Source Rocks Characterization Of Agbada And Akata Formations In The Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The geochemical analysis was performed on twelve (12) core samples from 6 wells of different formations (Akata, Agbada, and Akata/Agbada) of the onshore Niger Delta Basin. The study was essentially based on the results of the Rock-Eval 6 Pyrolysis to evaluate organic matter abundance, quality, and thermal maturity. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) varies between 0.6 and 3.06 wt% and the Hydrogen Index (IH) of the studied samples ranges from 38 to 202 mgHC/g TOC, indicating predominantly Type III (gas prone) and mixed type II/III (gas and oil-prone) kerogen. This suggests terrigenous and a mixture of marine and terrigenous organic matter deposited in a paralic marine setting. The organic matter is immature to early mature according to the thermal maturity parameter (414<Tmax<432). The well Isan 9 from Agbada (6760 ft) and Agbada/Akata (8680 ft) shows petroleum generation potential of fair (2,5 < S2 < 5 mg HC/g rock) to good (5 < S2 < 10 mgHC/g rock) and poor for the other wells. The maturation of the kerogen indicates a very early stage of maturation (Tmax= 432°C). The results indicate that the shales from Agbada and the transition zone between the upper and lower parts of the Akata Shales are more shaly and perhaps the more mature part of the Agbada formation can be the potential source rocks of Niger Delta Basin.