Integrated Geological Analysis of the AI Well, Niger Delta Basin: Insights into Reservoir Characterization and Hydrocarbon Potential

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the AI well within the Agbada Formation, focusing on its depositional environment, reservoir characteristics, and dominant mineralogical composition. One hundred rock samples were collected at various depths ranging from 6000 ft to 10120 ft and subjected to detailed petrographic, geochemical, and sedimentological analyses. Petrographic thin section analysis, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) were performed on five selected samples to determine their mineral phases and geochemical compositions. Sedimentological analysis of the remaining samples included assessments of grain size, sorting, and lithofacies. The petrographic analysis revealed quartz as the predominant mineral, constituting 27.2–28.8% of the reservoir components, along with plagioclase (3.8–2.5%) and clay minerals (57.2–52.8%). XRD results supported these findings, showing quartz content ranging from 35–51%. XRF analysis indicated that SiO2 is the most abundant oxide (63.264–36.662%), followed by Fe2O3 (19.718–10.519%), and Al2O3 (16.147–10.462%). Sedimentological results revealed an almost equal sand-clay ratio, suggesting a paralic depositional environment within the Agbada Formation of the Niger Delta. The integration of geochemical, petrographic, and sedimentological data provides detailed insights into the reservoir characteristics and mineral composition, highlighting factors that can influence reservoir performance. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the depositional environments and diagenetic processes within the Niger Delta Basin, offering valuable implications for hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir management.