Multivariate Geo-Chemo Statistical Characterization of Potential Source Rocks in the Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

Abstract

Summary Some previous studies have been carried out on the Nigeria Middle Benue Trough litho-biostratigraphic characterization of the coals and shales, organic petrologic, and general geology. This work has further mapped other exposures of the different potential source rock facies in the Awgu Formation that were wrongly positioned, consequently repositioning/rearranging the lithofacies of the Awgu Formation in the study area. Recently begot geochemical and vitrinite reflectance data show that the coal facies of the Awgu Formation in intra-continental rifted Middle Benue Trough are good, to excellent source rocks with kerogen of type III/II and type II and have the capability of generating oil and gas while the shale facies are poor, to good source rocks with kerogen of type III and have the potential of generating gas. Cluster and Factor analyses divide the source rocks into cluster I (coal facies 1) comprising 32.14% and cluster II comprising 67.86% of the whole samples, all of which show source rocks that range from excellent, good to poor. The begot data will further drive future exploration strategies, reduce the risk associated with the exploration of petroleum, thereby providing a framework to aid decisions on future scientific or commercial drilling in the study basin.