Depositional systems and sequence stratigraphy of late-Oligocene to late Miocene sediments from western Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria: Well-log patterns and palynomorphs perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53704/Keywords:
mfs, sb, Systems tracts, Slope fan, Channel, Nearshore/deltaicAbstract
The Late Oligocene-Late Miocene succession of the Niger Delta Basin contains valuable records of sedimentary evolution, depositional environments, and sequence stratigraphic development. This study integrates lithostratigraphic, palynological, and well-log analyses to reconstruct depositional systems and establish a sequence stratigraphic framework for selected wells within the basin. Lithostratigraphic characterisation, palynological analysis, and gamma-ray well-log interpretation were conducted on sediments from three wells (MTX#1, MTX#2, and MTX#3). We determined age from diagnostic palynomorph assemblages and used variations in palynomorph abundance and diversity, along with log motifs, to identify key stratigraphic surfaces and systems tracts. We identified four principal lithologies: sandy mudstone, argillaceous sandstone, sandstone, and shale/mudstone. Palynological data indicate a Late Oligocene–Late Miocene age (P580–P8650) for the studied succession. Integrating palynological and well-log data enabled recognition of lowstand (LST), transgressive (TST), and highstand (HST) systems tracts. Seven maximum flooding surfaces (26.2 Ma, 24.3 Ma, 22.0 Ma, 19.4 Ma, 15.9 Ma, 7.4 Ma, and 6.0 Ma) and six sequence boundaries (27.3 Ma, 24.9 Ma, 21.8 Ma, 17.7 Ma, 16.7 Ma, and 6.7 Ma) were delineated. Gamma-ray log patterns revealed channel, slope fan, backstepping shoreline, prograding shoreline/delta, and basin-floor fan depositional systems. Palynofloral assemblages were characterised by moderate abundances of mangrove, lowland rainforest, brackish-water, and freshwater swamp taxa. This palynomorph assemblage indicates predominantly delta front depositional environments, whereas sparse occurrences of gonyaulacoid dinoflagellate cysts at selected intervals suggest marine incursions.
References
1. Jervey MT. Quantitative geological modeling of siliciclastic rock sequences and their seismic expression. In: Wilgus CK, Hastings BS, Kendall CGStC, Posamentier HW, Ross CA, Van Wagoner JC, editors. Sea-level changes: an integrated approach. Tulsa (OK): Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists; 1988. Special Publication No. 42. p. 47-69.
2. Posamentier HW, Allen GP. Siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy: concepts and applications. SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology and Paleontology. 1999;(7):210 p.
3. Catuneanu O. Sequence stratigraphy of clastic systems: concepts, merits, and pitfalls. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 2002;35(1):1-43.
4. Blum MD, Womack JH. Climate change, sea-level change, and fluvial sediment supply to deepwater depositional systems. In: Kneller B, Martinsen OJ, McCaffrey B, editors. External controls on deep-water depositional systems. SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology; 2009. Special Publication 95. doi:10.2110/sepmsp.092.
5. Hashmie A, Rostamnejad A, Nikbakht F, Ghorbanie M, Rezaie P, Gholamalian H. Depositional environments and sequence stratigraphy of the Bahram Formation (middle-late Devonian) in north of Kerman, south-central Iran. Geoscience Frontiers. 2016;7(5):821-834. doi:10.1016/j.gsf.2015.07.002.
6. Shamsudin J, Morley RJ. Integrating biostratigraphy with seismic for sequence stratigraphic interpretation in the Malay Basin. In: Petroleum Geology Conference and Exhibition; Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2006. Paper 22. p. 101-102.
7. Garzon S, Warny S, Barta PJ. A palynological and sequence stratigraphic study of Santonian-Maastrichtian strata from the Upper Magdalena Valley basin in central Colombia. Palynology. 2012;36:112-133.
8. Prasad V, Singh IB, Bajpai S, Garg R, Thakur B, Singh A, et al. Palynofacies and sedimentology-based high-resolution sequence stratigraphy of the lignite-bearing muddy coastal deposits (early Eocene) in the Vastan Lignite Mine, Gulf of Cambay, India. Facies. 2013;59(4):737-761. doi:10.1007/s10347-012-0355-8.
9. Tavakoli V. Application of gamma deviation log (GDL) in sequence stratigraphy of carbonate strata: an example from offshore Persian Gulf, Iran. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 2017;156:868-876. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2017.06.069.
10. Maleki-Porazmiani S, Ghasemi-Nejad E, Farmani T. Palynology and sequence stratigraphy of the Albian-Cenomanian strata from the Koppeh-Dagh Basin, northeastern Iran. Geopersia. 2020;10(2):351-365. doi:10.22059/GEOPE.2020.291183.648507.
11. Al-Masgari A, Elsaadany M, Abdul Latiff AH, Siddiqui NA, Hermana M, Imran QS, et al. A guideline for seismic sequence stratigraphy interpretation. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 2021;16(2):165-183.
12. Mansour A, Mohamed O, Tahoun SS, Elewa AMT. Sequence stratigraphy of the Raha Formation, Bakr Oil Field, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: insights from electrical well log and palynological data. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 2018;139:205-221. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.12.009.
13. Jaramillo CA, Oboh-Ikuenobe FE. Sequence stratigraphic interpretations from palynofacies, dinocyst and lithological data of Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene strata in southern Mississippi and Alabama, U.S. Gulf Coast. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 1999;145(4):259-302. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(98)00126-6.
14. Olayiwola MA, Durugbo EU, Fajemila OT. Palynology: a useful tool for biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the late Miocene subsurface sediments from offshore western Niger Delta. Nigeria Journal of Mining and Geology. 2022;58(2):11-28.
15. Fajemila OT, Olayiwola MA, Durugbo EU. Palynostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental analysis of late Miocene-early Pliocene sediments from ML-1 well, Offshore Eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Abhandlungen. 2022;304(2):205-220.
16. Olayiwola MA, Durugbo EU, Fajemila OT, Oyebanjo OM. Sequence stratigraphy of subsurface upper Eocene-lower Oligocene deposits, Dahomey Basin, Southwestern Nigeria: palynological and palynofacies approach. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 2021; 14:1420. doi:10.1007/s12517-021-07693-0.
17. Shivanna M, Singh H. Depositional environment and hydrocarbon potential of marginal marine sediments of Eocene from western India: a palynofacies perspective. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2016;73:311-321.
18. Li L, Wang Y, Liu Z, Zhou N, Wang Y. Late Triassic palaeoclimate and palaeoecosystem variations inferred by palynological record in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, China. PalZ. 2016;90(2):327-348.
19. Moradi M, Moussavi-Harami R, Mahboubi A, Khanehbad M, Ghabeishavi A. Rock typing using geological and petrophysical data in the Asmari reservoir, Aghajari Oilfield, SW Iran. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 2017;152:523-537. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2017.01.050.
20. Vail PR. Seismic stratigraphy interpretation using sequence stratigraphy part 1: seismic stratigraphy interpretation procedure. In: Bally AW, editor. Atlas of seismic stratigraphy. Studies in Geology. New York: American Association of Petroleum Geologists; 1987. Vol. 27(1). p. 1-10.
21. Magbagbeola OA. Sequence stratigraphy of Niger Delta, Robertkiri Field, Onshore Nigeria [thesis]. College Station (TX): Texas A&M University; 2005.
22. Owoyemi AOD. Sequence stratigraphy of Niger Delta, Delta Field, offshore Nigeria [master's thesis]. College Station (TX): Texas A&M University; 2004. 78 p.
23. Ozumba BMP, Dim CIP. Biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the deep offshore Niger Delta and implications for future hydrocarbon exploration in the Paleogene sequences. Interpretation. 2022;10(1):T195-T211. doi:10.1190/INT-2021-0132.1.
24. Doust H, Omatsola E. Niger delta. In: Edwards JD, Santogrossi PA, editors. Divergent/passive margin basins. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir. 1990;48:201-238.
25. Tuttle MLW, Charpentier RR, Brownfield ME. Tertiary Niger Delta (Akata-Agbada) petroleum system (No. 719201), Niger Delta Province, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, Africa. US Geological Survey World Energy Assessment Project. 1999. Available from: http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/energy/World-Energy/OF9950HlChapterA. Accessed 2024 Aug 13.
26. Fatoke OA. Sequence stratigraphy of the Pliocene-Pleistocene strata and shelf-margin deltas of the eastern Niger Delta, Nigeria [PhD thesis]. Houston (TX): University of Houston; 2010.
27. Adegoke OS, Oyebamiji AS, Edet JJ, Osterloff PL, Ulu OK. Cenozoic Foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Niger Delta. In: Adegoke OS, Oyebamiji AS, Edet JJ, Osterloff PL, Ulu OK, editors. Geology of the Niger Delta Basin. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2017. p. 25-66. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-812161-0.00002-8.
28. Evamy BD, Haremboure J, Kamerling P, Knapp WA, Molloy FA, Rowlands PH. Hydrocarbon habitat of the Tertiary Niger Delta. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 1978;62:1-39.
29. Gore PJW. The sedimentary archives. In: Levin HL, editor. The Earth through time. 2005. Chapter 5. 11 p.
30. Faegri K, Iversen J. Textbook of pollen analysis. 4th ed. Faegri K, Kaland PE, Krzywinski K, editors. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons; 1989.
31. Clarke RT. Peregrinipollis nigericus: a new palynomorph from the upper Tertiary of Nigeria. Grana Palynologica. 1996;6(3):540-554.
32. Hopping CA. Palynology and the oil industry. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 1967;2:23-48.
33. Germeraad CA, Hopping CA, Muller J. Palynology of Tertiary sediments from tropical areas. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 1968;6:189-348.
34. Legoux O. Quelques espaces de pollen caractéristiques du Néogène du Nigeria. Bulletin des Centres de Recherches Exploration-Production Elf-Aquitaine. 1978;2(2):265-317.
35. Salard-Cheboldaeff M. Palynologie Maestrichtienne et Tertiaire du Cameroun. Etude qualitative et répartition verticale des principales espèces. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 1979;28:365-388.
36. Oboh FE, Salami MB. Lithostratigraphic and palynostratigraphical studies of Igbomotoru-1 Well, Niger Delta. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 1989;9:531-540.
37. Kassem AA, Raafat A, Radwan AE, El Nahas S, K?dzierski M, Akaria ZA. Paleoenvironment, sequence stratigraphy and source rock potentiality of the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary sediments of Southern Tethys. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2022;139:105624.
38. Adojoh O, Fabienne M, Duller R, Osterloff P. Taxonomy and phytoecology of palynomorphs and non-pollen palynomorphs: a refined compendium from the West Africa Margin. Biodiversity International Journal. 2019;3(5):188-200. doi:10.15406/bij.2019.03.00145.
39. Luke M, Jaramillo C, Oboh-Ikuenobe F. Descriptive systematics of Upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene pollen and spores from the northern Niger Delta, southeastern Nigeria. Palynology. 2023. doi:10.1080/01916122.2023.2200525.
40. Vail PR, Wornardt WW. An integrated approach to exploration and development in the 1990s: well log seismic sequence stratigraphy analyses. In: Transactions of the 41st Annual Convention of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies; Houston, Texas; 1990. p. 630-650.
41. Stuchlik L. Atlas of pollen and spores of the Polish Neogene. Vol. 1, Spores. Kraków: W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences; 2001. 158 p.
42. Adojoh O, Marret F, Duller R, Osterloff P. Tropical palaeovegetation dynamics, environmental and climate change impact from the low latitude coastal offshore margin, Niger Delta, Gulf of Guinea. In: Runge J, editor. The African Neogene: climate, environments and people. Palaeoecology of Africa. 2017. p. 1-38.
43. Sciumbata M, Weedon JT, Bogota-Angel G, Hoorn C. Linking modern-day relicts to a Miocene mangrove community of western Amazonia. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 2021;101(1):123-140. doi:10.1007/s12549-020-00470-z.
44. Rull V. High-impact palynology in petroleum geology: applications from Venezuela (Northern South America). American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 2002;86(2):279-300.
45. Aadland T, Hampson G, Hellan W. A comparison of ancient deltaic shoreline progradation with modern deltaic progradation rates: unraveling the temporal structure of the shallow-marine Blackhawk Formation, Upper Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, USA. Basin Research. 2023;35(2):825-841.
46. Van Wagoner JC, Mitchum RM, Campion KM, Rahmanian VD. Siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy in well logs, cores, and outcrops. AAPG Methods in Exploration Series. Tulsa (OK): American Association of Petroleum Geologists; 1990. No. 7. p. 55.
47. Wescott WA. Channel and valley: difference in word or meaning? The Leading Edge. 1997;6:867-873.
48. Ghinassi M. The effects of differential subsidence and coastal topography on high-order transgressive-regressive cycles: Pliocene nearshore deposits of the Val d'Orcia Basin, Northern Apennines, Italy. Sedimentary Geology. 2007;202(4):677-701.
49. Krapez B. Sequence stratigraphic concepts applied to the identification of basin-filling rhythms in Precambrian successions. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. 1996;43(4):355-380. doi:10.1080/02475099608728260.
50. Krapez B. Sequence-stratigraphic concepts applied to the identification of depositional basins and global tectonic cycles. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. 1997;44(1):1-36. doi:10.1080/02475099708728291.
51. Adegoke OS. High resolution biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy and 3-D modelling: indispensable tools for E and P in the new millennium. Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Bulletin. 2002;16(1):46-65.
52. Nwaezeapu VC, Okoro AU, Akpunonu EO, Ajaegwu NE, Ezenwaka KC, Ahaneku CV. Sequence stratigraphic approach to hydrocarbon exploration: a case study of Chiadu field at eastern onshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology. 2018;8:399-415. doi:10.1007/s13202-017-0405-4.
53. Reijers TJA. Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Niger Delta. Geologos. 2011;17(3):133-162. doi:10.2478/v10118-011-0008-3.
54. Revere A, Raymo ME, Vacchi M, Lorscheid T, Stocchi P, Gómez-Pujol L, et al. The analysis of last interglacial (MIS 5e) relative sea-level indicators: reconstructing sea-level in a warmer world. Earth-Science Reviews. 2016;159:404-427.
55. Okeke KK, Umeji OP. Palynostratigraphy, palynofacies and palaeoenvironment of deposition of Selandian to Aquitanian sediments, southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 2016;120:102-124.
56. Tucker ME, Wright VP. Carbonate sedimentology. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; 1990. 482 p.
57. Ugwuezea CU, Ugwua SA, Ajaegwu NE. Slope fan depositional elements evaluation: implication for reservoir depositional origin in the deep offshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 2019;160:103638. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103638.
58. De Santis V, Caldara M, Pennetta L. “Continuous” backstepping of Holocene coastal barrier systems into incised valleys: insights from the Ofanto and Carapelle-Cervaro Valleys. Water. 2020;12:1799. doi:10.3390/w12061799.
59. Qin Y, Wu S, Betzler C. Backstepping patterns of an isolated carbonate platform in the northern South China Sea and its implication for paleoceanography and paleoclimate. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2022;146:105927. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105927.
60. Opiriyabo IH, Mfonobong JA, Nyakno JG. Reservoir characterization of Gabo field in the Niger Delta Basin using facies and petrophysical analyses. Results in Earth Sciences. 2024;2. doi:10.1016/j.rines.2024.100038.
61. Arochukwu EC, Ugwueze CU, Udom GJ. Depositional facies analysis of coastal to shallow marine deposits in the onshore Niger Delta Basin: accessing the influence of sedimentology and depositional environments on reservoir quality. Scientia Africana. 2023;22(1):335-334.
62. Mmema MM, Adrian JI. Reservoir characterization of a basin floor fan system using rock physics to integrate seismic amplitude and well data, Offshore Block 9, South Africa. Search and Discovery. 2019;Article 42350. doi:10.1306/42350.
63. Chen H, Stow DAV, Xie X, Ren J, Mao K, Gao Y, et al. Depositional architecture and evolution of basin-floor fan systems since the Late Miocene in the Northwest Sub-Basin, South China Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology. 2021;126:104803. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104803.
64. Xiang CF, Xia B, Xie XN, et al. Major hydrocarbon migration pathway system in western slope zone of Songliao Basin. Oil and Gas Geology. 2004;25(2):204-208. Chinese.
65. Fu XF, Wang PY, Lü YF, et al. Tectonic features and control of oil-gas accumulation in the west slope of Songliao Basin. Chinese Journal of Geology. 2007;42(2):209-222. Chinese.
66. Renchen X, Hao L, Guifan L. Incised valley filling deposits: an important pathway system for long-distance hydrocarbon migration: a case study of the Fulaerji Oilfield in the Songliao Basin. Petroleum Science. 2009;6:230-238.
67. Haq BU, Handerbol J, Vail PR. Mesozoic and Cenozoic chronostratigraphy and cycles of sea level changes. In: Wilgus CK, Hastings BS, Kendall CGStC, Posamentier HW, Ross CA, Van Wagoner JC, editors. Sea-level changes: an integrated approach. Tulsa (OK): Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists; 1988. Special Publication No. 42. p. 71-108.
68. Onyekuru SO, Ibelegbu EC, Iwuagwu JC, Essien AG, Akaolisa CZ. Sequence stratigraphic analysis of “XB Field”, Central Swamp Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin, Southern Nigeria. International Journal of Geosciences. 2012;3:237-257.
69. Abiola O, Olowokere MT, Ojo JS. Sequence stratigraphy and depositional sequence interpretation: a case study of “George” Field, offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria. Petroleum Research. 2018;3:25-32. doi:10.1016/j.ptlrs.2017.12.001.
70. Amiewalan FO, Lucas FA. Sequence stratigraphic interpretation of FX-1 and FX-2 wells, Onshore Western Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2020;24(2):303-311. doi:10.4314/jasem.v24i2.17.
71. Jamabo BF, Okengwu KO. Facies and sequence stratigraphic study of Bema Field, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2021;25(12):1987-1999. doi:10.4314/jasem.v25i12.1.
72. Alege TS. Sequence stratigraphic evaluation of sediments domicile in Day Field located in the Onshore Central Swamp Depobelt of the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 2022;26(6):1129-1135. doi:10.4314/jasem.v26i6.20.
73. Amodu A, Oyetade OP, Fadiya SL. Sequence stratigraphic analysis and hydrocarbon prospectivity of AMO Field, deep offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria. Energy Geoscience. 2022;3(1):80-93. doi:10.1016/j.engeos.2021.11.003.
74. Mathews RP, Singh B, Singh H, Singh VP, Singh A. Characterization of Panandhro Lignite Deposits (Kachchh Basin), western India: results from the bulk geochemical and palynofloral compositions. Journal of the Geological Society of India. 2018;91(3):281-289. doi:10.1007/s12594-018-0851-8.
75. Valdon YB, Maigari SA. Palynofacies and sea level changes in the Upper Cretaceous of the Yola Basin, Northern Benue Trough, Northeastern Nigeria. Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2022;8(3b):184-195. doi:10.4314/dujopas.v8i3b.18.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Moshood A. Olayiwola, Dr. Olugbenga T. Fajemila, Mr. F. Ojenabor
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Fountain Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences. Articles in FUJNAS are published on the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0).
