Appraisal of Abiogenic Oil (Petroleum) using Mathematical ModelingApproach with certain selectedElements, Minerals and Rocks of Kassa Volcanic Field (KVF) of Jos Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The possibility of finding petroleum hydrocarbons in sedimentation (sedimentary rock) or magmatic-hydrothermal (igneous origin) is a matter of probability. A mathematical modeling approach is employed to appraise petroleum hydrocarbons using certain elements, minerals, and rocks whether it is biogenic or abiogenic. Methodologically, ten samples were collected at random at different points in Kassa Volcanic Field (KVC). These samples were examined in a thin section in the University of Jos Geology laboratory, using a petrographic microscope both plane and crossed polarized light and the minerals revealed were olivines, pyroxene, plagioclase, and iron ore. Two kilograms (2kg) of each of the samples were pulverized and subjected to chemical analysis using inductively coupled plasma – Mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and revealed the following major and trace elements such as, as Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, K, Na, P, N, Ni, Va, Ti, Mo, As, Ba, Ca, Sc, Cr, Br, in percentage and in part per million and can be compared to those obtained from petroleum ash. Several experiments have shown that petroleum ash contains the following major and trace elements: Silicon, Iron, Aluminum, Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Lead, Tin, Arsenic, Antimony, Zinc, Silver, Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, Bismuth, and Vanadium. Using set notation and matrix approach to analyze these elements, three possibilities were made to trace the origin of petroleum hydrocarbon whether it is a sedimentary origin (biogenic) or igneous origin (abiogenic). Mathematically, these possibilities include; the SiAl consisting of Silicon and Aluminum, the TiTi consisting of Tin and Titanium as well as NiVa, consisting of Nickel and Vanadium. Another important possibility is the presence of Diamond within an igneous body which depicts the characteristic of mantle composition. The ability of this abiogenic oil to rotating the plane of polarization of polarized light was examined and was proven possible using the mathematical method. The presence of these three possibilities in the crude oil could be a result of infiltration of these minerals and elements, from the source igneous rocks during crystallization of magma. If the abiogenic origin using the three possibilities is considered as the origin of petroleum, then drilling of petroleum hydrocarbons should be extended to the igneous environment, especially the study area Kassa Volcanic Field (KVF).