Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sedimentary facies and petrographic analyses of Miocene nearshore deposits, Central Swamp Depobelt, onshore Niger Delta Basin: implications for reservoir quality

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Sedimentary Environments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Integration of core and petrographic thin sections within ca. 84 ft. interval of the Eperon-08 well, onshore Niger Delta, enabled interpretations of depositional environment, age and reservoir quality of the H-4000 reservoir. Sedimentological analysis revealed five lithofacies within the cored section, including cross-bedded fine- to medium-grained sandstone, parallel laminated sandstone, crudely cross-bedded coarse-grained to gravely sandstone, wave-rippled sandy heteroliths and parallel laminated mudstone. Three genetic units were derived by grouping co-occurring lithofacies: coastal plain, fluvial channel, and tidal channel. Occasional Skolithos and Ophiomorpha show mostly rare to moderate bioturbation intensity. Biostratigraphic analysis of 30 core plugs showed the occurrence of sparse planktonic and rich benthic foraminifera such as Catapsydrax dissimilis, Globigerinoides primordius and Hanzawaia strattoni, Nonionella auris and Pseudononion japonicum, respectively. The dominant calcareous nannofossils species were Helicosphaera ampliaperta and Cyclicargolithus floridanus, while the palynoflora is quantitatively dominated by rainforest and brackish swamp species that include Psilatricolporites crassus and Retitricolporites irregularis. An Early Miocene age was inferred using the maker species. Petrographic analysis of 15 thin-section slides showed the samples are poorly consolidated, very fine- to coarse-grained subarkose sandstones, with moderate to good sorting of angular to subrounded grains. Visual estimate of intergranular porosity ranged from ca. 12%–16%, with evident dissolution-induced secondary porosity increasing total porosity to ca. 20%–26%, which generally decreased with increasing matrix content. The preponderance of point and planar grain-to-grain contact types and widespread secondary porosity suggest an eogenetic diagenesis stage for the interval. These results have important implications for reservoir quality and property modelling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The authors do not have permission to share the data used.

Code availability

Not available.

References

  • Adegoke, O. S. (2000). High resolution biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy and 3-D modelling: indispensable tools for E & P activities in the new millennium. NAPE Bullin, 16(1), 46–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adegoke, O. S., Omatsola, M. E., & Salami, M. B. (1976). Benthonic foraminiferal biofacies off the Niger Delta. 1st Internship On Benthic Foraminifera of Continental Margin, Part A. Ecology and Biology Maritime Sediments. Spec. Publications, 1, 279–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adegoke, O. S., Oyebamiji, A., Edet, J. J., Osterloff, P., & Ulu, O. K. (2016). Cenozoic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Niger delta. Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adeniran, V. B. (1998). Stratigraphic distribution of Globigerinoides ruber in the upper middle Miocene to early Pliocene of western Niger Delta Nigeria. Micropaleontology, 1, 173–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J. R. L. (1965). Late Quaternary Niger Delta, and adjacent areas, sedimentary environments and lithofacies. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 49, 547–600.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J. R. L. (1970). Sediments of the modern Niger delta: A summary and review. In J. P. Morgan (Ed.), Deltaic sedimentation, modern and ancient (pp. 138–151). SEPM Special Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anyiam, O. A., Andrew, P. J., & Okwara, I. C. (2017). Assessment of the heterogeneity and petrophysical evaluation of reservoirs in the “Akbar Field”, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 7(4), 1035–1050.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anyiam, O. A., Eradiri, J. N., Mode, A. W., Okeugo, C. G., Okwara, I. C., & Ibemesi, P. O. (2019). Sequence stratigraphic analysis and reservoir quality assessment of an onshore field, Central Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin Nigeria. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 12(24), 791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armentrout, J. M. (1995). High resolution sequence biostratigraphy: examples from the Gulf of Mexico Plio-Pleistocene. In J. A. Howell & J. F. Aitken (Eds.), High resolution sequence stratigraphy: innovations and applications. Geological Society Special Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayowa, O. G., Adagunodo, T. A., Oshonaiye, A. O., & Boluwade, B. S. (2021). Mapping of thin sandstone reservoirs in bisol field, Niger Delta, Nigeria using spectral decomposition technique. Geodesy and Geodynamics, 12(1), 54–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V., Swisher, C. C. & Aubry, M. (1998). A revised Cenozoic Geochronology and Chronostratigraphy. 128–212.

  • Bhattacharya, J.P. & Walker, R.G. (1992) Deltas. In: R.G. Walker, & N.P. James (eds) Facies models: response to sea level change. Geological Association of Canada, St Johns, Newfoundland; 157–178

  • Boggs Jr, S. (2014). Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Pearson Education.

  • Boyd, R., Darlrymple, R., & Zaitlin, B. A. (1992). Classification of clastic coastal depositional environments. Sedimentary Geology, 80(3–4), 139–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buatois, L. A., & Mangano, M. G. (2011). Ichnology: organism-substrate interactions in space and time. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bumby, A. J., & Guiraud, R. (2005). The geodynamic setting of the Phanerozoic basins of Africa. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 43(1–3), 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corredor, F., Shaw, J. H., & Bilotti, F. (2005). Structural styles in the deep-water fold and thrust belts of the Niger Delta. AAPG Bulletin, 89, 753e780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple, R. W., & Choi, K. (2007). Morphologic and facies trends through the fluvial–marine transition in tide-dominated depositional systems: A schematic framework for environmental and sequence-stratigraphic interpretation. Earth-Science Reviews, 81(3–4), 135–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson, W. R., Beard, L. S., Brakenridge, G. R., Erjavec, J. L., Ferguson, R. C., Inman, K. F., Knepp, R. A., Lindberg, F. A., & Ryberg, P. T. (1983). Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 94(2), 222–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dim, C. I. P., Onuoha, K. M., Mode, A. W., Okwara, I. C., & Okeugo, C. G. (2018). Characterizing the middle-upper miocene reservoir intervals of a producing field in the Niger Delta Basin: an application of facies. Sequence stratigraphic and petrophysical Analyses. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-018-3502-x

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Doust, H. & Omatsola, E. (1990). Niger Delta. In: J.D. Edwards, P.A. Santogrossi (eds) Divergent/passive margin basins: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin Memoir 48:239–248

  • Ejedawe, J. E. (1981). Patterns of incidence of oil reserves in Niger Delta Basin. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 65, 1574–1585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekwenye, O. C., Nichols, G., & Mode, A. W. (2015). Sedimentary petrology and provenance interpretation of the sandstone lithofacies of the Paleogene strata, south-eastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 109, 239–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evamy, D. D., Haremboure, J., Kammerling, P., Knaap, W. A., Molly, F. A., & Rowlands, P. H. (1978). Hydrocarbon habitat of the Tertiary Niger Delta. American Associations Petrol Geology Bulletin, 62(1), 1–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folk, R. L. (1980). Petrology of sedimentary rocks. Hemphill Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Germeraad, J. H., Hopping, C. A., & Muller, J. (1968). Palynology of Tertiary sediments from tropical areas. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 6, 189–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gradstein, F. M., Ogg, J. G., Smith, A. G., et al. (2004). Cenozoic time scale (Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequence stratigraphy of European Basins, SEPM Special Publication 60. Cambridge University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardenbol, J., Thierry, J., Farley, M. B., de Gracuabsjt, J. T. P., & Vail, P. R. (1998). Mesozoic and cenozoic sequence chronostratigraphic framework of European Basins. In P. C. De Graciansky, J. Hardenbol, Th. Jacquin, & P. R. Vail (Eds.), Mesozoic and cenozoic sequence stratigraphy of European Basins. SEPM Special Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. D., & Reineck, H. E. (1981). Depositional facies of high-energy beach-to-offshore sequence: comparison with low-energy sequence. AAPG Bulletin, 65(5), 807–830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, J. A., Skorstad, A., MacDonald, A., Fordham, A., Flint, S., Fjellvoll, B., & Manzocchi, T. (2008). Sedimentological parameterization of shallow-marine reservoirs. Petroleum Geoscience, 14(1), 17–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassab, MA, Teama MA, Cheadle BA, El-Din ES, Mohamed IF, Mesbah MA. (2015). Reservoir characterization of the Lower Abu Madi Formation using core analysis data: El-Wastani gas field Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 110, 116–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulke, H. (1995). Regional petroleum geology of the world Part II: Africa, Africa, America Australia and Antarctica (pp. 143–172). Gebruder Borntraeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai, J., & Wang, G. (2018). Deep burial diagenesis and reservoir quality evolution of high-temperature. High-Pressure Sandstones.

    Google Scholar 

  • Legoux, O. (1978). Quelques Especes de Pollen caracteristiques du Neogene du Nigeria. Bull. Cent. Rech. Explor. - Prod. Elf-Aquitane, 2(2): 265–317.

  • Leila, M., Kora, M. A., Ahmed, M. A., & Ghanem, A. (2016). Sedimentology and reservoir characterization of the Upper Miocene Qawasim Formation, El-Tamad Oil Field onshore Nile Delta Egypt. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 9(1), 17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacEachern, J. A., Gingras, M. K., Bann, K. L. and Pemberton, S. G., (2007). The ichnofacies paradigm: high-resolution palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the rock record. In: MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., Pemberton, S.G. (Eds.), Applied Ichnology. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Minerialogists Short Course Notes 52, pp. 27e64.

  • MacEachern, J. A., & Pemberton, S. G. (1994). Ichnological aspects of incised valley fill systems from the Viking Formation of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Alberta. Canada. Special Publication-Society Econ. Paleontologists Mineralogists, 51, 129e129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhavaraju, J., Lee, Y. I., Armstrong-Altrin, J. S., & Hussain, S. M. (2006). Microtextures on detrital quartz grains of upper Maastrichtian-Danian rocks of the Cauvery Basin, Southeastern India: Implications for provenance and depositional environments. Geosciences Journal, 10(1), 23–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchand, A. M., Apps, G., Li, W., & Rotzien, J. R. (2015). Depositional processes and impact on reservoir quality in deepwater Paleogene reservoirs US Gulf of Mexico. AAPG Bulletin, 99(9), 1635–1648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martini, E. (1971). Standard tertiary and quaternary calcareous nannoplankton zonation. In: Farinacci, A. (ed.) Proceedings II Planktic Conference, Rome, 2, 739–785.

  • Martinius, A. W., & Van den Berg, J. H. (2011). Atlas of sedimentary structures in estuarine and tidally-influenced river deposits of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt system (p. 298). EAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miall, A. D. (2000). Facies analysis. In principles of sedimentary basin analysis (pp. 141–248). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchum, R. M. Sangree, J. B., Vail, P. R. & Wornardt, W. W. (1990). Sequence Stratigraphy in Late Cenozoic Expanded Sections, Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Coast SEPM, Eleventh Annual Research Conference, 237–256.

  • Mode, A. W., Anyiam, O. A., & Omuije, J. O. (2014). Analysis of sedimentary facies and paleo-depositional environments of the DC70X reservoir in Mbakan field of the central swamp Niger Delta. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1690-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mode, A. W., Anyiam, O. A., & John, S. I. (2017). Depositional environment and reservoir quality assessment of the ‘“Bruks Field”,’ Niger Delta. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-017-0346-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Momta, P. S., Omoboh, J. O., & Odigi, M. I. (2015). Sedimentology and depositional environment of D2 sand in part of Greater Ughelli Depobelt, Onshore, Niger Delta Nigeria. American Journal of Engineering Application Science, 8(4), 556–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W. (2001). The niche of benthic foraminifera, critical thresholds and proxies. Marine Micropaleontology, 41(1–2), 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, G. (2009). Sedimentology and stratigraphy. John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuţu-Dragomir, M. L. (2016). Diagenetic history of Lower Miocene sandstones within the Subcarpathian nappe, East Carpathians (Romania). In SGEM 2016 Conference Proceedings (pp. 141–152).

  • Onayemi, J., & Oladele, S. (2014). Analysis of facies and depositional systems of ‘Ray’ Field, onshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. In SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2014 (pp. 2724–2728). Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

  • Ozumba, B. M. (1999). Middle to late miocene sequence stratigraphy of the Western Niger Delta. NAPE Bulletin, 14(2), 176–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quin, J. G. (2011). Is most hummocky cross-stratification formed by large-scale ripples? Sedimentology, 58(6), 1414–1433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reijers, T. J. A. (2011). Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Niger Delta. Geologos, 17(3), 133–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reijers T. J. A. (1996). Selected chapters on geology-sedimentary geology and sequence stratigraphy in Nigeria. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Corporate Reprographic services, Warri. 87–90

  • Rossetti, D. F., & Santos Júnior, A. E. (2004). Facies architecture in a tectonically influenced estuarine incised valley fill of Miocene age, northern Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 17(4), 267e284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, M. (2009). Deltaic reservoirs, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 91. In M. Shepherd (ed), Oil field production geology pp. 279–288.

  • Siddiqui, N. A., Rahman, A. H. A., Sum, C. W., Yusoff, W. I. W., & Ismail, M. (2017). Shallow-marine sandstone reservoirs, depositional environments, stratigraphic characteristics and facies model: a review. Journal of Applied Sciences, 17(5), 212–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southard, J. B. (1991). Experimental determination of bed-form stability. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 19(1), 423–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stacher, P. (1994). Niger delta hydrocarbon habitat Niger. Association of Petroleum Explorationists Bull, 9(10), 67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacher, P. (1995). Present understanding of the Niger Delta hydrocarbon habitat. In M. N. O. G. Postma (Ed.), Geology of deltas (pp. 257–267). AA Balkema Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, K. J.; Daukoru, E. M. (1975). Petroleum geology of the Niger Delta. In: Proceedings of the 9th world petroleum congress, geology. Applied Science Publishers Ltd, London 2, 210–221

  • Worden, R. H., & Burley, S. D. (2003). Sandstone diagenesis: the evolution of sand to stone. Sandstone Diagenesis: Recent and Ancient, 4, 3–44.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the management of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the provision of the dataset used in this study and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for providing support. The authors wish to appreciate the Editor-in-chief, Dr Maria Virginia Alves Martins and the two anonymous reviewers for their inputs that greatly improved the paper.

Funding

The authors did not have any funding for this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Joseph Nanaoweikule Eradiri, Ehimare Erhire Odafen, Ikenna Christopher Okwara, Ayonma Wilfred Mode, Okwudiri Aloysius Anyiam, Ngozi Augustina Ulasi & Maryanna Ijeoma Umeadi

Authors
  1. Joseph Nanaoweikule Eradiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ehimare Erhire Odafen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ikenna Christopher Okwara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ayonma Wilfred Mode
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Okwudiri Aloysius Anyiam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ngozi Augustina Ulasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Maryanna Ijeoma Umeadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ehimare Erhire Odafen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interests.

Additional information

Communicated by S. H. de Mello Sousa

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Eradiri, J.N., Odafen, E.E., Okwara, I.C. et al. Sedimentary facies and petrographic analyses of Miocene nearshore deposits, Central Swamp Depobelt, onshore Niger Delta Basin: implications for reservoir quality. J. Sediment. Environ. 6, 665–680 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-021-00076-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-021-00076-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation