PALYNOFACIES STUDIES OF THE LATE CRETACEOUS (TURONIAN-MAASTRICHTIAN) STRATA FROM JAURO JATAU, GONGOLA SUB-BASIN, NORTHERN BENUE TROUGH, NIGERIA
Abstract
Geographically located within Gombe, Bauchi, and Yobe states, the Gongola Sub-basin has drawn attention from several academics looking to increase Nigeria's oil reserves relative to the inland frontier basins. This paper's goal is to determine the thermal maturity of strata from drill samples of the Fika shales in Nigeria's Northern Benue Trough, Gongola Sub-basin. To predict the well section's maturity and kerogen type, this study uses optical and organic facies studies. Twenty-seven samples of ditch cuttings were prepared using the universally accepted acid palynological procedure. The dispersed mounted slides revealed a variety of pollen, spores, and palynomacerals upon microscopic inspection. The well section under study exhibits a range of thermal maturation from mature to late mature, indicating the possibility of producing oil and gas. This corresponds to a range of thermal alteration values of 4 – 6 and equivalent vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) values of 0.6% – 1.35%. The total recovered Sedimentary Organic Matter (SOM) in this study was classified into Palynomorphs, Amorphous Organic Matter (AOM) and Phytoclasts and plotted on a ternary graph. The Percentage frequencies of AOM, Phytoclast and Palynomorphs were compared with the zones of the Tyson Ternary diagram. Most of the distribution frequencies lie within zones II, IX, VI and Iva suggesting Kerogen types III (gas-prone) and II (oil-prone).
References
Akande, S.O., OJO, O.J., Erdtmann, B.D. and Hetenyi, M., (1998). Paleoenvironment source rock potential and thermal maturity of the Upper Benue rift basins, Nigeria: Implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Organic Geochemistry, 29(1–3), 531–542. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0146-6380(98)00125-9
Benkhelil, J., 1989. The evolution of the Cretaceous Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 8, 251- 282. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-5362(89)80028-4
Batten, D. J. (1980). Use of transmitted light microscopy of sedimentary organic matter for evaluation of hydrocarbon source potential. In Proceedings of 4th International Palynological Conference, 2, 589–594.
Batten, D. J. & Stead, D. T. (2005). Palynofacies Analysis and its Stratigraphic Application. In E. A. M. Koutsoukos (ed), Applied Stratigraphy. Netherland, Springer, 203- 226 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2763-X_10
Chukwuma-Orji, J. N. and Titus, J. (2018). Palynofacies and Thermal Maturity Studies of Kudu-3 Well, Northern/Central Bida Basin, Nigeria Minna Journal of Geosciences (MJG) Volume 6 Number 1&2.
Carter, J. D., Barbar, W., Tait, E. A. and Jones, G. P.,( 1963). The geology of parts of Adamawa, Bauchi, and Borno Provinces in northeastern Nigeria. Geological Survey of Nigeria Bull., 30, 1-108.
Collins, A. (1990). The 1-10 Spore Colour Index (SCI) scale: a universally applicable colour maturation scale, based on graded, picked palynomorphs. Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Dienst, 45, 39–47.
Correia, M., (1969) Contribution a la recherche de zones favorable a la genese du petrole par l’observation microscopique de la matiere organique figure. Revue de l’Institut Francais du Petrole 24, 1417–1454.
Delcaillau, B., Deffontaines, B., Floissac, L., Angelier, J., Deramond, J., Souquet, P., Chu, H.T., Lee, J.F., (1998). Morphotectonic evidence from lateral propagation of an active frontal fold; Pakuashan anticline, foothills of Taiwan. Geomorphology 24, 263–290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(98)00020-8
Dorning, K.J., (1986). Organic microfossil geothermal alteration and interpretation of regional tectonic provinces. Journal of the Geological Society143, 219–220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.143.1.0219
Germeraad, J.H., Hopping, C.A. and Muller, J., (1968). Palynology of Tertiary sediments from tropical areas. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 6:189 348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(68)90051-1
Gutjahr, C.C.M., (1966). Carbonization measurements of pollen grains and spores and their application. Leidse Geolo¬gische Mededelingen 38, 1–29.
Herngreen, G.F.W., (1973). Palynology of Albian–Cenomanian strata of borehole 1- QS-1-MA, State of Maranhão, Brazil. Pollen Spore 15 (3–4), 514–555
Isah Aliyu Goro, Muhammad Bello Abubakar, Shettima Bukar, Wan Hasiah Abdullah (2021) Sedimentology and stratigraphic development of sandy members of Pindiga formation, Gongola Sub-Basin, northern Benue trough, Nigeria: A mixed wave, tide and fluvially influenced coastal system Journal of African Earth Sciences 173 (2021) 104024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2020.104024
Jamiudeen Kayode Raji; Ademola Olabisi Adebowale (2015) Petroleum Source Rock Potential of the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria: Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration Paper presented at the SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria, August 2015. Paper Number: SPE-178348-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/178348-MS DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/178348-MS
Jardin6, S. and Magloire, L., (1965). Palynologie et stratigraphie du Cretac6 des bassins du Senegal et de C6te d'lvoire. M6m. Bur. Rech. Geol. Min., 32:187 245
Jiang, D., Robbins, E.I., Wang, Y., Yang, H.,(2016). Spore/Pollen Fossil Colouration and Petroleum Source Rock Quality. In: Jiang, D., Robbins, E.I., Wang, Y., Yang, H. (Eds.), Petrolipalynology. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 123-127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47946-9_5
Lawal, O., Moullade, M., (1986). Palynological biostratigraphy of Cretaceous sediments in the Upper Benue Basin, N.E. Nigeria (1). Rev. Micropaleontol. 29, 61–83.
M.B. Abubakar, H.P. Luterbacher, A.R. Ashraf, R. Ziedner, A.S. Maigari (2011) Late Cretaceous Palynostratigraphy in the Gongola Basin (Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria) Journal of African Earth Sciences 60 (2011) 19–27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2011.01.007
M.B. Abubakar, E. F. C. Dike, N. G. Obaje, H. Wehner and A. Jauro (2008) Petroleum Prospectivity of Cretaceous Formations in The Gongola Basin, Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria: An Organic Geochemical Perspective on A Migrated Oil Controversy Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 31(4), October 2008, pp 387-408 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.2008.00428.x
Njoh, O. A. & Tembi, A. (2017). Spores and Pollen Colour Changes and Thermal Maturation of Mid-Cretaceous Lacustrine Organic-rich Sediments in the Mamfe Basin, S.W. Cameroon. Journal of Geography and Geology, 9, 22 – 32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jgg.v10n1p22
N. G. Obaje, H. Wehner, M. B. Abubakar and M. T. Isah (2004) Nasara-1 Well, Gongola Basin (Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria): Source-Rock Evaluation Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol. 27(2), April 2004, pp 191 - 206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.2004.tb00053.x
Oboh-Ikuenobe, F. E., Yepes, O., & Gregg, J. M. (1998). Palynostratigraphy, palynofacies and thermal maturation of Cretaceous-Paleogene sediments from the Cote D’Ivoire-Ghana transform margin. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program Results,159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2973/odp.proc.sr.159.016.1998
Pacltov., B. (1961). Zur Fragc cler Gattung Eucalyptus in cler b6hmischen Kreicleformation.
Prestia, 38: 113-129
Staplin, F. L. (1969). Sedimentary organic matter, organic metamorphism, and oil and gas occurrence. Canadian Petroleum Geology, Bulletin, 17, 47 – 66.
Tyson, R. V. (1995). Sedimentary Organic Matter, Organic facies and Palynofacies. 1stedition, Chapman and Hall, 203 – 239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0739-6_1
Vecoli, M., Samuelsson, J., (2001). Quantitative evaluation of microplankton palaeobiogeography in the Ordovician–Early Silurian of the northern Trans European Suture Zone: implications for the timing of the Avalonia–Baltica collision. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 115, 43-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-6667(01)00047-1
Van Hoeken-Klinkenberg, P.M.J., (1964). A palynological investigation of some Upper Cretaceous sediments in Nigeria. Pollen Spores, 6: 209-231.
Whiteman, A, (1982). Nigeria: Its Petroleum Geology, Resources and Potential. Graham and Trotman, London, 381p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7361-9
Copyright (c) 2024 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
