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Lithofacies, stratigraphy, and provenance study of upper sandstone, Blue Nile (Abay) Basin, Ethiopia: insight to the distribution of reservoir facies

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Abstract

The Blue Nile Basin is one of the frontier basins in Ethiopia, where there is very limited sub-surface data to understand the petroleum system of the basin. In frontier basins, only comparative analogs can be used for reservoir studies. The main purpose of the study is to elucidate the importance of facies, stratigraphic, and provenance study to comprehend the nature of the reservoir rock in the Blue Nile Basin. The study reveals the presence of eight lithofacies in the study area. The textural, structural, and compositional data and the general fining-upward sequence of the upper sandstone attest fluvial deposition by braided river system. The presence of the dominant medium-grained quartz arenite with moderate cementation (diagenesis) effect in the upper sandstone is an indication for the existence of good reservoir rock in the basin. The upper sandstone is relatively thinner in the study area, average 75 m, compared to the central part of the basin, average 220 m, and this depicts the geometry of the upper sandstone which pinches out to the north of the basin. Comparison of provenance and cement types of the upper sandstone in the study area and central part of the basin revealed the existence of similar nature of reservoir rock in the basin.

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The data are included in the manuscript, and the remaining data that support the findings of the study are available on request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Department of Geology, for providing laboratory access.

Funding

This research was supported by Addis Ababa Science and Technology University post graduate research fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, P.O Box 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Fetene Tariku, Solomon Kassa & Samuel Getnet

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  1. Fetene Tariku
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  2. Solomon Kassa
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  3. Samuel Getnet
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Correspondence to Solomon Kassa.

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Tariku, F., Kassa, S. & Getnet, S. Lithofacies, stratigraphy, and provenance study of upper sandstone, Blue Nile (Abay) Basin, Ethiopia: insight to the distribution of reservoir facies. Arab J Geosci 17, 163 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11961-0

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