Depositional Environments and Reservoir Quality Potentials of Campanian Sediments at Macgregor, Afikpo Basin, Nigeria

Year 2023, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 62 - 78, 10.05.2023

Raphael Oaikhena Oyanyan Azikboro Kokobakemi Ologun

Abstract

A road-cut section and a quarry face of outcropped Campanian sediments of Afikpo basin were studied to determine the environments of deposition and the reservoir quality potentials of facies. Lithofacies identified include Shale, interlaminated silt and clay, wavy-laminated sandstone, burrowed cross laminated sandstone, cross bedded sandstone and thick/very thick bedded sandstone. To determine intra-facies grain size trend, samples were collected at the base and at the top of facies. Nine samples were analysed for grain size/granulometric properties distribution. Granulometric parameters/ properties were determined using Gradistat software. Grain size distribution curves of all sandstone facies showed that particle grain sizes ranged from fine to pebbles and bimodal which implied the combination of fluvial and marine sourced sediment typical of an estuary. The bivariate plots of intra-facies granulometric parameters however showed the domination of fluvial supply/processes. Facies characteristics and associations indicate that the Campanian sediments were deposited in estuary sub-environments which include Bayhead delta, Tidal inlet fill and Offshore/offshore transition zone. Bayhead delta sandstone is lower coarse- to very coarse- grained, poorly sorted, near symmetrical to positive skewed, varied kurtosis and has an internal depositional surface lined with impermeable mud. Therefore, it has potential for low quality reservoir. But the shoreface sandstone is generally moderately sorted, very fine- to coarse-grained positive skewed, platykurtic to mesokurtic and therefore has potential for good quality reservoir. While tidal inlet fill sandstone is homogenous, mean upper medium grained, moderately sorted, positive to strongly positive skewed and mesokurtic; and therefore, has potential for the highest quality reservoir.

Keywords

Lithofacies, Granulometric properties, Bayhead delta, Shoreface, Tidal-inlet fill, Reservoir quality

References

• Akande, S.O., Egenhoff, S.O., Obaje, N.J., Erdtmann, B.D., 2011. Stratigraphic Evolution and Petroleum Potential of Middle Cretaceous Sediments in the Lower and Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria: Insights from New Source Rock Facies Evaluation. Petroleum Technology Development Journal: An International Journal 1, 1-34.
• Amajor, L.C., 1987. Paleocurrent, petrography and provenance analyses of the Ajali Sandstone (Upper Cretaceous), south eastern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Sedimentary Geology 54, 47-60.
• Angus, L., Hampson, G.J., Palci, F., Fraser, A.J., 2020. Characteristics and context of high-energy, tidally modulated, barred shoreface deposits: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian sandstones, Weald Basin, Southern U.K. and Northern France: Journal of Sedimentary Research 90, 313-335. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2020.19.
• Aschoff, J.L, Olariu, C., Steel, R.J., 2018. Recognition and significance of bayhead delta deposits in the rock record: A comparison of modern and ancient systems. Sedimentology 65, 62-95. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12351.
• Boggs Jr., S., 2006. Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Fourth Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall, USA, 676 pp.
• Burke, K.C., Decasualise, Y.F.J., Whiteman, A.J., 1972. Geological history of the Benue valley and adjacent areas. In. T.F.J. Dessauvagie and A. J. Whiteman (Ed), African Geology University of Ibadan press, Ibadan, pp 187-205.
• Cattaneo, A., Steel, R.J., 2003. Transgressive deposits: a review of their variability. Earth-Science Reviews 62 (3-4), 187-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-8252(02)00134-4.
• Catuneanu, O., 2006. Principles of Sequence Stratigraphy. Elsevier B. V. publ, 387 pp.
• Dashtgard, S.E., Vaucher, R., Yang, B., Dalrymple, R.W., 2021. Hutchison Medallist 1. Wave-Dominated to Tide-Dominated Coastal Systems: A Unifying Model for Tidal Shorefaces and Refinement of the Coastal-Environments Classification Scheme. Geoscience Canada, Geoscience Canada, Journal of the Geological Association of Canada 48 (1), 5-22. https://doi.org/10.12789/geocanj.2021.48.171.
• Emery, D., Meyers, K., 1998. Sequence stratigraphy. Blackwell science publication, 297 pp.
• Fetter, C.W., 1990. Applied Hydrogeology. CBS Publishers and distributors, India, 592 pp
• FitzGerald, D., Georgiou, I., Miner, M., 2014. Estuaries and Tidal Inlets. In: Masselink, G. and Gehrels, R. (Eds), Coastal Environments and Global Change, First Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Publ. pp. 268 -298.
• Folk, R. L., 1980. Petrology of Sedimentary rocks. Hemphill Publishing Company, Austin, Texas 78703, USA, 190 pp.
• Folk, R.L, Ward, W.C., 1957. Brazos river bar: A study in the significance of grain-size parameters. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 27, 3-26.
• Friedman, G.M., 1967. Dynamic processes and statistical parameters compared for size frequency distribution of beach and river sands: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 37, 327-354.
• Galloway, W. E., Cheng, E.S., 1985. Reservoir Facies Architecture in a Microtidal Barrier System, Frio Formation, Texas Gulf Coast. Bureau of Economic Geology, W. L. Fisher, Director, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, 78713. Report Investigation No. 144, 43 pp.
• Gingras, M.K., Bann, L., MacEachern, J. A., Pemberton, G., 2007. A Conceptual Framework for the Application of Trace Fossils. In: MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., Pemberton, S.G. (Eds.), Applied Ichnology, SEPM, Tulsa, ISBN-10: 1565761332, pp.1-26.
• Hubbard, S. M., Gringras, M., Pemberton, S. G., Thomas, M.B., 2002. Variability in wave dominated estuary sandstones: Implications on subsurface reservoir development. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum geology 50 (1), 118-137.
• Jackson, C.A., Mode, A.W., Oti, M.N., Adejinmi, K., Ozumba, B., Osterloff, P., 2013. Effects of Bioturbation on Reservoir Quality: An Integration in Reservoir Modeling of Selected Fields in the Niger Delta Petroleum Province. NAPE Bulletin 25 (1), 29-42.
• Krumbein, W.C., 1934. Size frequency distribution of sediments: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 4, 65-77.
• MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Bhattacharya, J.P., Howell, C.D. Jr, 2005. Ichnology of Deltas: Organism Responses to the Dynamic Interplay of Rivers, Waves, Storms and Tides. SEPM, 37 pp.
• Nichols G., Boyd, R. and Penland, S., 1984. Stratigraphic response of wave-dominated estuaries to different relative sea-level and sediment supply histories: Quaternary case studies from Nova Scotia, Louisiana and eastern Australia. In: Dalrymple, R.W., Boyd, R., Zaitlin, B.A. (eds.). Incised-valley Systems: Origin and Sedimentary Sequences. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), Special Publication 51, 265-283.
• Nichols, G., 2009. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Wiley and Blackwell Publ. (second edition), 432 pp.
• Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, 2023. Geological Maps. 31 Shettima A. Munguno Crescent, Behind Julius Berger HQs., Utako District, PMB 616 Garki, Abuja. Nigeria.
• Okogbue, C.O., Aghamelu, O.P., 2010. Comparison of the geotechnical properties of crushed shales from south-eastern Nigeria. Springer-Verlag publication. Bulletin Engineering Geology and Environment 69, 587-597.
• Okoro, A.U, Igwe, E.O., Umo, IA., 2020. Sedimentary facies, paleoenvironments and reservoir potential of the Afikpo Sandstone on Macgregor Hill area in the Afikpo Sub‑basin, south eastern Nigeria. SN Applied Sciences 2, 1862. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03601-5.
• Okoro, A.U, Onuigbo, E.N., Akpunonu E.O., Obiadi I.I., 2012. Lithofacies and Pebble Morphogenesis: Keys to Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of the Nkporo Formation, Afikpo Sub-Basin, Nigeria. Journal of Environment and Earth Science 2 (6), 26-38.
• Olariu, C., Bhattacharya, J.P., 2006. Terminal Distributary channels and delta front architecture of river-dominated delta systems. Journal of Sedimentary Research 76, 212-233. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2006.026.
• Oyanyan, R.O., Oshinowo, O.O., 2020. Structural and Stratigraphic Styles of Growth Faulted Shallow Marine Deposits in an Eastern Offshore Depobelt Oil Field, Niger Delta, Nigeria. American Journal of Earth Sciences 7 (2), 13-24.
• Oyanyan, R.O., Oti, M.N., 2015a. Down-Dip Cross Sectional Variability in Sedimentological and Petrophysical Properties of Late Oligocene Shoreface Parasequence Reservoir, Greater Ughelli Depobelt, Niger Delta. Petroleum Technology Development Journal: An International Journal 5 (2), 92-117.
• Oyanyan, R.O., Oti, M.N., 2015b. Sedimentology and Ichnology of Late Oligocene Delta Front Reservoir Sandstone Deposit, Greater Ughelli Depobelt, Niger Delta. American Journal of Geosciences 5 (1), 12-25. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajgsp.2015.12.25.
• Patruno, S., Helland-Hansen, W., 2018. Clinoforms and clinoform systems_ Review and dynamic classification scheme for shorelines, subaqueous deltas, shelf edges and continental margins. Earth-Science Reviews 185, 202-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.05.016.
• Pemberton, G., MacEachern, J., Gingras, M., Bann, K., 2009. Atlas of Trace Fossils. 1st Edn., Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, ISBN-10: 0444532323, 300 pp.
• Perillo, M.E., 1995. Geomorphology and Sedimentology of estuaries. Elsevier publ. 470 pp.
• Reijers, T.J.A., Petters, S.W., Nwajide, C.S., 1997. The Niger Delta Basin. In: Selley, R. C. (Eds), The African Basin. Elsevier Publication, New York, pp 150-172.
• Reyment, R. A., 1965. Aspects of the Geology of Nigeria. Ibadan University Press. 145 pp.
• Selly, R.C., 2000. Applied Sedimentology (second edition). Academic press publication, pp 543.
• Simms, A.R., Rodriguez, A.B., Anderson, J.B., 2018. Bayhead deltas and shorelines: Insights from modern and ancient examples. Sedimentary Geology 374, 17-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2018.07.004.
• Simpson, A., 1954. The Nigerian Coal Field: The geology of parts of Onitsha, Owerri and Benue Provinces. Geological Survey Nigeria Bulletin 24, 1- 67.
• Stewart Jr, H.B., 1958. Sedimentary reflections of depositional environment in San Miguel lagoon, Baja California, Mexico. AAPG Bulletin 42 (11), 2567-2618. https://doi.org/10.1306/0bda5bfa-16bd-11d7. 8645000102c1865d.
• Tonkin, N.S., McIlroy, D., Meyer, R., Moore-Turpin, A., 2010. Bioturbation influence on reservoir quality: A case study from the Cretaceous Ben Nevis Formation, Jeanne d’Arc Basin, offshore Newfoundland, Canada. AAPG Bulletin 94 (7), 1059-1078.
• Ukaegbu, V.U., Akpabio, I.O., 2009. Geology and Stratigraphy of Middle Cretaceous Sequences Northeast of Afikpo Basin, Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria. Pacific Journal of Science and Technology 10 (1), 518-527.
• Umeji, O.P., 2013. The South and Central Benue Trough: Stratigraphic Revisions.
• Whiteman, A., 1982. Nigeria: Its Petroleum Geology, Resources and Potentials. Vol. 1 and 2. Graham and Trotman Ltd.: London. UK.