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Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation of Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene Sediments in the Central Part of Southern Anambra Basin, Nigeria

  • Research Articles
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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The identification of additional hydrocarbon reserves to buffer pressure from increasing energy demands in Nigeria necessitated the application of sequence stratigraphic framework in the analysis of sedimentary successions in the central portion of southern Anambra basin. Wireline logs and biofacies data from three exploratory wells (S-1, S-2 and S-3) were used for the study. The stratigraphy of the study area observed from the three wells showed an overall regressive succession with short-lived transgressions. Lithofacies associations deduced from well log signatures defined four lithostratigraphic units: The Mamu and Ajali formations of kate Maastrichtian age; the Nsukka Formation of kate Maastrichtian — Danian age and Imo Formation of Paleocene age. The study further used the depositional sequence model to identify sequences and accompanying systems tracts that are bounded at the top and bottom by unconformities. Dating of identified key stratigraphic surfaces was achieved by correlating chronostratigraphic biofacies data to third order cycle charts. Correlation across the three wells highlighted spatial distributions of reservoirs and some useful stratigraphic and structural discontinuities that could form hydrocarbon traps. It also showed profitable stratigraphic surfaces that would aid basin-wide correlation for improved horizon(s) mapping and hydrocarbon prospectivity in the Anambra basin. Erosional unconformities identified in the wells that correlated with major drops in global sea level, fingerprinted the influence of eustacy on sedimentation and sequence development. Other factors such as subsidence and sediment supply have direct relationships to the identified structures (faults) which also initiated the accommodation created for sedimentation in the study area.

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Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Port Harcourt and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria for providing the raw data used in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

    Samuel O. Onyekuru, Alexander I. Opara & Ikechukwu O. Njoku

  2. First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, Lagos, Nigeria

    Emmanuel O. Bassey

  3. Southsea Petroleum Services, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Cyril E. Ukaonu

Authors
  1. Samuel O. Onyekuru
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  2. Alexander I. Opara
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  3. Ikechukwu O. Njoku
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  4. Emmanuel O. Bassey
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  5. Cyril E. Ukaonu
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Correspondence to Samuel O. Onyekuru or Alexander I. Opara.

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Onyekuru, S.O., Opara, A.I., Njoku, I.O. et al. Sequence Stratigraphic Interpretation of Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene Sediments in the Central Part of Southern Anambra Basin, Nigeria. J Geol Soc India 93, 713–726 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-019-1250-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-019-1250-5

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