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Coastal Lowlands pp 181–202Cite as

Development of the Cenozoic Niger Delta in terms of the ‘Escalator Regression’ model and impact on hydrocarbon distribution

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Abstract

A conceptual model known as Escalator Regression has been developed to explain the particular association of stratigraphy, lithofacies and structure in the central area of the Cenozoic Niger Delta. An important factor is the degree of mobility of the underlying overpressured marine shales which move in response to gravity loading of deltaic sediments. A decrease in mobility caused sand/shale sedimentation to be displaced southwards by continental sand deposits under conditions of lowered submergence rates. A succession of transient arcurate depobelts are defined in a step-wise outbuilding of the delta. Stabilisation of depobelts was followed by slower submergence and deposition of blanket fluvial sands.

The northern delta and delta fringes lie outside the central area where the model was developed. The slope of the Niger Delta is characterised by depocentres separated by shale ridges. The bottom of the slope is marked by imbricated toe thrusts. The slope has continuously built up by sediment addition and shale inversion in response to loading, gradually changing from deep to shallow water environments. Cut and fill channel systems can be related to changes in sea level.

Basement lineaments can be projected under the deltaic prism and do not control arcuate depobelt trends, but some subtle controls are interpreted to have been exerted.

Some consequences for hydrocarbon distribution are discussed. Well temperature profiles show that the alluvial sands carry heat away from the top sand shale section very efficiently. The continental sands stabilise a depobelt temperature profile in existence before these sands advance over the depobelt. Thus a particular stratigraphic level shows only a small increase in temperature when buried to a deeper level, which has consequences for the implications of bacterially degraded oil. Hydrocarbon migration begins at least as early as depobelt stabilisation.

The lithofacies relationship to time shows that several depobelts have been tilted in both dip and strike directions since the passage of the base fluvial sand Small angles of tilt (1°–2°) could have caused major spillage of hydrocarbons, resulting in important remigration, thus influencing the final hydrocarbon distribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shell Internationale Petroleum Maatschappij B.V., Postbus 162, 2501 AN, Den Haag, The Netherlands

    Gordon J. Knox & Ebi M. Omatsola

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  1. Gordon J. Knox
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  2. Ebi M. Omatsola
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

    W. J. M. van der Linden

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    S. A. P. L. Cloetingh  & J. Vandenberghe  & 

  3. Nijverdal, The Netherlands

    J. P. K. Kaasschieter

  4. KSEPL, Rijswijk (ZH), The Netherlands

    W. J. E. van de Graaff

  5. Institute of Applied Geoscience, TNO-DGV, Delft, The Netherlands

    J. A. M. van der Gun

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© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Knox, G.J., Omatsola, E.M. (1989). Development of the Cenozoic Niger Delta in terms of the ‘Escalator Regression’ model and impact on hydrocarbon distribution. In: van der Linden, W.J.M., Cloetingh, S.A.P.L., Kaasschieter, J.P.K., van de Graaff, W.J.E., Vandenberghe, J., van der Gun, J.A.M. (eds) Coastal Lowlands. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1064-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1064-0_12

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