Depositional Facies and Sequence Stratigraphic Study in Parts of Benin (Dahomey) Basin SW Nigeria: Implications on the Re-Interpretation of Tertiary Sedimentary Successions

Detailed fieldwork in parts of the Benin (Dahomey) Basin SW, Nigeria has allowed the recognition of sedimentary successions deposited in different continental depositional environments interpreted as fluvial sedimentation characterised by abandoned channels and subaerial exposure features. The lithofacies recognised are: conglomerates, debris flow deposits, very coarse grained sandstone, ferruginous cross bedded sandstone, siltstone, shale/clay and massive sand. The lithofacies were interpreted in terms of sequence stratigraphic elements with the recognition of sequence boundaries characterised by distinct facies dislocations and subaerial exposures. Four depositional sequences (DS I to DS IV) were identified. Depositional sequences (DS I) exhibited a complete regressive–transgressive cycle comprising LST, TST and HST, while DS II to DS IV were incomplete comprising of sediments interpreted as LST deposits. On the basis of the depositional facies and sequence stratigraphic elements, the sediments in the area of study are interpreted as predominantly of Ilaro Formation while fewer exposures are sediments of the Coastal Plain Sands/ Benin Formation. This observation suggests a re-interpretation of the Tertiary sedimentary successions, which hitherto recognised all the sediments in the area of study as Coastal Plain Sands.

Depositional facies and reservoir characteristics of the Early Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation,Lower Indus Basin Pakistan:Integration of petrographic and gamma-ray log analysis

The sand intervals of the Early Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation are a conventional reservoir,generally distributed in the Middle and Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan.Lithostratigraphically formation is classified into two parts;the upper parts are predominantly composed of shale,siltstone,and thin layers of alternate shale and sandstone,while the lower parts are composed of sandstone with interlayering of shale and limestone.The sandstone of the Lower Goru Formation has been further divided into A,B,C,and D sand intervals based on reservoir quality.Detailed depositional facies and reservoir characteristics are essential for the evaluation of hydrocarbon exploration and development.This paper aims to evaluate the depositional environment and reservoir characterization of the siliciclastic reservoir of the Early Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation by integrating the gamma-ray log patterns and petrographic analysis and scanning electron microscopic(SEM)analysis.Petrographic characterization of the sand intervals and Gamma-ray log signatures were used for the interpretation of the depositional environment of the reservoir intervals.Petrographic analysis reveals that the sandstone of the Lower Goru Formation is fine-to medium-grained,well-sorted,arkose or feldspathic arenite.Primary intergranular macroporosity,secondary intragranular macropores,and Intercrystalline micropores were identified within the sandstone by the SEM analysis.The diagenetic analysis suggests that the sandstone possesses high porosity,low permeability,and has undergone significant alterations such as compaction,quartz cementation,feldspar dissolution,and clay minerals alteration.Five electrofacies are interpreted based on gamma-ray log patterns including(1)funnel shape(FA);(2)bell shape(FB);(3)cylindrical shape(FC);(4)bow shape(FD);and(5)serrated shape(FE)patterns.The interpreted facies results reveal shoreface environment for A-sand,Tidal flat for B-sand,mixed tidal flat for C sand,Tide dominated mixed for D-sand,and transgressive shelf for Esand.The present study will be helpful for the assessment of the reservoir quality of the Early Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation for further exploration and development in the Indus Basin of Pakistan.

Platform Evolution in an Oligo-Miocene Back-arc Basin:An Example from the Central Iran Basin

The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation consists of a variety of carbonate and non-carbonate facies deposited on a platform ranging from supratidal to basin.A combination of tectonic and eustatic events led to some lateral and vertical facies variations in the study area.Six third-order depositional sequences and related surfaces were identified regarding vertical facies changes in the studied sections of this Oligo-Miocene succession.According to all results and data,this succession was initially deposited during the Chattian upon a distally steepened ramp of siliciclastic-carbonate composition,including the Bouma sequence.Then,from the late Chattian to the Aquitanian,the platform changed into a homoclinal carbonate ramp with a gentle profile.With respect to tectonic activity,this phase was a calm period during the deposition of the Qom Formation.Finally,a drowned carbonate platform and a rimmed shelf emerged during the Burdigalian,terminated by the continental deposits of the Upper Red Formation.Regarding all geological characteristics,three main tectono-eustatic evolutionary phases have been recognized in the Qom back-arcbasin.

The Coexisting Clinopyroxene-Garnet Acidometer and Acidity Facies of Skarn Deposits

On the basis of geological studies of skarn deposits in China and by using thermodynamic models of thesolid solution, the coexisting clinopyroxene-garnet pair in skarn deposits has been analysed and a coexistingclinopyroxene-garnet acidometer developed. They can be used to estimate the medium condition under whichthe skarn was formed. The research on the acidity for the formation of various metallic skarn deposits in Chinasuggests that skarns endowed with dissimilar types of mineralization and occurring in diverse environments dif-fer in the acidity conditions for their formation and in the trend of acidity variation of ore-bearing fluid. This,coupled with the study of oxygen fugacity of coexisting minerals, makes it possible to establish the oxygenfugacity-acidity facies of skarn deposits, which reflect the close genetic relationship between the metallizationand the formation of skarn.

Applicability of Carbazole Migration Indices in Continental Rift Basins:A Case Study of Western Lujiapu Depression in Kailu Basin,NE China

Kailu Basin in which the Western Lujiapu Depression is located is a typical continental rift basin.Biomarker parameters of the oils indicate that depositional facies and environments vary between the Bao 1 and Bao 14 fault blocks with a higher saline environment in the Bao 1 fault block, but such difference has no significant impact on carbazole abundance and distribution.Maturity and migration distance are the main controls on carbazole abundance and distribution in the Western Lujiapu Depression.The commonly used migration indices,such as ratios of nitrogen shield isomers to nitrogen exposed isomers（1-/4-methylcarbazole ratio,1,8-/2,4-dimethylcarbazole（DMC） ratio and half-shield/exposed-DMC ratio）,absolute concentrations of alkylated carbazoles and BC ratio（=benzo [a]carbazole/（benzo[a]carbazole＋benzo[c]carbazole）） increase at the low mature range and decrease at a higher mature range with increasing maturity.At relatively low maturity stage（Rc〈0.77%）, maturation has reversal effects with migration on the ratios of nitrogen shield isomers to nitrogen exposed isomers,which may cover migration influence and makes these parameters fail to indicate migration effects.Valid migration indicators at this maturity stage are concentrations of alkylated carbazoles and BC ratios,which can provide ideal tools for migration direction assessment even within short migration distance.Maturity effects should be taken into account when carbazole compounds are applied to indicate migration direction,and at different maturity stages,these commonly used parameters have different validity in tracing migration direction.Coupled with our previous study in the Eastern Lujiapu Depression,a conceptual model of the variation of nitrogen migration indices can be established for terrestrial rifted basins,that is,strong fractionation lateral migration model through sandy beds,weak fractionation vertical migration model along faults,and maturity impacts on migration assessment.