The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Mesoproterozoic–Paleozoic intracratonic Voltaian Basin, West African Craton, Ghana

Abstract

Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins are increasingly gaining hydrocarbon exploration attention globally following results of significant discoveries in these basins as a result of long, consistent and focused research and exploration efforts. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the unexplored Mesoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic Voltaian basin is reviewed relative to global Neoproterozoic basins. Like the Voltaian basin of Ghana, global Neoproterozoic basins have experienced similar geological event of glaciation with accompanying deposition of marginal–shallow marine carbonates and associated siliciclastic argillaceous sediments. These carbonates and argillaceous sediments coupled with deep anoxic depositional environments, favored the preservation of organic matter in these sediments and carbonates globally making them source rocks and in some cases the reservoir rocks as well, to hydrocarbon occurrence. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Voltaian is highly probable with Neoproterozoic basins of similar geologic analogies, Amadeus basin, Illizi basin, the Tindouf and Taoudeni basins of the WAC, having proven and active petroleum systems with some listed as world class oil/gas producing basins together with other Neoproterozoic basins like South Salt Oman basin, Barnett shales and giant gas reserves of southwestern Sichuan basin of China.

Fossil evidence in the Bimbila Limestones of the Oti Group in the Voltaian Basin of Ghana

“…The bitumen presence could be evidence of the fact that the limestones of the basin are possible source rocks. Analysis by Abu et al (2021) even further confirmed that the limestones in the north-eastern region of the Voltaian basin are dolomitic and barite bearing due to hydrothermal mineralization of the carbonates (Abu et al, 2021). However, the presence of any biogenic materials (fossils) which may be responsible for the generation of the hydrocarbons behind these oil seeps is yet to be reported.…”

An Analysis of Silurian Paleo–Tethys Hydrocarbon Source Rock Characteristics in North Africa, the Middle East, and South China

“…The sedimentary basin in the North African Craton, such as the Triassic Basin, underwent Pan-Cratonic sedimentary filling during the Paleozoic Era, depositing strata from the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous periods. Similar to the entire Sahara Platform, the basin was profoundly influenced by the Caledonian orogeny, resulting in an uneven uplift [64]. Earlier sedimentary layers experienced varying degrees of erosion, leading to a widespread absence of Permian strata in the basin (Figure 5).…”

Evaluation of porosity and permeability of sandstones within the Oti Group of the Volta Basin using petrophysical and petrographic techniques

“…During research by Boamah (2017), bitumen was also found in the quartz veins and carbonate rocks of the Buipe quarry (Boamah, 2017). Analysis by Abu et al (2021) further confirmed that the limestones in the north-eastern region of the country are dolomitic and barite bearing due to hydrothermal mineralization of the carbonates (Abu et al, 2021). It is therefore necessary to study the porosities and permeabilities of the rocks within the Volta Basin to ascertain their potential as petroleum reservoir rocks.…”