Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The Niger Delta Basin is known for its vast hydrocarbon reserves and complex geological history. Understanding the sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of the sediment within this basin is crucial for various applications in petroleum exploration, environmental studies, and geotechnical assessments. This research project aims to determine the sedimentological and geochemical properties of the sediment in the Niger Delta Basin through a comprehensive analysis of core samples. Sedimentological analysis will involve the description and classification of sedimentary rocks present in the core samples. This will include identifying lithology, grain size distribution, sedimentary structures, and depositional environments. By conducting detailed sedimentological analyses, we aim to reconstruct the depositional history of the sediment in the Niger Delta Basin and understand the processes that have influenced sediment accumulation over time. Geochemical analysis will focus on determining the elemental composition of the sediment samples. Major, minor, and trace elements will be analyzed to provide insights into the sources of sediment, diagenetic processes, and paleoenvironmental conditions. Additionally, stable isotopic analyses will be conducted to further constrain the environmental conditions during sediment deposition. The integration of sedimentological and geochemical data will enable us to interpret the sedimentary processes, source-to-sink pathways, and diagenetic alterations that have affected the sediment in the Niger Delta Basin. This multidisciplinary approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of the sediment properties and their implications for reservoir quality, hydrocarbon generation potential, and basin evolution. Furthermore, the results of this study will contribute to the existing knowledge of sedimentary systems in the Niger Delta Basin and enhance our ability to predict reservoir characteristics and sediment behavior in similar geological settings. The findings will have implications for hydrocarbon exploration strategies, reservoir modeling, and environmental management practices in the region. Overall, this research project will advance our understanding of the sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of the sediment in the Niger Delta Basin, providing valuable insights for both academic research and practical applications in the fields of geology, petroleum engineering, and environmental science.

Thesis Overview

The mineralogical and chemical composition of clastic sedimentary rocks are controlled by various factors, including (1) the composition of their source rocks, (2) environmental parameters influencing the weathering of source rocks (e.g., atmosphericchemistry, temperature, rainfall and topography), (3) duration of weathering (4)transportation mechanisms of clastic material from source region to depocenters, (5)depositional environment (e.g., marine versus fresh water), and (6) post-depositional processes (e.g., diagenesis, metamorphism) (Hayashi et al., 1997). Numerousinvestigations are substantiating the above aspects pertaining to genesis of both ancient andmodern siliciclastic sediments (e.g., Dickenson et al., 1983; Nesbitt and Young, 1982, 1984; Bhatia, 1983; Roser and Korsch, 1988; McCann, 1991; Condie et al., 1992; Condie, 1993; McLennan et al., 1993; Nesbitt et al., 1996; Cullers, 2000; Hessler and Lowe 2006; Nagarajan et al., 2007; Spalletti et al., 2008). Several studies have also been focused on the identification of palaeotectonic settings of provenances based on geochemical signatures of siliciclastic rocks (e.g., Dickinson and Suczek, 1979; Bhatia, 1983; Bhatia and Crook, 1986; Roser and Korsch 1986; McLennan and Taylor, 1991). Among the terrigenous sedimentary rocks, shales are considered to represent the average crustal composition of the provenance much better than any other siliclastic rocks (e.g., McCulloch and Wasserburg, 1978). Shales retain most of the mineral constituents of the source and their bulk chemistry preserves the near-original signature of the provenance and more faithfully reveal palaeoweathering conditions (e.g., Pettijohn, 1975; Graver and Scott, 1995). The present note examines the geochemistry of sediment from part of the subsurface Niger Delta Basin province, attempts to constrain there paleo redox and tectonic setting and provenance. Owing to limitations of analytical facilities, the present work is based on chemical analyses data of major and select trace elements of the investigated sediment of the study area.