Reservoir characterization and formation evaluation of a “Royal onshore field”, Southern Niger Delta using geophysical well log data

The reservoir properties of three wells in Royal Field, Niger Delta basin was characterized using fundamental formula. The distributions and thicknesses of sand bodies were determined within each of the wells in the field using geophysical modeling software. The quantitative and qualitative analyses were done for the three exploration wells with the depth ranges of 4000-9700m for Royal well 1, 1000-8805m for Royal well 2, and 4000-8000m for Royal well 3. Each well has identified sand units. Royal well 1 and Royal well 2 have 5 sand units (A, B, C, D, E) each, with respective thicknesses 422m, 110m, 92m, 142m and 350m for well 1, and 82m, 65m, 214m, 362m, and 192m for well 2. Royal well 3 has 4 sand units (A, B, C, D), with respective thicknesses 135m, 80m, 269m and 229m. Petrophysical evaluations were made from well logs. The average porosity values obtained for Royal wells 1, 2, and 3 are 0.24, 0.18 and 0.22 respectively while the corresponding average permeability values are 2789mD, 1292mD, 1643mD. Porosity values obtained from porosity logs and density log (RHOB) using porosity formula are found to be within the range of 0.07- 0.45, while their permeabilities range from 164 to 8453 milli Darcy. The water saturation obtained for each reservoir unit in combination with the resistivity index were used to prove the presence of hydrocarbon in these sands. Royal well 2 having its sand A, 80% hydrocarbon saturated and 82m thickness is the most prolific. The results clearly indicate that the application of this technique is very effective for the interpretation of reservoir properties.     

Geochemical characterization of Granitoids in Katchuan Irruan area: further evidence for peraluminous and shoshonitic compositions and post-collisional setting of granitic rocks in the Precambrian Basement Complex of Nigeria

Acta Geochimica - Petrographic studies on Granitoids from Katchuan Irruan and adjoining areas, southeastern Nigeria, has shown that they are garnetiferous biotite granite, aplitic granite,...     

Tectonomagmatic origin of some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift, Nigeria

Petrological and geochemical studies on some volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks from the Lower Benue rift indicate that they are basalts, basaltic and doleritic sills, trachybasalt and trachyte which generally belong to the alkali basalt series. The alkaline affinity is clearly evident in both their normative and modal mineral compositions, as well as their chemical compositions. The generally high fractionation indices [(La/Yb)N] are 7.06 to 17.65 for the basaltic rocks and 23.59 to 135. 35 for the trachytic ...     

Study of aquifer characteristics in northern Paiko,Niger State,Nigeria, using geoelectric resistivity method

Vertical electrical soundings technique was used to evaluate the aquifer characteristics and distribution in the northern part of Paiko in Nigeria. A total of thirty vertical electrical soundings were carried out using ABEM SAS4000 Terrameter, and the data was analyzed both manually and with software (Resist software). The result revealed the aquifer resistivity and thickness to vary from 10.9 to 80,368 Ωm, and 1.06 to 72 m, respectively. Also, hydraulic conductivity ranges from 0.010267 to 41.61928 m/day while transmissivity values range from 0.035215 to 70.09302 m². The hydrogeological maps (hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity image maps) showed the variations of these parameters in the study area and that the southwestern part of the area has prolific aquifer.     

Evaluation of aquifer protective capacity of overburden unit and soil corrosivity in Makurdi,Benue state,Nigeria, using electrical resistivity method

Journal of Earth System Science - This paper presents result of 30 vertical electrical soundings carried out in Makurdi, Benue state capital, north–central Nigeria to evaluate aquifer...     

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Enyigba,southeastern Nigeria

Mining activities have been undertaken for over 95 years in Enyigba area of southeastern Nigeria. In this area, thirty-six (36) trace metals including those that are essential for plant and animal nutrition have been analyzed from forty-nine (49) soil samples that were collected from three Pb-Zn mines. The aim of the analysis is to assess the level of contamination of the soils caused by mining activities. Potentially harmful elements which are commonly associated with Pb-Zn mines were of special interest. Such elements included Pb, Zn, As, Cd, Mn, Fe, Se, Sb, Cu and Bi. Generally, the samples analyzed showed elevated concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu and Cr when compared with concentrations documented in the international agricultural soil standards. Geo-accumulation indices of soils that occur closer to the mines indicate moderate to extreme level of contamination in Pb and moderate levels in Cd. Enrichment factor (EF) showed very high enrichment to extremely high enrichment in Pb. Cd and Zn enrichment were found to be significant and moderate respectively. Conversely, the geo-accumulation indices for soil samples located away from the mines indicate moderate to heavy contamination in Pb but had moderate to significant enrichment in Cd and moderate in Bi and Cr. In general, soil quality all around the mines were found to have deteriorated as revealed by the pollution load index. Thus the results of this study call for immediate remedial measures to be initiated. In addition, miners and local communities living around the mines need to be enlightened about the dangers of exposure to these heavy metal contaminants.     

Mantle electrical conductivity profile of Niger delta region

The mantle electrical conductivity-depth profile of the Niger delta region in Nigeria has been determined using solar quiet day ionospheric current (Sq). The magnetometer data obtained in 2010 from geomagnetic stations installed in Lagos by magnetic dataset (MAGDAS) in 2008 and data from magnetometers installed in some parts of Niger delta by Center for Basic Space Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, were employed in this study. Gauss spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) method was used to separate the internal and external field contributions to Sq current system. The result depicted that the conductivity profile rose steadily from about 0.032 S/m at a depth of 89 km to 0.041 S/m at 100 km and 0.09 S/m at 221 km. This high conductivity region agreed with the global seismic low velocity region, the asthenosphere. The conductivity profile continued increasing downward until it got to 0.157 S/m at a depth of about 373 km (close to the base of upper mantle), 0.201 S/m at 784 km and reached 0.243 S/m at a depth of 1179 km at the lower mantle.     

Petrology and geochemical characteristics of Precambrian granitic basement complex rocks in the southernmost part of North-Central Nigeria

The Precambrian basement complex in the southernmost part of North-Central Nigeria is underlain by migmatitic banded gneisses, granitic intrusions and dykes of dolerite, rhyolite porphyry and pegmatite. The rocks are generally felsic, containing modal and normative hypersthene, as well as normative corundum. The basement complex has experienced high-grade regional metamorphism as indicated by the presence of hypersthene and plagioclase of andesine composition. Anatectic melting is suggested by the occurrence of ptygmatic folds, folded gneissose foliation, numerous quartzo-feldspathic veins and lenses of dark-colured, micaceous schistose rocks. Geochemically, the rocks have magnesian, calc-alkalic and strongly peraluminous characteristics. Their overall characteristics suggest derivation from progressive (fractional) partial melting of pelitic rocks during high-grade regional metamorphism, possibly associated with intense hydrothermal activities. The magnesian characteristics reflect close affinity to relatively hydrous, oxidizing melts and source regions in settings broadly related to subduction.     

Application of electrical resistivity method in estimating geohydraulic properties of a sandy hydrolithofacies: a case study of Ajali Sandstone in Ninth Mile,Enugu State,Nigeria

Geoelectric investigation using vertical electrical sounding (VES) (Schlumberger electrode configuration) was carried out in 14 locations at Ninth Mile area, southeastern Nigeria to determine the variations and interrelationship of some geoelectric and geohydraulic parameters of a sandstone hydrolithofacies. The measured resistivity data were interpreted using manual and computer software packages, which gave the resistivity, depth, and thickness for each layer within the maximum current electrodes separation. The aquifer resistivity values range from 86.56 to 4753.0 Ωm with 1669.40 Ωm average value. The values of water resistivity from borehole locations close to the sounding points range from 79.49 to 454 .55 Ωm and averaging about 264.7 Ωm. Porosity values of the sandy aquifer range from 30.19 to 34.20%. Fractional porosity values range from 0.3019 to 0.3292, while the tortuosity values vary between 2.91 and 22.85. The geohydraulic parameters estimated vary across the study area. Formation factor ranges from 0.28 to 15.29, hydraulic conductivity ranges from 1.21 to 66.54 m/day which, however, influences the natural flow of water in the aquifer while tortuosity values range from 2.91 to 23.27. The contour maps clearly show the variation of these parameters in the subsurface and the plots show their relationship and high correlation coefficients with one another. The results of this study have revealed the geological characteristics of the subsurface aquifer, established the influence on the amount of groundwater, and proposed a strategy for the management and exploitation of groundwater resources in the area and other aquiferous formations.