Interference of ground roll energy on true seismic reflection records has continued to pose a serious challenge to exploration geophysicists. In view of this, amplitude and power spectra of the Rayleigh waves which are the precursor of the ground roll energy were derived from over 70 raw monitor records and plotted as a function of frequency. The objective is to determine the locus of ground energy in the seismic records, analyse their dispersion pattern and suggests viable ways of suppressing them. The results of the amplitude spectrum plots revealed that Rayleigh waved exhibit oscillatory behavior with very high-amplitude values, which correspond to the locus of ground roll energy. This energy is confined to very low frequency range of about 4-9Hz. The Power spectrum which was given as the square of the amplitude as a function of frequency showed appreciable lobes of breaths of the ground roll energy of about 0.5-0.7cm and their trend of dispersions. The power spectrum plots revealed several peaks excluding the early peaks that are direct indication of ground roll energy. The plots showed pronounced and constant decline in energy levels with increasing frequency and reaching very low decibel values of -60Db to -80Db at frequency range of 50Hz. This indicates that the environment is dispersive in nature which probably results from velocity layering. This is a precursor to seismic noise which among others can be suppressed in the field by designing filters with sharper cut off characteristics.

In geophysical data interpretation, matching the vertical velocity direction from seismic data with borehole-derived velocities is a challenging task because seismic-derived velocities are faster than borehole recorded velocities. This geophysical phenomenon is caused by velocity anisotropy. In this study, we used an empirical approach to estimate the degree of velocity anisotropy in the study area. The results showed that the delta anisotropy in sandstone beds varies from − 2.5% to 7.2% while most of them concentrate between 3.2% and 6.1%. The epsilon ranges between -6.4% and 9.3% while many of them concentrate between 3.2% and 7.2%. The gamma varies from − 6.3% to 7.3% while most of them concentrate between 1.2% and 5%. At shale beds, delta anisotropy varies from − 11.2% to 11.1% but most of them concentrate between 4.3% and 10.5%. The epsilon varies from − 7.2% to 14.5% while most of them concentrate between 4.5% and 10.5%. The gamma varies from 6.4% to 8.2% while majority of them concentrate between 2% and 5.3%. The results indicate that the study area is weakly to moderately anisotropic with shale beds having higher anisotropy values than sandstone beds. This probably results from preferential alignment of clay mineral orientations which also affect in situ velocity propagation. Three distinct velocity gradients (low, moderate and very high) were identified in the study area. These velocities vary erratically but showed northeast–southwest increase in velocities. Thus, the need to derive correction factors for individual wells for improved exploration success.

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Palynological analysis was carried out on Ten (10) samples from outcrops of the Campanian Enugu Formation, a component  lithostratigraphic unit of the Anambra Basin, using the acid maceration techniques for recovering acidinsoluble organic-walled microfossils. Two main lithological units were encountered, which include: carbonaceous shale and siltstone. Result from kerogen  laboratory examination reveals two (2) main groups of palynofacies association namely; palynofacies (A and B), based on the change in particulate organic matter constituents of organic residue extract. Palynofacies A is characterized by abundant opaques debris with common terrestrial phytoclasts, which occupy the southwestern and northwestern parts of the studied area, whereas palynofacies B  dominates in the northeastern part, characterised by abundant phytoclasts followed by frequent opaques debris. Kerogen type III with gas-prone material is suggested for both palynofacies. The examined exine of spore/ pollen grain are pale yellow – yellow, with Thermal Alteration Index TAI of 1+ to 2- and Vitrinite Reflectane (R o) (0.3 % - 0.4 %) in palynofacies A, and yellow – yellow brown, with Thermal Alteration Index TAI of 2- to 2, and Vitrinite Reflectane (R o) of 0.3% - 0.5% in palynofacies B. These revealed source rock that is thermally immature to slightly mature but has potential to generate mainly gas. The kerogen data generated using transmitted light microscopy correlated well with geochemical data obtained using rock-eval pyrolysis method, and this shows the method a reliable tool for assessing  petroleum potential in any given sedimentary basins.

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