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Hydrocarbon Generating Potentials of Benue Trough Coals

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Chemistry: The Key to our Sustainable Future

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Abstract

Benue trough is an inland coal bearing basin that has been only lightly explored for petroleum. An organic geochemical analysis of coal samples from Kumo and Lamza in the upper part of the trough and from Lafia-Obi in the lower part was undertaken to assess their hydrocarbon generative potentials. The highest %Ro and Tmax of 0.9–1.1 % and 449–455 °C was found in Lafia-Obi samples, next was Lamza with 0.5–0.7 % and 434–438 °C and Kumo with 0.4–0.6 % and 415–429 °C. The HI of Lafia-Obi, Lamza and Kumo are within the ranges of 136–246 mg HC/g TOC, 184–269 mg HC/g TOC and 167–322 mg HC/g TOC respectively. The Odd-over-Even-Predominance (OEP) values and pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios of the samples suggest that they are dominantly terrestrial in nature and were deposited in an oxic to suboxic environment. Ratios of 20S/(20S + 20R)ααC29 cholestanes, 20S/(20S + 20R)ββC29 cholestanes, βα/(βα + αβ) C30 hopanes, Ts/Ts + Tm C27 hopanes and other maturity parameters suggest that Lafia-Obi is highest in maturity (peak oil window), followed by Lamza (early oil window) and then Kumo (immature).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the German Academic Exchange (DAAD) and European Association of Organic Geochemists (EAOG) for a study fellowship and travel grant to the first author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Petroleum Research and Development (Energy Commission of Nigeria), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, PMB 0248, 740004, Bauchi, Nigeria

    Aliyu Jauro & Muhammad B. Abubakar

  2. Organic Geochemistry Section, GeoForschungsZentrum, Telegrafenberg, 14467, Potsdam, Germany

    Brian Horsfield & Heinz Wilkes

Authors
  1. Aliyu Jauro
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  2. Brian Horsfield
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  3. Heinz Wilkes
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  4. Muhammad B. Abubakar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aliyu Jauro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mauritius Dept of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Minu Gupta Bhowon

  2. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Sabina Jhaumeer-Laulloo

  3. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Henri Li Kam Wah

  4. University of Mauritius Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Reduit, Mauritius

    Ponnadurai Ramasami

Appendix I: Some Chemical Structures Cited

Appendix I: Some Chemical Structures Cited

(a) 17β(H),21β(H)-Hopane

(b) 17β(H),21α(H)-Hopane

(c) 17α(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorhopane (Tm)

(d) 18α(H)-22,29,30-Trisnorneohopane (Ts)

(e) 20R, 24S 5α(H),14β(H),17β(H)-Methylcholestane

(f) 20R, 24R 5α(H),14α(H),17α(H)-Ethylcholestane

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Jauro, A., Horsfield, B., Wilkes, H., Abubakar, M.B. (2014). Hydrocarbon Generating Potentials of Benue Trough Coals. In: Gupta Bhowon, M., Jhaumeer-Laulloo, S., Li Kam Wah, H., Ramasami, P. (eds) Chemistry: The Key to our Sustainable Future. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7389-9_5

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