AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN THE EASTERN COASTAL SWAMP DEPOBELT OF THE NIGER DELTA BASIN, NIGERIA

Communications in Physical Sciences Vol. 2. No. 1, 35-49. (2017) Authors: Chidozie Izuchukwu Princeton DIM., K. Mosto ONUOHA and Chukwudike Gabriel OKEUGO Sequence stratigraphic, structural and reservoir analytical tools have been employed in interpreting the geology of the eastern Coastal Swamp Depobelt of the Niger Delta Basin. The aim was to understand the stratigraphic framework, structural styles and hydrocarbon reservoir distribution for improved regional hydrocarbon exploration across the onshore Niger Delta basin. This interpretative study made use of well logs, biostratigraphic (biofacies and bio-zonation) and petrophysical data obtained from twenty wellbores, integrated with recently merged and reprocessed 3D regional seismic volume spanning across eight fields. Results reveal the occurrence of nine key chronostratigraphic surfaces (five maximum flooding surfaces and four sequence boundaries) that were tied to well-established pollen and foram bio-zones for high resolution sequence stratigraphic interpretation. The sediment stacking patterns recognized from gamma ray log signatures were used in delineating the lowstand system tract (LST), transgressive system tract (TST) and highstand system tract (HST) genetic units. Well log sequence stratigraphic correlation reveals that stratal packages within the area were segmented into three depositional sequences occurring from middle to late Miocene age. Furthermore, there is thickening of stratal packages with corresponding decrease in net-to-gross thickness from north to south (basinwards). This is due possibly to the influence of syn-depositional structures on stratigraphy. The combination of reservoir sands (of LST and HST), source and seal shales (of TST and HST) and fault structures allows for good hydrocarbon accumulation and should be targeted during exploration. Reservoir evaluation studies using petrophysical parameters indicate the presence of good quality reservoir intervals, which are laterally continuous across several fields and partly compartmentalized within individual fields. Structural top maps of reservoirs show good amplitude response that are stratigraphically and structurally controlled. Structural analysis revealed the occurrence of back-to-back faulting, collapsed crest structures, simple/faulted rollovers, regional foot wall and hanging wall closures and sub-detachment structures. These structural styles constitute the major hydrocarbon entrapment mechanism in the area. Overall, the study has unraveled the existence of undrilled hydrocarbon leads at deeper depths that should be further revalidated for development. &nbsp

Understanding reservoir heterogeneity using variography and data analysis: an example from coastal swamp deposits, Niger Delta Basin (Nigeria)

For efficient reservoir management and long-term field development strategies, most geologists and asset managers pay special attention to reservoir chance of success. To minimise this uncertainty, a good understanding of reservoir presence and adequacy is required for better ranking of infill opportunities and optimal well placement. This can be quite challenging due to insufficient data and complexities that are typically associated with areas with compounded tectonostratigraphic framework. For the present paper, data analysis and variography were used firstly to examine possible geological factors that determine directions in which reservoirs show minimum heterogeneity for both discrete and continuous properties; secondly, to determine the maximum range and degree of variability of key reservoir petrophysical properties from the variogram, and thirdly, to highlight possible geological controls on reservoir distribution trends as well as areas with optimal reservoir quality. Discrete properties evaluated were lithology and genetic units, while continuous properties examined were porosity and net-to-gross (NtG). From the variogram analysis, the sandy lithology shows minimum heterogeneity in east-west (E–W) and north-south (N–S) directions, for Upper Shoreface Sands (USF) and Fluvial/Tidal Channel Sands (FCX/TCS), respectively. Porosity and NtG both show the least heterogeneity in the E–W axis for reservoirs belonging to both Upper Shoreface and Fluvial Channel environments with porosity showing a slightly higher range than NtG. The vertical ranges for both continuous properties did not show a clear trend. The Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS) and Object modelling algorithm were used for modelling the discrete properties, while Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS) was used for modelling of the continuous properties. Results from this exercise show that depositional environment, sediment provenance, topographical slope, sub-regional structural trends, shoreline orientation and longshore currents, could have significant impacts on reservoir spatial distribution and property trends. This understanding could be applied in reservoir prediction and for generating stochastic estimates of petrophysical properties for nearby exploration assets of similar depositional environments

Book Review: The Niger Delta: An Environmental Perspective

Book Title: The Niger Delta: An Environmental Perspective Book Authors: Enuvie G. Akpokodje, Co-Editor Abi Derefeka (Eds.) Onyoma Research Publications, Port Harcourt, 2020, 288pp. ISBN 978-978-8195-84-9

Assessment of the interval heat flow and thermal resistance at the Faltu-1 well, Borno basin, NE Nigeria

The heat flowing through horizons in the Faltu-1 well, Borno Basin, NE Nigeria was calculated from their thermal conductivities and geothermal gradients with the aim of determining whether or not it is uniform, and if not, the depths where it is diverted, and the possible heat diversion process. The interval heat flow was assessed to be non-uniform. While fluid convection is adjudged to be the major heat diversion mechanism within the Chad Formation with minor heat refraction, the reversed is adjudged to be the situation for the underlying Kerri Kerri Formaton within which increasing sand content with depth is also predicted, with the lower interval predicted to be the Gombe Formation. Patterns of disruptions to the vertical heat flow within the Fika Formation were inferred to suggest rhythmic bedding of shale and sand beds that could serve as both source and reservoir rocks. Magmatic intrusions that impacted the maturation of organic matter into oil and gas also provided necessary entrapment structures and possible migration pathways. The Gongila and Bima Formations each has single disruption of the heat flows that are attributed to refraction. In the case of the Gongila Formation, the disruption is between the early-deposited more sandy and laterdeposited more shaley lithologies in the marine transgression of the area, while in the case of the Bima, it is between the more shaley Upper and more sandy Middle Bima Formations. Analysis of the Bullard plots also revealed disruptions to the vertical heat flow that are attributed either to convecting fluids or to heat refraction and diffraction. Two such disrupting heat advections were identified within the Chad Formation with the first being attributed to convection, while the other is attributed to a combination of both. Two similar disruptions for the Kerri Kerri Formation were attributed largely to lithological variations with minor contributions from convection of fluids. While unable to discern the rhythmic bedding, the five disruptions of the Bullard plot for the Fika Formation and one each for the Gongila and Bima Formations were interpreted to indicate similar features inferred from interval heat flow plots. Keywords: Interval heat flow, heat convection, heat diffraction, thermal resistivity, shalines

Highlighting relationships between sand thicknesses, reservoir-seal pairs and paleobathymetry from a sequence stratigraphic perspective: An example from Tortonian Serravallian deposits, onshore Niger Delta Basin

The utilization of sequence stratigraphic concepts in identifying sands and their spatial continuity in distinct gross depositional settings is key, especially in frontier settings where data paucity is a common challenge. In the Baka field, onshore Niger Delta, detailed reservoir correlation guided by sequence stratigraphic framework analysis showed the distribution of sand and shale units constituting reservoir-seal pairs (RSP) correlatable across the field. Within the 3rd-order packages, it is observed that the lowstand systems tract (LST) and highstand systems tract (HST) contain more RSPs and thicker 4th- and 5th-order sands than the transgressive systems tract (TST). In terms of bathymetry, it is noted that irrespective of systems tracts, the RSP Index (RI) decreases from the proximal shallow/inner shelf settings to the more distal outer shelf areas. Amongst all three systems tracts, intervals interpreted as lowstand prograding complexes contain the best developed sands and highest RSP. Sand development within the LSTs has been controlled by a pronounced growth fault regime accompanied by high subsidence and sedimentation rates. This is linked to the basinward migration of the sands during prolonged sea-level fall, creating significant accommodation space for sand deposition. On the other hand, the TSTs known to mark periods of progressive sea-level rise and landward migration of sandy facies, show thinner sands enclosed in much thicker, laterally extensive, and better-preserved deeper marine shales. Interpreted seismic sections indicate intense growth faulting and channelization that influenced the syn- and post-depositional development of the sand packages across the field. The initial timing of deformation of sub-regional faults in this area coincides with periods of abrupt falls in sea level. This approach could be useful for predicting sand-prone areas in frontier fields as well as possible reservoir-seal parameters required for some aspects of petroleum system analysis and quick-look volume estimation

Understanding reservoir heterogeneity using variography and data analysis: an example from coastal swamp deposits, Niger Delta Basin (Nigeria)

For efficient reservoir management and long-term field development strategies, most geologists and asset managers pay special attention to reservoir chance of success. To minimise this uncertainty, a good understanding of reservoir presence and adequacy is required for better ranking of infill opportunities and optimal well placement. This can be quite challenging due to insufficient data and complexities that are typically associated with areas with compounded tectonostratigraphic framework. For the present paper, data analysis and variography were used firstly to examine possible geological factors that determine directions in which reservoirs show minimum heterogeneity for both discrete and continuous properties; secondly, to determine the maximum range and degree of variability of key reservoir petro-physical properties from the variogram, and thirdly, to highlight possible geological controls on reservoir distribution trends as well as areas with optimal reservoir quality. Discrete properties evaluated were lithology and genetic units, while continuous properties examined were porosity and net-to-gross (NtG). From the variogram analysis, the sandy lithology shows minimum heterogeneity in east-west (E–W) and north-south (N–S) directions, for Upper Shoreface Sands (USF) and Fluvial/Tidal Channel Sands (FCX/TCS), respectively. Porosity and NtG both show the least heterogeneity in the E–W axis for reservoirs belonging to both Upper Shoreface and Fluvial Channel environments with porosity showing a slightly higher range than NtG. The vertical ranges for both continuous properties did not show a clear trend. The Sequential Indicator Simulation (SIS) and Object modelling algorithm were used for modelling the discrete properties, while Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS) was used for modelling of the continuous properties. Results from this exercise show that depositional environment, sediment provenance, topographical slope, sub-regional structural trends, shoreline orientation and longshore currents, could have significant impacts on reservoir spatial distribution and property trends. This understanding could be applied in reservoir prediction and for generating stochastic estimates of petrophysical properties for nearby exploration assets of similar depositional environments