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Hydrocarbon generative potential of intracontinental sediments of the Babouri-Figuil Basin, Northern Cameroon

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Abstract

Organic-rich sediments constituting part of the Benue trough make up the Babouri-Figuil Basin (Yola-Garoua branch) in Northern Cameroon, which contains organic-rich deposits presumed to be oil shale levels, also known as type I kerogen. A field investigation was done by mapping, and ten (10) shale samples, four marl, and three sandstone samples were utilized in this study. Thin-section petrography was carried out on the sandstones using standard methods. The shales were subjected to total organic content (TOC) determination using LECO as well as Rock–Eval pyrolysis. The sandstones are arkose, with a framework comprising quartz (80%), feldspar (15%), and rock fragment (5%). They are poorly sorted, with cementing material mainly calcite, while the feldspars are more plagioclase. The pore spaces are fair, and the sandstones are fluvial and sourced from the nearby basement rocks. Values of the TOC ranged from 1.37 to 8.82 wt% (av. 5.3 wt %), indicating good-to-excellent source rock quantity to generate hydrocarbon. The hydrogen index (HI) values ranged from 185 to 780 mgHC/g TOC (av. 463.8 780 mgHC/g TOC), and OI ranged from 68 to 29 mg CO2/g TOC (av. of 55.3 mg CO2/g TOC), indicating the organic matter is of mixed sources, deposited under anoxic conditions. Cross plots of HI against OI as well as the remaining hydrocarbon potential (S2) against TOC indicated that the samples are mainly types I and II (oil-prone) kerogen and mixed types II and III (oil- and gas-prone) kerogen, respectively. Tmax values ranged from 424 to 445 ℃ (av. 431.1 ℃). Cross plot of HI against Tmax signifies that the majority of the samples are immature to slightly mature. The calculated vitrinite reflectance ranged from 0.47 to 0.85 (av. 0.6), also signifying immature to mature organic matter status for the shale and lying within the oil window. The shales are immature to mature and of mixed sources. The hydrocarbon generative potential is highly prospective in the basin, while the sandstones could serve as reservoirs.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is part of the first author’s MSc work, and she is thankful to the African Union and Pan African University for the award of this scholarship. The authors are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments, suggestions, and reviews which have greatly enhanced the quality of this paper.

Funding

This work was funded by the African Union through PAULESI (Pan-African University of Life and Earth Sciences (Including Agriculture) Institute, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Pan-African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Etchu Pepcy Enow-Bate

  2. Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Mathew E. Nton

  3. Department of Earth Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    John E. Takem

  4. Department of Geology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

    Ndip Edwin Ayuk

  5. Institute of Mining and Geological Research, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Mbouemboue Nsangou Moussa Ahmed

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  1. Etchu Pepcy Enow-Bate
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Enow-Bate, E.P., Nton, M.E., Takem, J.E. et al. Hydrocarbon generative potential of intracontinental sediments of the Babouri-Figuil Basin, Northern Cameroon. Arab J Geosci 16, 180 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11275-7

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