Biozonation and Sequence Stratigraphic Characterization of Sediments in X-well, JV-field Greater Ughelli Depo-belt Niger Delta Basin

Abstract

Biozonation and sequence stratigraphic characterization of sediments in X-well, JV-Field Greater Ugheli Depo belt Niger Delta Basin were carried out using a total of One hundred and ninety (190) Ditch cutting samples, with the aim of identifying palynological and foraminiferal bio-events such as abundance, zones, paleoenvironment, age and also identify sequence stratigraphic key surfaces such as Maximum Flooding Surfaces (MFS) and Sequence Boundaries (SB) of sediments penetrated by the drill. Diagnostic Palynomorphs such as Praedapollis africanus, Peregrinipollis nigericus, Retibrevitricolporites obodoensis aided in the establishment of three P-zones which are P620, P580, P560 Zones in the well. P620 and P580 Zones were lumped together and occur at depth 4680ft-7620ft while P560 occur at depth 7620-11580ft, species of foraminifera recorded are calcareous and arenaceous benthic Foraminifera species. Planktic Foraminifera specie are generally absent. Species recorded include Sproplectammina wrightii, Florilus atlanticus, Florilus costiferum, Eponides cf eshira, Quinqueloculina rhodiensis, Nonion centrosulcatum, and Alveolophragmium crassum. Foraminiferal zones established are Nonion centrosulcatum (N9), Fursenkoina punctata (N5) planktic and N8-N5 zone. the well records the occurrence of Two maximum flooding surfaces (Mfs) and two sequence boundary(SB) which was establish in P620/P580 zones and one maximum flooding surface which was established in the P560 Zone. The Sequence boundaries, Maximum flooding surfaces and their respective ages in these palynological zones occurred at various depths, P620 and P580 occurred at 26.2Ma Alabamina 1 Mfs at (6397ft) and 28.1Ma BOLIVINA 27Mfs at (7401ft) and the Sequence boundaries occurred at 6750ft at 27.3Ma SB,7553ft at 29.3Ma SB, P560 occurred at depth 31.3Ma UVIGERINELLA 5Mfs at (11200ft).