PETROLEUM GEOLOGY OF NIGER

DELTA

BY: HAMMED, TOHEEB OLAMIDE

125/21/1/0153
 INTRODUCTION
• The Niger Delta Basin is situated in southern Nigeria, extending the
Gulf of Guinea. Flanked by the Benin flank to the west, the
Calabar flank to the east, and the Cameroon volcanic line to the
southeast.

• It covers an area of approximately 75,000 square kilometers

• Oil exploration began in the Niger Delta in the early 20 th century.
• The first commercial oil discovery was made by Oloibiri in 1956
by Shell-BP and since then, the region has seen extensive exploration
and production activities.
GEOLOGIC MAP OF NIGER DELTA
 OVERVIEW OF REGIONAL GEOLOGY OF
THE NIGER DELTA

Geological Evolution
• Tectonic Framework:
The Niger Delta Basin is a rift basin formed during the
Cretaceous period.

Resulted from the separation of the South American and

African plates during the breakup of Gondwana.

The basin evolved from a passive continental margin to a

deltaic system influenced by sedimentary processes.

Sedimentary Processes:
The Niger Delta is a wave-dominated delta formed by the
deposition of sediments carried by the Niger and Benue Rivers.

The deltaic system has prograded seaward over millions of

years, leading to the accumulation of thick sedimentary
sequences.
STRATIGRAPHY

1. AKATA FORMATION:
Age: Paleocene to Recent.
Composition: Marine shales, clays, and silts.
Significance: Source rock for hydrocarbons; acts as a seal in deeper
sections.
2. AGBADA FORMATION:
Age: Eocene to Recent.
Composition: Alternating sandstones and shales.
Significance: Main reservoir rock; characterized by excellent porosity
and permeability.
3.BENIN FORMATION:
Age: Oligocene to Recent.
Composition: Continental sands, gravels, and occasional clays.
Significance: Predominantly non-marine; forms the uppermost part of
the delta.
Formation Process of the Niger Delta Basin

Introduction
• The Niger Delta Basin is a classic example of a sedimentary
basin formed by the interaction of tectonic and sedimentary
processes over millions of years.
• Its formation is closely tied to the breakup of Gondwana, rifting,
and the subsequent deposition of large volumes of sediment
from the Niger and Benue rivers.

Tectonic Setting
• Rifting and Breakup of Gondwana:
• The initial rifting and separation of the African and South
American plates during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
marked the beginning of the basin's formation.
• This rifting led to the creation of a series of rift basins along the
West African margin.

• Passive Margin Development:

• As rifting progressed, the Niger Delta Basin transitioned to a
passive margin setting.
• The basin began to subside, creating accommodation space for
thick sedimentary sequences
Sediment Deposition
Fluvial and Deltaic Sedimentation:
• The Niger and Benue rivers transported vast amounts of sediments
from the interior of Africa to the Atlantic margin.
• Over time, these sediments built up the deltaic sequences that
characterize the Niger Delta.

• Propagation of the Delta:

• The delta prograded seaward through continuous deposition,
forming distinct depositional environments from the continental shelf
to the deep marine.
• This process created a complex stratigraphy with interbedded sands,
shales, and silts.
 PETROLEUM SYSTEMS
1.Source Rocks
Akata Formation:
• Dominantly marine shales with high organic content.
• Rich in Type II (oil-prone) and Type III (gas-prone) kerogen.
• Adequate thermal maturity for hydrocarbon generation.
Hydrocarbon Generation:
• The Akata Formation generates both oil and gas, primarily
through thermal cracking of organic matter.

2.Reservoir Rocks
Agbada Formation:
• Consists of alternating sandstones and shales.
• Sandstones are the primary reservoirs with excellent porosity
and permeability.
Secondary Reservoirs:
• Minor reservoir potential in turbidite sandstones within the
Akata Formation.
3.Seal Rocks
Agbada Formation Shales:
• Shales within the Agbada Formation serve as effective seals for the
underlying reservoirs.
Akata Formation:
• Marine shales also act as regional seals, particularly in deeper sections.
Sealing Mechanisms:
• Effective vertical and lateral seals are provided by thick shale
sequences.

4.Traps
Structural Traps:
• Growth faults: Major structural traps formed by syndepositional
faulting.
• Roll-over anticlines: Created by movement along growth faults,
providing excellent trapping mechanisms.
Stratigraphic Traps:
• Pinch-outs, unconformities, and depositional facies changes create
stratigraphic traps.
Combination Traps:
• Many hydrocarbon accumulations result from a combination of
structural and stratigraphic trapping mechanisms.
5.Migration Pathways
Primary Migration:
• Movement of hydrocarbons from source rocks (Akata Formation) to
carrier beds.
Secondary Migration:
• Hydrocarbons migrate through porous sandstones of the Agbada
Formation.
• Faults and fractures serve as additional migration pathways
GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF NIGER
DELTA
1.Growth Fault Systems
Formation:
• Growth faults are syndepositional faults that formed
contemporaneously with sediment deposition.
• These faults are caused by differential loading and gravity
sliding due to rapid sediment accumulation.

Characteristics:
• Typically listric (curved) in shape, flattening with depth.
• Commonly associated with roll-over anticlines and fault-
bounded structural traps.

Importance:
• Create accommodation space for sediments, influencing
sediment distribution.
• Serve as major conduits for hydrocarbon migration and
form structural traps.
2.Roll-Over Anticlines
Formation:
• Formed by the displacement along growth faults, causing the hanging wall
block to bend and create an anticline.
Characteristics:
• Found above growth faults, these structures provide excellent trapping
mechanisms.
Importance:
• Major sites for hydrocarbon accumulation due to their structural
configuration.
•
3.Shale Diapirs
Formation:
• Result from the upward movement of overpressured, ductile shale layers
(typically from the Akata Formation) into overlying sediments.
Characteristics:
• Shale diapirs can pierce through overlying formations, forming diapiric
structures.
• They can deform surrounding strata, creating additional traps
Importance:
• Impact hydrocarbon migration pathways and create complex structural
traps.
4.Toe Thrusts
Formation:
• Formed at the distal parts of the delta, where sediments are compressed and
thrusted due to gravity sliding and basinward extension.
Characteristics:
• Thrust faults that often form imbricate stacks and fault-bend folds
Importance:
• Can create significant structural traps and influence sedimentary patterns.
 Notable Discoveries and Fields in the Niger
Delta Basin

Oloibiri Field
• Discovery: 1956
• Significance: First commercial oil discovery in Nigeria, marking
the beginning of the country's oil industry.
• Operator: Shell-BP

Bonga Field
• Discovery: 1996
• Production Start: 2005
• Operator: Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company
(SNEPCo)
• Significance: Nigeria's first deepwater oil field, located in water
depths of over 1,000 meters.
• Reserves: Estimated recoverable reserves of over 1 billion
barrels of oil.
 CONCLUSION
The future of petroleum geology in the Niger Delta Basin is
promising, with numerous opportunities for exploration and
production.

Technological advancements, regulatory reforms, and a focus on

sustainability will shape the future landscape.

Continued investment in exploration, innovative technologies, and

environmental stewardship will ensure the long-term viability of the
Niger Delta as a key petroleum province.

THANK YOU