Optimizing of Drill Hole Spacing For Coal Resources Classification in Kelay Blok 3 Area, Labanan Formation, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan

  • Authors

    • Martadi Master of Geological Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering and Planning, Institute Teknologi Nasional Yogyakarta, Indonesia
    • Setyo Pambudi Faculty of Engineering and Planning, Institute Teknologi Nasional Yogyakarta, Indonesia
    • Okki Verdiansyah Faculty of Engineering and Planning, Institute Teknologi Nasional Yogyakarta, Indonesia
    https://doi.org/10.14419/nbt0tq29

    Received date: November 13, 2025

    Accepted date: November 30, 2025

    Published date: January 2, 2026

  • Labanan Formation, Global estimation variance, Optimizing drill hole spacing
  • Abstract

    Optimizing of drill hole spacing for coal resource classification is a method for optimizing and evaluating coal resources in a seam within a coal mining area. The Kelay Block 3 area is included in the concession of PT Berau Coal, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. The main coal-bearing formation is the Labanan Formation. The Labanan Formation is known to have fairly thick and low-quality coal seams. Exploration drilling has been conducted at 69 drilling locations, consisting of 34 core drilling locations and 35 open-hole drilling locations. The coal resource classification in the study area falls into the moderate geological condition category according to SNI 5015:2019. This research was conducted to analyze the optimal borehole spacing in the Labanan Formation for coal resource evaluation and classification in the study area using the global estimation variance (GEV) approach. The results obtained from optimizing borehole spacing in the study area were taken at a spacing of 350 m for the measured category, 600 m for the indicated category, and 1200 m for the inferred category, based on the thickness variable. This is because the global estimation variance (GEV) method considers population and variation, which are values that approximate variance thru GEV analysis. Optimizing borehole spacing using the global estimation variance (GEV) method showed wider and more optimal results than the provisions of SNI 5015:2019 under the same geological conditions.

  • References

    1. Situmorang, R. L., dan Burhan. 1995. Peta Geologi Regional Lembar Tanjung Redeb, Kalimantan. skala 1:250.000”., Bandung: Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Geologi.
    2. Suharno, D., Rahman, A., and Aziz, M., 2021. Analysis of coal quality from Labanan and Lati Formations in Berau, East Kalimantan. Indonesian. Journal of Geology., 16(1), 45-59.
    3. Standard Nasional Indonesia. 2019. Pedoman pelaporan sumberdaya dan cadangan batubara. SNI 5015:2019.
    4. Silva, D. S. F., & Boisvert, J. B., 2014. Mineral resource classification: a comparison of new and existing techniques.Journal of The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy., 114(March), 265–273.
    5. Wulandari, S., Winarno, E., Amri, N. A., 2022, Literatur Review Optimasi Jarak Lubang Bor dengan Metode Drill Hole Spacing Analysis (DHSA) dan Metode Drill Hole Spacing Optimization with Conditional Simulations, Jurnal Sumberdaya Bumi Berkelanjutan, J. Semitan, 1 (1), 172-180.
    6. Vargas, A. M., 2017., Optimizing grade-control drillhole spacing with conditional simulation. Minería y Geología., vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 1-12
    7. Bertoli, O., A. Paul, Z. Casley, and D. Dunn. 2013. Geostatistical drill hole spacing analysis for coal resource classification in the Bowen Basin, Queensland. International Journal of Coal Geology, 112, 107-113
    8. Putra, J. A., Heriawan, M. N, Widayat, A. H., 2022, Geostatistical Drill Hole Spacing Analysis For Coal Resources Evaluation in the South Sumatra Basin, Indonesia, International Symposium on Earth Science and Technology, Fukuoka, https://researchgate.net/publication/367047355.
    9. Dominy, S.C., Annels, A.E. Camm, G.S. Wheeler, P. and Barr, S. P. 1997. Geology in the Resourceand Reserve Estimation of Narrow Vein 42. De-posits, Exploration and Mining Geology, Vol. 6, No. 4, 1997, pp. 317-333.
    10. Sianturi, R.K., Heriawan, M.N., Safrizal., 2020. Analisis Spasi Lubang Bor untuk Mengevaluasi Sumberdaya Timah Aluvial dan Mineral Ikutannya di Pulau Bangka dengan Global Estimation Variance. Riset Geologi dan Pertambangan. Vol.30, No 2, Desember 2020 (153-170). Doi: 10.14203/risetgeotam2020.v30.115.
    11. Isaaks, E. H., and Srivastava, R. M., 1989. An Introduction to Applied Geostatistics . Oxford University Press, New York, 561 pp.
    12. David, M., 1977. Geostatistical Ore Reserve Estimation. New York, 2nd edition, Elsevier, p. 216.
    13. Cornah, A., Vann, J. and Driver, I..2013. Comparison of three geostatistical approaches to quantify the impact of drill spacing on resource confidence for a coal seam (with a case example from Moranbah North, Queensland, Australia). International Journal of Coal Geology. 112, pp. 114–124. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2012.11.006.
    14. JORC, 2012., The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Australia: The Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute
    15. Souza, L. E., Costa, J. L., Kopper, J. L., 2010, Comparative Analysis of the Resource Classification, Applied Earth Science (Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B), Volume 119, pp. 166-75.
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Martadi, Pambudi, S., & Verdiansyah, O. (2026). Optimizing of Drill Hole Spacing For Coal Resources Classification in Kelay Blok 3 Area, Labanan Formation, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(8), 667-675. https://doi.org/10.14419/nbt0tq29