Micropaleontological analysis of sixty (62) ditch cuttings rock samples collected from interval, 7800 feet to 12,002 feet of well AD, located offshore western Niger Delta was carried out for the investigation of their age and paleodepositional environment. Standard methods and techniques of foraminiferal sample processing and analysis were followed to disaggregate the microfauna from the rock matrix. The studied interval is predominantly made up of 80 to 100 % sandstone, minor shale and siltstone with variable textural properties. Foraminifera study revealed well preserved and diverse species dominated by the calcareous benthic forms. A total of seventy-four (74) foraminiferal species were recovered among which fifty (52) two are calcareous benthic, six (6) are agglutinating forms while sixteen (16) are planktonic foraminifera. On the basis of the faunal assemblage, abundance and diversity of the important foraminiferal events, four (4) foraminiferal zones (Valvulineria spp, Brizalina mandoroveensis, Hanzawaia concentrica and Lenticulina inornata) were recognised and correlated with F300 and F500 to assign an early to middle Miocene age for the sediments. Paleoenvironmental deductions were based primarily on the richness and diversity of foraminiferal species categories. The presence or absence of planktonic foraminifera aided in deciphering open ocean environments. The dominant biofacies associations recorded within the studied section of Well-AD is the Ammonia beccarii biofacies defined by the rare to common occurrences of Ammonia beccarii, Bolivina scalpratamiocenica, Florilus atlanticus and Epistominella vitrea. Brizalina mandoroveensis species, Lenticulina inornata, Hanzawaia strattoni, Eponides eshira, Cribroelphidium galvestonensis and Hanzawaia concentrica were also in association. The Ammonia beccarii biofacies is indicative of the Shallow/Inner Neritic Paleoenvironment, while the Inner Neritic/Middle Neritic Setting is characterized by top occurrence of Valvulineria spp, a rich continuous occurrence of Epistominella vitrea. The paleoenvironment of the studied section of Well-AD is dominantly inner to middle neritic with concomitant minor incursion of outer neritic setting.
Keywords: Age, Niger-Delta, foraminifera, micropaleontology, neritic, paleoenvironment
