Hydrocarbon Prospect Evaluation from Remote Sensed Data in Parts of Lower Benue Trough (Published)
The search for hydrocarbons in parts of the lower Benue basin has remained comatose because of poor discoveries. The basin has attracted focused attention in the recent because of the continued discovery of commercial hydrocarbons in the contiguous basins of Chad and Niger Republics and Sudan. However, data from drilled wells revealed a number of continuous organic rich stratigraphic intervals with potentials for both oil and gas generation. With the rising global energy demand and uncertainties in supply, explorations are taking new dimensions with the adoption of new technologies. Remote sensing offers an attractive, robust and innovative reconnaissance technique that compliments the geophysical methods in hydrocarbon exploration. In the present study, a satellite image-based analysis was conducted for extracting surface lineaments and terrain attributes for hydrocarbon prospect evaluation in parts of the lower Benue basin. Advanced space borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer global digital elevation model (ASTER GDEM) and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS data were used. Results revealed that lineament distribution, density and orientation vary across the study area. The tectonic highs (escarpment) have high prevalence of lineaments and lineament density than the lowlands/valleys, suggesting a structurally deformed area. The NE-SW is the most dominant lineament orientation and the major tectonic feature that control the structuration of the study area, while NW-SE, N-S and E-W lineament orientations are less dominant. Terrain attributes were partly lineament-controlled and lithological and could be related to the development of petroleum entrapment structures. Hydrocarbon prospect zones were delineated in medium to high lineament density areas, where lineament intersections and connectivity capable of trapping hydrocarbons is high. Therefore, Agwu, Awka, Enugu, Nsukka, Udi and Ukehe located on the escarpment are preferred prospect areas than Adanu, Nkalagu and Igumale in the flanking lowland/valley areas for detailed hydrocarbon exploration. Correlation of lineament density and surface hydrocarbon seepage in parts of the basin, revealed that high lineament density correlates with known location of hydrocarbon seepage in the study, indicating the connectivity of these lineaments with deep seated structures.
Citation: Choko C., Ehirim, C. N. and Ebeniro, J. O. (2022) Hydrocarbon Prospect Evaluation from Remote Sensed Data in Parts of Lower Benue Trough, British Journal of Earth Sciences Research, Vol.10, No.4, pp.7-20
Keywords: Benue Trough, Remote Sensing, escarpment, hydrocarbon, lineament
Hydrocarbon Prospect Evaluation from Remote Sensed Data in Parts of Lower Benue Trough (Published)
The search for hydrocarbons in parts of the lower Benue basin has remained comatose because of poor discoveries. The basin has attracted focused attention in the recent because of the continued discovery of commercial hydrocarbons in the contiguous basins of Chad and Niger Republics and Sudan. However, data from drilled wells revealed a number of continuous organic rich stratigraphic intervals with potentials for both oil and gas generation. With the rising global energy demand and uncertainties in supply, explorations are taking new dimensions with the adoption of new technologies. Remote sensing offers an attractive, robust and innovative reconnaissance technique that compliments the geophysical methods in hydrocarbon exploration. In the present study, a satellite image-based analysis was conducted for extracting surface lineaments and terrain attributes for hydrocarbon prospect evaluation in parts of the lower Benue basin. Advanced space borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer global digital elevation model (ASTER GDEM) and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS data were used. Results revealed that lineament distribution, density and orientation vary across the study area. The tectonic highs (escarpment) have high prevalence of lineaments and lineament density than the lowlands/valleys, suggesting a structurally deformed area. The NE-SW is the most dominant lineament orientation and the major tectonic feature that control the structuration of the study area, while NW-SE, N-S and E-W lineament orientations are less dominant. Terrain attributes were partly lineament-controlled and lithological and could be related to the development of petroleum entrapment structures. Hydrocarbon prospect zones were delineated in medium to high lineament density areas, where lineament intersections and connectivity capable of trapping hydrocarbons is high. Therefore, Agwu, Awka, Enugu, Nsukka, Udi and Ukehe located on the escarpment are preferred prospect areas than Adanu, Nkalagu and Igumale in the flanking lowland/valley areas for detailed hydrocarbon exploration. Correlation of lineament density and surface hydrocarbon seepage in parts of the basin, revealed that high lineament density correlates with known location of hydrocarbon seepage in the study, indicating the connectivity of these lineaments with deep seated structures.
Citation: Choko C., Ehirim, C. N. and Ebeniro, J. O. (2022) Hydrocarbon Prospect Evaluation from Remote Sensed Data in Parts of Lower Benue Trough, British Journal of Earth Sciences Research, Vol.10, No.4, pp.7-20
Keywords: Benue Trough, Remote Sensing, escarpment, hydrocarbon, lineament
Background Geochemistry of Soil In Part of Girei District, Upper Benue Trough, N.E. Nigeria (Published)
Soil geochemical study aimed at determining the background levels of trace and major elements in soils of a relatively small part (MAUTECH Campus) of Girei District has been carried out. The results show that the contents of trace and major elements in the area are generally low and vary by factors ranging from about 3 times (As, V), about 4 times (Ni, W), about 6 times (Cd, Rb, Be), about 10 times (Cr, Ba, Br), about 7 times (Se), about 18 times (Mo), about 30 times (Co) and about 45 times (Pb). The low contents reflect the granites and migmatite gneisses bordering the study area and suggest that the soil was derived from these granites with little contribution from the mafic gneisses. Correlations amongst elements are significant at the probability level of 0.01. Among the major elements; Mg has a strong positive relationship with Ca (0.88), and Al (0.74) while Fe is also strongly related to Al (0.69). Several trace elements have very strong positive relationship with one another: Ba-As (0.91), Be-As (0.93), Be-Ba (0.91), Cs-Ba (0.91), As-Cs (0.85), Cr-Ba (0.85), Cr-Be (0.85), Cs-Be (0.88), As-Ce (0.94) and Cs-Cr (0.86). Mn and Mo are poorly related with most of the trace elements. Among the rare earth elements, Eu is strongly related to Dy (0.98), Gd (0.99) and Lu (0.96) just as Dy is strongly related to Er (0.99), Eu (0.98), Gd (0.98) and Lu (0.98). These strong positive correlations among elements suggest that chemical and physical factors control elements associations in parent materials and soil forming processes. Consequently, the data may serve as a reference standard in the assessment and monitoring of possible future environmental issues related to trace and/or major element contamination
Keywords: Background Geochemistry, Benue Trough, Girei, Nigeria