Hydrocarbon potential, palynology and palynofacies of four sedimentary basins in the Benue Trough, northern Cameroon

Bessong, Moïse; Hell, Joseph Victor; Samankassou, Elias; Feist-Burkhardt, Susanne; Eyong, John Takem; Ngos, Simon; Nolla, Junior Désiré; Mbesse, Cécile Olive; Adatte, Thierry; Mfoumbeng, Marie Paule; Dissombo, Edimo André Noel; Ntsama, Atangana Jacqueline; Mouloud, Bennami; Ndjeng, Emmanuel

doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.012

Cited by 25 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The sedimentary fill of the Mayo Oulo-Léré Basin in northern Cameroon (Fig. 1) includes thick, organicrich Neocomian-Barremian lacustrine shales (Bessong et al, 2018) which have been studied in terms of their palaeodepositional environment (Brunet et al, 1988;Jacobs et al, 1988). Time-equivalent shales in the nearby Hamakoussou, Garoua and Mayo Rey Basins in onshore Cameroon have likewise been investigated (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Time-equivalent shales in the nearby Hamakoussou, Garoua and Mayo Rey Basins in onshore Cameroon have likewise been investigated (e.g. Brunet et al, 1988;Dejax and Brunet, 1996;Ntsama Atangana, 2013;Ntsama Atangana et al, 2014;Pemi Mouzong et al, 2014;Bessong et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the exception of the Logone Birni Basin where an exploration well (Zina-IX) penetrated 18 m of reservoir sandstones containing liquid hydrocarbons (National Hydrocarbons Corporation of Cameroon, SNH: unpublished report), few detailed petroleum exploration studies have been carried out in onshore Cameroon. Bessong et al (2018) analysed shale samples from the Mayo-Rey, Mayo Oulo-Léré, Hamakoussou and Benue Basins in the northern part of the country. These authors showed that samples (n = 16) from the Mayo Oulo-Léré Basin in general are organic rich and contain Type II/III kerogen with poor to good petroleum potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neocomian – Barremian Lacustrine Shales in the Mayo Oulo‐lere Basin, North Cameroon: Depositional Environment and Petroleum Potential

Chavom

Baudin

Nzouedjio

et al. 2022

Journal of Petroleum Geology

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The synrift Mayo Oulo‐Léré Basin in Northern Cameroon is located in the transition zone between the West and Central African Rift Systems. Structural and stratigraphic elements of the basin resemble those of the Yola Basin in NE Nigeria, an extension of the Upper Benue Trough. The Lower Cretaceous lacustrine shales with source rock potential which occur in nearby rift basins are also present in the Mayo Oulo‐Léré Basin. These shales were investigated at two outcrop locations (Badesi and Tchontchi), and samples collected (n = 60) were subjected to palynofacies and bulk geochemical analyses to evaluate their petroleum generation potential and to interpret their depositional environment. At the studied locations, shales were divided into two lithofacies: grey to black laminated shales containing algal‐bacterial OM together with common woody (phytoclast) debris (“facies Fml”); and cm‐bedded shales which had a higher content of algal‐bacterial OM but a lower phytoclast content (“facies Fmlc”).Palynological and bulk geochemical data indicate that the shales contain well‐preserved organic matter (OM) and locally display good to excellent oil generation potential. Average TOC contents are 2.7% and 1.4% for samples of the Fmlc and Fml facies shales respectively. HI values (94‐889 mg HC/g TOC and 131‐638 mg HC/g TOC respectively) suggest that the shales contain Types I to III kerogen. Organic material in the Fmlc facies shales is dominated by amorphous organic matter (AOM: 90% on average) with a low phytoclast content (6% on average); whereas samples of the Fml facies shales contain less AOM (74% on average) and have a higher phytoclast content (23% on average). AOM in the Fmlc shales is highly fluorescent; these shales are interpreted to have been deposited in dysoxic to anoxic conditions. The AOM in the Fml shales is weakly fluorescent and the shales were deposited under more oxic conditions. The kerogen in the shales ranges from immature to early oil window mature. Average values of the pyrolysis S2 yield are 15.5 mg HC/g of rock and 7 mg HC/g of rock for samples from Fmlc and Fml facies shales respectively. The shales increase in thickness northwards towards the Logone Birni Basin where they may have reached the oil window, as in neighbouring basins. The results of this study of lacustrine shales from the Mayo Oulo‐Léré Basin suggests that there may be potential for oil exploration in northern Cameroon.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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