Integration of sedimentologic and sequence stratigraphic interpretations of the Nkporo Group has provided the basis for a basin-wide framework for prediction of potential source, seal and reservoir rocks in the Anambra Basin, Nigeria. Lithofacies and biostratigraphic data show that the Nkporo Group in the Anambra Basin contains three main facies associations (fluvio-deltaic facies, estuarine central basin/shallow shelf facies and estuarine channel fill facies) that determine the reservoir containers, flow units and seals. The units are arranged to form two stratigraphic sequences represented by the Nkporo Shale-Owelli Sandstone and Owelli Sandstone-Enugu Shale successions, respectively. The transgressive systems tract in each sequence comprises coarse-grained fluvio-deltaic sandstone and an overlying open marine black carbonaceous mud rock. The highstand systems tracts comprise delta front deposits with average porosity, permeability and net-to-gross values estimated in the ranges of 30%, 3000 md and 0.9, respectively. The fluvio-deltaic and delta front facies which are encased in organically rich estuarine central basin/shallow shelf mud rocks are likely the potential reservoirs. Trapping capacity is enhanced by the presence of several N-S trending normal faults, and other microstructures related to the post-Santonian tensional regime in the Benue. The new information presented in this paper on potential seal, source and reservoir lithofacies within the Nkporo Group should serve as a useful contribution to the geological modelling of reservoirs within the Late Cretaceous-Paleocene succession in the Anambra Basin.
We wish to express our profound gratitude to B. O. Ehirim and M. B. Ozumba of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Negeria Laboratory, Warri, who assisted with micropaleontological and palynological separations and identifications. We thank Professor C. S Nwajide of SITP, Shell Warri for his unstinting help in the field. The manuscript was improved substantially by his many constructive and insightful comments.
Shirley O. Odunze,Gordian C. Obi. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Nkporo Group (Campanian-Maastrichtian), Anambra Basin, Nigeria[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2013, 2(2): 192-208 .
Shirley O. Odunze,Gordian C. Obi. Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Nkporo Group (Campanian-Maastrichtian), Anambra Basin, Nigeria[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2013, 2(2): 192-208 .
Agagu, O. K., Fayose, E. A., Petters, S. W., 1985. Stratigraphy and sedimentation in the Senonian Anambra Basin of Eastern Nigeria. Journal of Mineralogy and Geology, 22: 25-36.
Agagu, O. K., Ekweozor, C. M., 1982. Source-rock characteristics of Senonian shales in the Anambra Syncline, Southern Nigeria. Journal of Mineralogy and Geology, 19(2): 52-61.
Agumanu, A. E., 1993. Sedimentology of the Owelli Sandstone (Campanian-Maastrichtian), southern Benue trough, Nigeria. Journal of Mineralogy and Geology, 29(2): 21-35.
Akaegbobi, I. M, Amechi, G. C., Boboye, O. A., 2009. Source rock potential and depositional environment of the Campanian-Maastrichtian shales outcropping along the Enugu-Leru axis, Anambra Basin, Nigeria. Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Bulletin, 21: 25-37.
Allen, G. P., 1993. An introduction to estuarine lithosomes and their controls. In: Wright, V. P., (ed). Sedimentology Review. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1: 123-138.
Allen, G. P., Posamentier, H. W., 1993. Sequence stratigraphy and facies model of an incised valley fill: The Gironde estuary, France. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 63: 378-391.
Amajor, L. C., 1987. Paleocurrent, petrography and provenance analyses of the Ajalli Sandstone (Upper Cretaceous), Southeastern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Sedimentary Geology, 54: 47-60.
Arua, I., 1988. Episodic sedimentation: an example from the Nkporo Shale (Campano-Maastrichtian), Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 7: 759-726.
Bhattacharya, J. P., 1993. The expression and interpretation of marine flooding surfaces and erosional surfaces in cores; example from the Upper Cretaceous Dunvegan Formation, Alberta foreland basin, Canada. In: Posamentier, H. W., Summerhayes, C.
P., Haq, B. U., Allen, G. P., (eds). Sequence Stratigraphy and Facies Associations. International Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication, 18: 125-160.
Boersma, J. R., Terwindt, J. H. J., 1981. Neap-spring tide sequences of intertidal shoal deposits in a mesotidal estuary. Sedimentology, 28: 151-170.
Bowen, D. W., Weimer, P., 2004. Reservoir geology of Nicholas and Liverpool Cemetery fields (lower Pennsylvanian), Stanton County, Kansas, and their significance to the regional interpretation of the Morrow Formation incised-valley-fill systems in eastern Colorado and Western Kansas. AAPG Bulletin, 88: 47-70 Burke, K., 1996. The African Plate. South African Journal of Geology, 99: 341-409.
Curran, H. A., Frey, R. W., 1977. Pleistocene trace fossils from North 207 Vol. 2 No. 2 Shirley O. Odunze and Gordian C. Obi: Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Nkporo Group (Campanian-Maastrichtian), Anambra Basin, Nigeria Carolina (USA) and their Holocene analogues. In: Crimes, T. P., Harper, J. C., (eds). Trace Fossils 2. Liverpool: Seel House Press, Geological Journal Special Issue, 9: 139-162.
Dalrymple, R. W., 1992. Tidal depositional systems. In: Walker, R. G., James, N. P., (eds). Facies Models: Response to Sea Level Change. Geologist Association of Canada, 195-218.
Dalrymple, R. W., Zaitlin, B. A., Boyd, R., 1992. Estuarine facies models: Conceptual basis and stratigraphic implications. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 62: 1130-1146.
Dalrymple, R. W., Zaitlin, B. A., 1994. High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of a complex incised valley succession, Cobequid Bay-Salmon River estuary, Bay of Fundy, Canada. Sedimentology, 41: 1069-1091.
Davis, H. R., Byers, C. W., Pratt, L. M., 1989. Depositional mechanisms and organic matter in Mowry Shale, (Cretaceous) Wyoming. AAPG Bulletin, 73: 1103-1116.
Edet, J. J., 1992. Palynostratigraphy of Late Cretaceous (Late Campanian- Early Maastrichtian) sections in the Anambra basin, Nigeria. Revista Espanola de Micropaleontologia, XXIV, 2: 3-18.
Frey, R. W., Howard, J. D., 1985. Trace fossils from the Panther Member, Star Point Formation (Upper Cretaceous) Coal Creek Canyon, Utah. Journal of Paleontology, 59: 370-404.
Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J., Vail, P. R., 1987. Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science, 235: 1156-1167.
Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J., Vail, P. R., 1988. Mesozoic and Cenozoic chronostratigraphy and cycles of sea-level change. In: Wilgus, C. K., Hastings, B. S., Kendall, C. G. St., Posamentier, H. W., Ross, C. A., Van Wagoner, J. C., (eds). Sea-Level Changes: An Integrated Approach. SEPM Special Publication, 42: 72-108.
Hardenbol, J., Jacquin, T., Farley, M.B., de Graciansky, P.-C., Vail, P. R., 1998. Mesozoic and Cenozoic chronostratigraphy and cycles of sea-level changes. In: de Graciansky, P.-C., Hardenbol, J., Jacquin, T., Vail, P. R., (eds). Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European Basins. SEPM Special Publication, 60: 3-13.
Hettinger, R. D., 1996. Sedimentological descriptions and depositional interpretation in sequence stratigraphic context of two 300-meter cores from Upper Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, Kaiparowits Plateau, Kane County, Utah. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 115-A: 32.
Hoque, M., Nwajide, C. S., 1985. Tectono-sedimentological evolution of an elongate intracratonic basin (aulacogen): The case of the Benue Trough of Nigeria. Journal of Mineralogy and Geology, 21(1-2): 19-26.
Oboh-Ikuenobe, F. E., Obi, C. G., Jaramillo, C. A., 2005. Lithofacies, palynofacies, and sequence stratigraphy of Palaeogene strata in Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 41: 79- 101.
Leckie, D. A., Singh, C., GoodarzI, F., Wall, J. H., 1989. Measured sections with accompanying dinoflagellates and foraminiferal analysis of the Albian Peace River Formation (Harmon, Cadotte and Paddy members) and Shaftsbury Formation from along the Peace River, near the town of Peace River, Alberta. Geological Survey of Canada.
Leckie, D. A., Singh, C., GoodarzI, F., Wall, J. H., 1990. Organicrich, radioactive marine shale: a case study of a shallow-water condensed section, Cretaceous Shaftsbury Formation, Alberta, Canada. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 60: 101-117.
Loutit, T. S., Hardenbol, J., Vail, P. R., Baum, G. R., 1988. Condensed sections: key to age determination and correlation of continental margin sequences, In: Wilgus, C. K., Hastings, B. S., Kendall, C., Posamentier, H. W., Ross, C. A., Van Wagoner, J. C., (eds). Sea level change: An integrated approach. SEPM Specical Publication, 42: 183-213.
Maluski, H., Coulon, C., Popoff, M., Baudin, P., 1995. 40Ar/39Ar chronology, petrology, and geodynamic setting of Mesozoic to early Cenozoic magmatism from the Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of Geological Society of London, 152: 311-326.
Martino, R. L., Curran, H. A., 1990. Sedimentology, ichnology and palaeoenvironment of the Upper Cretaceous Wenonah and Mt. Laurel Formations, New Jersey. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 60: 125-144.
Miall, A. D., 1992. Alluvial deposits. In: Walker, R. G., James, N. P., (eds). Facies Models: Response to Sea Level Change. Geological Association of Canada, 119-142.
Miall, A. D, Arush, M., 2001. The Castlegate Sandstone of the Book Cliffs, Utah: sequence stratigraphy, palaeogeography, and tectonic controls. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 71(4): 37-548.
Murat, R. C., 1972. Stratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary in southern Nigeria. In: Dessauvagie, T. F. J., Whiteman, A. J., (eds). African Geology. Nigeria: University of Ibadan Press, 251-266.
Nwajide, C. S., Reijers, T. J. A., 1996. Geology of the southern Anambra Basin. In: Reijers, T. J. A., (ed). Selected Chapters on Geology. Warri: SPDC, 133-148.
Obi, G. C., 1998. Upper Cretaceous Gongila Formation in the Hawal Basin, north-east Benue Trough: a storm and wave-dominated regressive shoreline complex. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 26(4): 619-632.
Obi, G. C., 2000. Depositional model for the Campanian-Maastrichtian Anambra Basin, Southern Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Obi, G. C., Okogbue, C. O., Nwajide, C. S., 2001. Evolution of the Enugu Cuesta: A tectonically driven erosional process. Global Journal Pure Applied Sciences, 7(2): 321-330.
Obi, G. C., Okogbue, C. O., 2004. Sedimentary response to tectonism in the Campanian-Maastrichtian succession, Anambra Basin, South-eastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 38: 99-108.
Okoro, A. U., 1995. Petrology and depositional history of sandstone facies of the Nkporo Formation in Leru area of southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Mineralogy and Geology, 31: 105-112.
Olivet, J. L., Bonnin, J., Beuzart, P., Auzende, J. M., 1984. Cinematique del′Atlantic Nord et Central. Publication CNEXO Rapport Scientifique et Technique, 54.
Pemberton, S. G., Mac Eachern, J. A., Frey, R. W., 1992. Trace fossil 208 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Apr. 2013 facies models: environmental and allostratigraphic significance. In: Walker, R. G., James, N. P., (eds). Facies Models. Geologist Association of Canada, 47-72.
Petters, S. W., 1980. Biostratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous foraminifera of the Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 10: 191-204.
Posamentier, H. W., James, N. P., 1993. An overview of sequence stratigraphic concepts: uses and abuses. In: Posamentier, H. W., Summerhayes, C. P., Haq, B. U., Allen, G. P., (eds). Sequence stratigraphy and Facies Associations. International Association of Sedimentologists, 18: 3-18.
Prothero, D. R., Schwab, F., 1996. Sedimentary Geology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 575.
Reineck, H. E., Singh, I. B., 1980. Depositional Sedimentary Environments, 2nd Edition. New York: Springer-Verlag, 551.
Retallack, G. J., 1986. The fossil record of soils. In: Wright, V. P., (ed). Palaeosols: Their Recognition and Interpretation. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1-57.
Reyment, R. A., 1965. Aspect of the geology of Nigeria. Nigeria: University of Ibadan, 145.
Schwans, P., 1995. Controls on sequence stacking and fluvial-shallow marine architecture in a foreland basin. In: Van Wagoner, J. C., Bertram, G. T., (eds). Sequence Stratigraphy of Foreland Basin Deposits. AAPG Bulletin, 64: 55-102.
Schumm, S. A., 1977. The Fluvial System. New York: Wiley-Interscience, 338.
Smith, D. G., 1988. Tidal bundles and mud couplets in the McMurray Formation, Northern Alberta, Canada. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 36: 216-219.
Vail, P. R., Mitchum, R. M. Jr., Thompson, S., III., 1977. Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level. Part 4; Global cycles and relative changes of sea level. 83-97. In: Payton, C. E., (ed). Seismic Stratigraphy, Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration. Tulsa: AAPG Memior, 26: 516.
Vail, P. R., 1987. Seismic stratigraphy interpretation procedure. In: Bally, A. W., (ed). Atlas of Seismic Stratigraphy. Tulsa, OK: AAPG Studies in Geology, 27(1): 125.
Van Wagoner, J. C., Mitchum, R. M., Campion, K. M., Rhamanian, V. D., 1990. Siliciclastic sequence stratigraphy in well logs, cores, and outcrops. AAPG Methods in Exploration Series, 7: 55.
Van Wagoner, J. C., Posamentier, H. W., Mitchum, R. M. Jr., Vail, P. R., Sarg, J. F., Loutit, T. S., Hardenbol, J, 1988. An overview of the fundamentals of sequence stratigraphy and key definitions. In: Wilgus, C. K., Hastings, B. S., Kendall, C. G. S. C., Posamentier, H., Ross, C. A., Van Wagoner, J. C., (eds). Sea Level Changes: An Integrated Approach. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 42: 407.
Visher, G. S., 1969. Grain size distribution and depositional processes. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 39: 1074-1106.
Walker, R. G., Plint, A. G., 1992. Wave- and storm-dominated shallow marine systems, In: Walker, R. G., James, N. P., (eds). Facies Models, Response to Sea level change. Geologist Association of Canada, 162-194.
Weimer, R. J., 1984. Relations of unconformities, tectonics, and sea level changes, Cretaceous of Western Interior, In: Schlee, J., (ed).
Interregional Unconformities and Hydrocarbon Accumulation. AAPG Memoir, 36: 7-35.
Wightman, D. M., Pemberton, S. G., Singh, C., 1987. Depositional modeling of the upper Mannville (Lower Cretaceous), east-central Alberta: implications for the recognition of brackish water deposits, In: Tillman, R. W., Weber, K. J., (eds). Reservoir Sedimentology. SEPM Special Publication, 40: 189-220.
Ye, L., 1995. Paleosols in the upper Guantao Formation (Miocene) of the Gudong oil field and their application to the correlation of fluvial deposits. AAPG Bulletin, 79: 981-988.
Zaborski, P. M., 1983. Campano-Maastrichtian ammonites, correlation and palaeogeography in Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 1: 59-63.