Integrated Geological and Geophysical Mapping for Groundwater Potential Studies at Ekwegbe-Agu and Environs, Enugu State, Nigeria

The study integrates both the geological and geophysical mapping techniques for groundwater potential studies at Ekwegbe-Agu and the environs, Enugu state, Nigeria for optimal citing of borehole. Located in the Anambra Basin between latitudes 6˚43'N and 6˚47'N and longitudes 7˚28'E and 7˚32'E, it is stratigraphycally underlain by, from bottom to top, the Enugu/Nkporo, Mamu and Ajali Formation respectively, a complex geology that make citing of productive borehole in the area problematic leading to borehole failure and dry holes due to inadequate sampling. The study adopted a field and analytic sampling approach, integrating field geological, electrical resistivity and self-potential methods. The software, SedLog v3.1, InterpexIx1Dv.3, and Surfer v10 were employed for the data integration and interpretation. The result of the geological field and borehole data shows 11 sedimentary facies consisting of sandstone, shales and heterolith of sandstone/shale, with the aquifer zone mostly prevalent in the more porous sand-dominated horizons. Mostly the AK and HK were the dominant curve types. An average of 6 geo-electric layers were delineated across all transects with resistivity values ranging from 25.42 - 105.85 Ωm, 186.38 - 3383.3 Ωm, and 2992 - 6286.4 Ωm in the Enugu, Mamu and Ajali Formations respectively. The resistivity of the main aquifer layer ranges from 1 to 500 Ωm. The aquifer thickness within the study area varies between 95 and 140 m. The western and northwestern part of the study area which is underlain mainly by the Ajali Formation showed the highest groundwater potential in the area and suitable for citing productive boreholes.

Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Potential Using AVO Analysis in the FORMAT Field, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

The study involved the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential of FORMAT Field, coastal swamp depobelt Niger delta, Nigeria to obtain a more efficient reservoir characterization and fluid properties identification. Despite advances in seismic data interpretation using traditional 3D seismic data interpretation, obtaining adequate reservoir characteristics at the finest level had proved very challenging with often disappointing results. A method that integrates the amplitude variation with offfset (AVO) analysis is hereby proposed to better illuminate the reservoir. The Hampson Russell 10.3 was used to integrate and study the available seismic and well data. The reservoir of interest was delineated using the available suite of petrophysical data. This was marked by low gamma ray, high resistivity, and low acoustic impedance between a true subsea vertical depth (TVDss) range of 10,350 - 10,450 ft. The AVO fluid substitution yielded a decrease in the density values of pure gas (2.3 - 1.6 g/cc), pure oil (2.3 - 1.8 g/cc) while the Poisson pure brine increased (2.3 to 2.8 g/cc). Result from FORMAT 26 plots yielded a negative intercept and negative gradient at the top and a positive intercept and positive gradient at the Base which conforms to Class III AVO anomaly. FORMAT 30 plots yielded a negative intercept and positive gradient at the top and a positive intercept and negative gradient at the Base which conforms to class IV AVO anomaly. AVO attribute volume slices decreased in the Poisson ratio (0.96 to - 1.0) indicating that the reservoir contains hydrocarbon. The s-wave reflectivity and the product of the intercept and gradient further clarified that there was a Class 3 gas sand in the reservoir and the possibility of a Class 4 gas sand anomaly in that same reservoir.

Simultaneous Waveform Inverse Modelling for Litho-Fluid Prediction in an Old Marginal, “Agbbo”Field, Onshore Niger Delta, Nigeria

Simultaneous waveform inversion was used to predict lithofacies and fluid type across the field. Very often, characterizing reservoirs in terms of lithology and fluid type using conventional methods is replete with uncertainties, especially in marginal fields. An approach is employed in this study that integrated rock physics and waveform inverse modelling for lithology and fluid-type characterization to appropriately identify potential hydrocarbon saturated zones and their corresponding lithology. Seismic and well-log data were analyzed using Hampson Russel software. The method adopted includes lithofacies and fluid content analysis using rock physics parameters and seismic simultaneous inverse modelling. Rock physics analysis identified 2 broad reservoirs namely: HDZ1 and HDZ2 reservoirs. Results from the inverse modelling showed that low values of acoustic impedance from 19,743 to 20,487 (ft/s)(g/cc) reflect hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs while medium to high values shows brine and shale respectively, with brine zone ranging from 20,487 to 22,531 (ft/s)(g/cc) and shale above 22,531 (ft/s)(g/cc). Two lithofacies were identified from inversion analysis of Vp/Vs and Mu-Rho, namely: sand and shale with VpVs 1.95 values respectively. Mu-Rho > 12.29 (GPa)(g/cc) and <12.29 (GPa) (g/cc) represent sand and shale respectively. From 3D volume, it was observed that a high accumulation of hydrocarbon was observed to be saturated at the north to the eastern part of the field forming a meandering channel. Sands were mainly distributed around the northeastern to the southwestern part of the field, that tends to be away from Well 029. This was also validated by the volume of rigidity modulus (Mu-Rho) showing high values indicating sands fall within the northeastern part of the field.

Hydrocarbon Prospectivity and Risk Assessment of “Bob” Field Central Swamp Depobelt, Onshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

This paper evaluates the hydrocarbon prospectivity and play risks of “Bob” field in Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. The aim is to enhance exploration success through improved approach/technique by incorporating risk analysis that previous studies have not fully considered. This approach combines a set of analyses including stratigraphic/structural, amplitude, petrophysical parameter, volumetric and play risk using a suite of well logs and 3D seismic data. Maximum amplitude anomaly map extracted on the surfaces of delineated 3 reservoirs revealed 6 prospects, namely: Dippers, Cranes, Turacos, Nicators, Jacanas and Pelicans with hydrocarbon accumulation. Petrophysical analysis showed ranges of values for porosity, permeability and water saturation of 0.21 to 0.23, 158.96 to 882.39 mD, and 0.07 to 0.11, respectively. The various prospects yielded the following stock tank volumes 12.73, 6.84, 3.84, 11.32, 7.42 and 4.76 Million barrels (Mbls) each respectively in a column of 66 ft reservoir sand in the study area. Play risk analysis results gave: Pelicans and Nicators (low), Turacos and Dippers (moderate), while Jacanas and Cranes show high risk with minimal promise for good oil accumulation. The prospects possess good reservoir petrophysical properties with low to moderate risk, thus, viable for commercial hydrocarbon production, which increases confidence in management decisions for production.

Estimation of Aquifer Transmissivity Using Dar Zarrouk Parameters at Ogbozara-Ekwegbe-Agu and the Environ, Enugu State, Nigeria

This study was undertaken to determine the hydrologic properties of the aquifer materials at Ogbozara-Opi/Ekwegbe-Agu and environs by the estimation of the aquifer transmissivity using Dar Zarrouk parameters. The study area lies in the Anambra basin and is underlain, from bottom to top, by 3 prominent geologic formations;Enugu Formation, Mamu Formation and Ajali Formation respectively. A total of 19 sounding stations were occupied within the study area using the Ohmega resistivity meter. The VES data were interpreted using the conventional partial curve matching technique to obtain initial model parameters which were later used as input data for computer iterative modelling using the Interpex software. These analyses were further combined with information from two existing boreholes in the study area to estimate aquifer hydraulic parameters using Dar-Zarrouk parameters. The layer parameters thus obtained revealed that the dominant curve type obtained from the different formations is the AK curve type followed by the HK curve type. An average of 6 geo-electric layers were delineated across all transect taken with resistivity values ranging from 25.42 - 105.85 Ωm, 186.38 - 3383.3 Ωm and 2992.3 - 6286.4 Ωm in the Enugu, Mamu and Ajali Formations respectively. Results of the study revealed the aquifer resistivity in the study area ranges from 1 - 500 Ωm. The depth to the water table range from 13 - 208 m with a mean value of 76.05, while aquifer thickness varies between 95 and 140 m with a mean value of 102.89 m. The values of the Dar-Zarrouk parameters revealed that the transverse resistance varies between −10,000 - 170,000 Ωm2, while the longitudinal conductance varies from 0.1 - 1 to 1.9 Ω - 1. Similarly, the hydraulic conductivity in the area ranges from 5 to 50 m/day, while the transmissivity values range from 1000 to 14,000 m2/day.

Assessment of the Spectral Decomposition Techniques in the Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Potential of “BOMS” Field, Coastal Swamp Niger Delta, Nigeria

This study employs the different approaches of the spectral decomposition techniques to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the reservoir and analyse to determine the most efficient spectral decomposition technique with better resolution using the “BOMS” Field, coastal swamp depobelt Niger Delta, Nigeria. A good number of drilled wells have failed both in the Niger Delta Basin and other basins due to a poor understanding of the reservoir properties in advance of drilling and identifying the best approach will help to minimize this risk. Seismic and well logs data together with the Hampson Russel 10.3 software were used for the study. The target reservoirs were identified from the suite of well logs at the horizons with low gamma ray, high resistivity, and low acoustic impedance between TVD (ft) of 10,350 - 10,450 ft. The analysis of the amplitude spectrum of the seismic data revealed that the distortion of interest lies between 5 - 60 Hz. Seismic data were then spectrally decomposed into several frequencies such as low frequency (15 Hz), mid-frequency (31 Hz), and high frequency (46 Hz) where distortions were observed. Time- frequency slices of 15 Hz and 23 Hz provided clearer events (potential hydrocarbon sand) indicated by high amplitude envelope (2200 - 2400) and amplitude anomalies. While the amplitude dropped in the mid-frequency (31 Hz), the high amplitude envelope and the high energy completely disappeared in the high (46 Hz) time-frequency slice. A comparison of the Short- time Fourier transform and the Basic Pursuit algorithm revealed that the Basic Pursuit provided a better resolution of the reservoir characteristics than the former. The Red, Green and Blue (RGB) colour blending model indicated that the channel was consistent with the low-frequency section and amplitude anomaly.

Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Reservoir in the “SIMA” Field of Niger Delta Nigeria from Interpretation of 3D Seismic and Petrophysical Log Data

3D seismic and petrophysical log data interpretation of reservoir sands in “SIMA” Field, onshore Niger Delta has been undertaken in this study to ascertain the reservoir characteristics in terms of favourable structural and petrophysical parameters suitable for hydrocarbon accumulation and entrapment in the field. Horizon and fault interpretation were carried out for subsurface structural delineation. In all, seven faults (five normal and two listric faults) were mapped in the seismic section. These faults were major structure building faults corresponding to the growth and antithetic faults in the area within the well control. The antithetic fault trending northwest-southeast and the normal fault trending northeast-southwest on the structural high in the section act as good trapping mechanisms for hydrocarbon accumulations in the reservoir. From the manual and auto-tracking methods applied, several horizons were identified and mapped. The section is characterized by high amplitude with moderate-to-good continuity reflections appearing parallel to sub-parallel, mostly disturbed by some truncations which are more fault related than lithologic heterogeneity. The southwestern part is, however, characterized by low-to-high or variable amplitude reflections with poor-to-low continuity. Normal faults linked to roll-over anticlines were identified. Some fault truncations were observed due to lithologic heterogeneity. The combination of these faults acts as good traps for hydrocarbon accumulations in the reservoir. Reservoir favourable petrophysical qualities, having average NTG, porosity, permeability and water saturation of 5 m, 0.20423, 1128.219 kD and 0.458 respectively.

In Search of Portable Water Supplies within a Brine and Mine Water-Invaded Region for Serving Some Communities around Ishiagu, Afikpo and Environs in Abakaliki Basin, Southeast Nigeria

The study investigates the hydrogeochemical characteristics of some towns in the Abakaliki Basin, comprising, Ishiagu, Aka Eze, Amaseri, Afikpo and Okposi communities, with the aim of sourcing for portable water in the area. The basin is underlain by Albian sediments, essentially shales, in the lowlands, which were affected by low-grade metamorphism that had produced slates. The highlands comprise basic intrusives from episodes of magmatism and metallic ore mineralisation. Injection of brines into the aquifer system and low, seasonal aquifer recharge from rainfall results in poor water quality in the area. The study analyzes the geochemical distribution in water sources in the area and identifies sources of pollutants to guide the better choice of portable water. Results of hydrogeochemical analysis of both surface and groundwater from the communities were compared with World Health Organization to identify portable water locations in the area. While the salt lake at Okposi is the main source of brine intrusion in the study area, the Pb/Zn mine at Ishiagu is the main source of mine-water pollution in the study area. Most chemical parameters, (especially Cl-, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, HCO3-) maintain high concentrations within the salt lake area, with the values declining away from the salt lake. The main anthropogenic source of pollution in the area, especially at Ishiagu, is the indiscriminate surface mining of lead-zinc without proposer waste management practices. Possible sourcing for portable water in the study area includes a deep borehole at Ishiagu, away from lead-zinc intrusives. At the Okposi axis, searching for portable water in boreholes should target shallower aquifers that do not communicate with the deeper-seated brine zones, likewise targeting zones farther away from these brine-invaded areas. A controlled pumping rate could potentially ensure that the cone of depression was not low enough to reach the brine zone at depth. In addition, desalination could also potentially render the salt water drinkable if properly handled to eliminate the high concentration of salts in the water to the level of acceptable limit by the WHO. Based on the study, the best area to target for portable water in the study area is Afikpo, with most geochemical elements naturally occurring within WHO’s standard concentration while portable water could be harnessed in areas further away from mining sites, especially at deep groundwater.