogyakarta earthquake on May 27, 2006 and the eruption of the LUSI mud volcano near the Banjar Panji 1 well on May 29, 2006.  His report conclusively states that the drilling of the well was not the cause of the LUSI eruption.

Banjar Panji 1 Well Control Incident Report
Prepared by Ralph Adams
April 3, 2007

This blow-by-blow due diligence investigation of the drilling program for the Banjar Panji 1 gas exploration well was prepared by Ralph Adams, a senior drilling specialist with nearly 30 years experience in the oil and gas exploration business in Indonesia.  Adams examined all  drilling data related to the period of the Yogyakarta earthquake on May 27, 2006 and the eruption of the LUSI mud volcano near the Banjar Panji 1 well on May 29, 2006.  His report conclusively states that the drilling of the well was not the cause of the LUSI eruption.

Triggering and dynamic evolution of the LUSI mud volcano, Indonesia

The most extensive research on the eruption of LUSI was conducted by an International team led by renowned mud volcanologist Dr. Adriano Mazzini, from the University of Oslo, Norway.   Scientists from several countries, including Russian, France and Indonesia participated in producing this report, which strongly suggests the Yogyakarta earthquake as the trigger for LUSI.

Final Technical Report: 
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination mission in June & July 2006 and Follow-up mission in July 2006

A sudden eruption of hot mud and steam began on May 29th, 2006, near the Banjarpanji-1 exploration well in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia.
In the early stages, the general public opinion speculated that the mud flows were caused by an underground blowout on the Banjarpanji well. But as the data was studied and analyzed, it quickly became clear that the mud flow was not triggered by the well, that an underground blowout did not occur. Firstly, the well-bore fluid pressure was too low to fracture the well bore.
Secondly, there was no sustained pressure to propagate fractures.
Thirdly and most importantly, the wellbore was open and totally dead whilst mud was erupting at more than 300,000 bbl/day only 200 m away.

The 26 May 2006 magnitude 6.4 Yogyakarta earthquake south of Mt. Merapi volcano: did lahar deposits amplify ground shaking and thus lead to the disaster?