Geochemical evaluation of the hydrocarbon prospects of sedimentary basins in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Sedimentary basins of Northern Nigeria comprise the Middle and Upper Benue Trough, the southeastern sector of the Chad Basin, the Mid-Niger (Bida) Basin, and the Sokoto Basin. Organic geochemical and organic petrologic studies indicate the existence of potential source rocks in the Benue Trough and the Chad Basin, with coal beds constituting major potential source rocks in the whole of the Benue Trough. The generation and production of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons from coal beds presently is world-wide indisputable. Although TOC values and liptinite contents are relatively high in the Mid-Niger (Bida) Basin, Tmax values and biomarker data show that hydrocarbons are probably just being generated in the basin and may not yet have been expelled nor migrated in large quantities. Copyright © 2006 by The Geochemical Society of Japan.