Geochemical Analysis of Sediments from Sahaiawei-1 Well of the Northern Delta Depobelt in the Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

Geochemical analysis of sediments from Sahaiawei-1 Well of the Northern Delta Depobelt in the Niger Delta Basin was carried out to classify the sediments, determine the provenance, tectonic setting and depositional environment. Twenty (20) ditch cutting samples between 1500 and 10730 ft. were subjected to X-ray fluorescence analysis to determine the elemental composition.  The result for the classification of the sediments shows that the sediments were classified as Fe-shale and Fe-sand. The discriminant function diagrams for provenance signature and tectonic setting show that the sediments were plotted within the quartzose sedimentary provenance and passive continental margin tectonic setting fields respectively. The depositional environment using inorganic geochemistry shows that the sediments were deposited with in the continental, transitional and marine environments. This research has provided up to date information on the geochemistry of the Northern Delta Depobelt which would help in hydrocarbon exploration in the area.