Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of FT-1 Well, Offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Paleoenvironment of Deposition
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
85-102
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/ajstea.v4i1.8515
Viewed: 72 times
Downloaded: 55 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Agbaje P.O.1*, Ekinne O.A.2, Olowa F.D.3 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Although biostratigraphy and paleoecological studies are central to reconstructing paleodepositional environments and constraining source and reservoir rock distribution during petroleum exploration, detailed applications in offshore Niger Delta wells remain limited. This study analyzes the lithostratigraphy and foraminiferal assemblages of the FT-1 Well, offshore Niger Delta, over the 2,300–2,550 m interval to reconstruct the stratigraphic framework and paleoenvironmental history. Lithostratigraphic analysis reveals predominantly shaly facies, whereas foraminiferal biostratigraphy shows the dominance of benthic species (68.4%) over planktonic species (31.6%), a relationship that is diagnostic of outer–upper bathyal marine settings. The studied interval is assigned to the N18–N19 planktonic foraminiferal zones and to the NNDF 04–NNDF 06 benthic foraminiferal zones of the Neogene Niger Delta. The section is richly fossiliferous, containing abundant and diverse foraminiferal assemblages. The top of the N18–N19 interval is tentatively placed at 2,300 m based on the First Downhole Occurrence (FDO) of Globigerina nepenthes, while the base is constrained by the Last Downhole Occurrences (LDOs) of Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and Globorotalia tumida at 2,490 and 2,540 m, respectively. The NNDF 04 Zone extends from 2,300 to 2,430 m and is marked at its base by the occurrence of Cyclammina cf. minima; NNDF 05 spans 2,430–2,460 m, defined by the FDOs of C. cf. minima and Haplophragmoides narivaensis; NNDF 06 extends from 2,460 m to 2,550 m, the deepest analyzed sample, and is characterized by the continued occurrence of H. narivaensis. Paleoecological interpretation of the foraminiferal assemblages indicates mostly tropical–subtropical conditions with normal marine salinity, but includes cooler-water indicators such as Cyclammina cf. minima, Globocassidulina subglobosa, Uvigerina hispida, and Uvigerina auberiana, which are typical deep-water species. On the basis of the N18–N19 planktonic zonation, the sediments are interpreted to have been deposited during the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene. Collectively, these findings refine the stratigraphic framework and enhance understanding of the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Niger Delta’s offshore deposits, with implications for more accurate prediction of petroleum system elements.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Abubakar, U., Hamza, H., Obiosio, E. O., Najime, T., & Usman, M. B. (2017). Foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental interpretation of Well–004 (OML–34) Central. Bima Journal of Science and Technology, 1(2), 17–36.
Abubakar, U., Usman, M. B., Obiosio, E. O., & Ukpong, A. J. (2021). Sequence stratigraphic study of the Late Oligocene to Early–Middle Miocene in Niger Delta, Nigeria: Application of paleobathymetry analysis and biostratigraphy. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 181, 104253.
Adegoke, O. S., Oyebamiji, A. S., Edet, J. J., Osterloff, P. L., & Ulu, O. K. (2017). Cenozoic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Niger Delta. In Geology of the Niger Delta Basin (pp. 25–66). Elsevier.
Adeigbe, O. C., & Adeleye, A. M. (2016). Foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental studies of SAA-1 and SAA-3 wells, offshore Niger Delta. Petroleum & Coal, 58(4), 430.
Adeola, S. I., Adeola, J. A., & Dairo, V. A. (2021). Foraminifera biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental studies of Well X, eastern Niger Delta. International Journal of Advanced Geosciences, 9(1), 28–32.
Adeoye, J. A., Jolayemi, V. O., & Akande, S. O. (2022). Sedimentology and foraminiferal paleoecology of the exposed Oligocene–Miocene Ogwashi-Asaba Formation in Issele-Uku area, Anambra Basin, southern Nigeria: A paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Journal of Palaeogeography, 11(4), 618–628.
Amos-Uhegbu, C., Jokotagba, S. T., Aigba, P. I., Dinneya, O. C., & Akoma, C. D. (2024). Delineation of the groundwater potential zones using integrated geospatial techniques and multi-criteria decision approach in the Cretaceous Lower Benue and Niger Delta Basins of Abia State, southern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Physics, 33(S), 23–43.
Anomneze, D. O., Oguadinma, V. O., Ayodele, I. J., & Ajaegwu, N. E. (2025). Application of iso-frequency blending in hydrocarbon delineation of thin-pay and thick-pay reservoirs, Niger Delta Basin. Energy Geoscience, 6(2), 100396.
Asadu, A. N., & Ajogu, G. E. (2023). Facies analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Well X, onshore Niger Delta, Nigeria. British Journal of Earth Sciences Research, 11(2), 35–51.
Aturamu, A. O., & Ojo, A. O. (2015). Integrated biostratigraphic analysis of the Agbada Formation (NEP-1 Well), offshore, eastern Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. Australian Journal of Biology and Environment Research, 2(1), 1–14.
Berggren, W. A., Burckle, L. H., Cita, M. B., Cooke, H. B. S., Funnell, B. M., Gartner, S., Hays, J. D., Kennett, J. P., Opdyke, N. D., Pastouret, L., Shackleton, N. J., & Takayanagi, Y. (1980). Towards a quaternary time scale. Quaternary Research, 13, 277–302.
Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V., Swisher, C. C., & Aubry, M.-P. (1995). A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In W. A. Berggren, D. V. Kent, M.-P. Aubry, & J. Hardenbol (Eds.), Geochronology, time scales and global stratigraphic correlation (pp. 129–212). Society for Sedimentary Geology.
Blow, W. H. (1969). Late middle Eocene to recent planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy. In Proceedings of the First International Conference on Planktonic Microfossils (Vol. 1, pp. 199–422). E. J. Brill.
Blow, W. H. (1979). The Cainozoic Globigerinida (Vol. 1). Brill Archive.
Boboye, O. A., & Adeleye, A. M. (2009). High resolution biostratigraphy of early Pliocene to late Miocene calcareous nannoplankton and foraminiferal, deep offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria. European Journal of Scientific Research, 34(3), 308–332.
Bolli, H. M., Saunders, J. B., & Perch-Nielsen, K. (Eds.). (1989). Plankton stratigraphy: Volume 1, planktic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossils and calpionellids (Vol. 1). CUP Archive.
Fadiya, S. L., Jaiyeola-Ganiyu, F. A., & Fajemila, O. T. (2014). Foraminifera biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of sediments from Well AM-2, Niger Delta. Ife Journal of Science, 16(1), 61–72.
Fajemila, O. T. (2012). Foraminifera biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental studies of two wells from offshore western Niger Delta. Ife Journal of Science, 14(2), 369–384.
Gradstein, F. M., Ogg, J. G., Smith, A. G., & Ogg, G. M. (Eds.). (2012). The geologic time scale 2012. Elsevier.
Itiowe, K., Lucas, F. A., & Olise, C. O. (2020). Foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental analysis of the sediments penetrated by Sahaiawei-1 well in the Northern Delta Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin. Global Journal of Geological Sciences, 18, 119–126.
Jayaraju, N., Reddy, B. C. S. R., Reddy, K. R., & Reddy, A. N. (2010). Deep-sea benthic foraminiferal distribution in south west Indian Ocean: Implications to paleoecology. International Journal of Geosciences, 1(2), 79–86.
Joshua, A. S., Obiosio, E. O., Ibrahim, H., Nwaejije, E. C., Israel, T., Amobi, F. J., & Olowu, L. (2022). High-resolution biostratigraphy, depositional history and paleoenvironment based on foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton, Northwest Niger Delta [Preprint]. Research Square. Retrieved March 11, 2024, from https://www.researchsquare.com
Kiamuke, I., & Adebayo, L. F. (2020). Foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental study of the sediments penetrated within the interval of 6030 ft to 11115 ft of Ash-3 well in the greater Ughelli Depobelt, Niger Delta Basin. Scientia Africana, 19(1), 139–150.
Nwaejije, E. C., Obiosio, E. O., & Hamidu, I. (2017). Foraminifera biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of Well 5, OML 34, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Palaeontologia Electronica, 20(3), 1–17.
Nwajide, C. S. (2013). Geology of Nigeria’s sedimentary basins. CSS Bookshops Limited.
Obaje, N. G. (1999). Geology and mineral resources of Nigeria. Springer.
Okosun, E., & Chukwuma-Orji, J. N. (2016). Calcareous benthic foraminifera biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of deposition of KK-1 well, offshore western Niger Delta, Nigeria. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://repository.futminna.edu.ng
Oluwajana, O. A., Adebambo, B. A., Olawuyi, G. T., Ewuji, J. O., Adejayan, B. A., Ayodele, O. D., & Adedokun, T. A. (2021). Paleoecologic implications of foraminiferal assemblages in the Upper Cretaceous–Paleogene strata, eastern Dahomey (Benin) Basin, southwestern Nigeria. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 14, 1–16.
Oretade, B. S., Adepehin, E. J., & Ali, C. A. (2022). Foraminiferal patterns and paleoenvironmental inferences from DEL-1 well, offshore Niger Delta. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 185, 104412.
Ukpong, A. J., & Anaynwu, T. C. (2018). Foraminiferal distribution, stratigraphy and paleoenvironment of the U-12 well, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria. International Journal for Scientific Research and Development, 6(5), 1043–1050.
Ukpong, A. J., & Anyanwu, T. C. (2018). Late Eocene–early Oligocene foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of sediments from “Beta-24 Well” Niger Delta Basin, South Eastern Nigeria. European Academic Research, 6(2), 871–891.
Umoh, E. E., & Fasina, P. O. (2020). Foraminiferal analysis and paleoenvironments of sediments in Well-AA, deepwater offshore, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 26(1), 9–14.
Uwadiae Oyegun, C., Lawal, O., & Ogoro, M. (2023). The Niger Delta region. In Landscapes and landforms of Nigeria (pp. 107–121). Springer Nature Switzerland.