TITLE:
Dispersal Patterns of the Late Cretaceous to Early-Tertiary Sediments in the Southern Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Samuel O. Onyekuru, Chukwuma J. Iwuagwu, Godwin I. Nwankwor, Nathaniel N. Onu, Cyril E. Ukaonu
KEYWORDS:
Dispersal; Patterns; Formation; Sequence Boundary; Facies; Spatial; Complexes; Erosion
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.4 No.3,
May
24,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The dispersal patterns of the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary sediments in southern Anambra Basin were studied to delineate spatial facies distributions for improved mapping and hydrocarbon prospectivity. Seven lithofacies distinguished from eleven outcrop sections aided the interpretation of depositional environments for the different depositional units. Interpreted paleoenvironments ranged from estuarine/lagoonal to tidal delta and shallow marine depositional environments. Sequence stratigraphic interpretation of the deposits using vertical relationships between the delineated facies and foraminiferal and palynofacies assemblages and the interpreted environmental setting identified two complete sequences (SEQ-1 and -2) and two incomplete sequences (SEQ-3 and -4) in the study area. The sequiences are enveloped by three Type-1 Sequence Boundaries (SB), two Transgressive Surfaces of Erosion (TSE) and four Maximum Flooding Surfaces (MFS). The identified surfaces were used to delineate formation boundaries and as such would assist in the improved mapping of the Anambra Basin and adjoining depocenters. The massive sand units of the Highstand and Transgressive Systems Tracts constitute good (potential) reservoirs, while the transgressive shales would constitute seals for potential traps in the study area. The delineation of these petroleum system elements, especially those associated with the Transgressive and Highstand Systems Tracts has conferred great hydrocarbon prospectivity potential on the sedimentary sequences in the Basin. The absence of deep marine and slope complexes of the Lowstand Systems Tract (LST) in the interpreted sequences is indicative that the study area is the up-dip section of the Anambra Basin.