Gravity tectonics controls on reservoir-scale sandbodies: Insights from 3D seismic geomorphology of the canyons buried in the upper slope of the Eastern Niger delta basin

• Published in: Energy Geoscience Vol. 5; no. 3; p. 100293
• Main Authors: Oguadinma, Vivian O., Reynaud, Jean-Yves, Delhaye-Prat, Vincent, Akpi, Tony, Thackrey, Scott, Lanisa, Ademola, Dall’Asta, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024; Elsevier; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: 3D seismic; Channel; Earth Sciences; Fault; Geomorphology; Geophysics; Reservoir; Sciences of the Universe; Shale ridge; Stratigraphy; Submarine canyon; Shale ridge; Geomorphology; 3D seismic; Channel; Reservoir; Fault; Submarine canyon
• ISSN: 2666-7592; 2666-7592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engeos.2024.100293

High-resolution 3D seismic data analysis was integrated with a calibrated well and biostratigraphy data to present the first overview of a buried Pleistocene canyon system on the upper slope of the eastern Niger Delta, the Galabor Canyon. Attribute maps of specific horizons allow documenting the changing morphologies and infill lithologies of two main branches of the canyon through two stages of activity separated by a reference horizon dated at 0.99 Ma based on well calibration. At the upper slope, growth faults dissect the canyon heads, the catchment of which encroaches a network of valleys incised on the outer shelf. The canyon fill is composed of muddy channels and mass-transport deposits, largely derived from the collapse of canyon walls and sand-rich bodies forming a tract sourced by shelf-edge deltas at the outlet of the incised valleys. High-density turbiditic processes likely control the distribution of sand bodies along the canyon, ranging from tributary fans on the upper slope to 6 km-wide meander belts on the middle slope. The sandy deposits accumulate in minibasins formed along the canyon path, downstream of the subsiding hanging wall of the growth faults and upstream of shale ridges that damp the flow in the canyon. These results show that canyons can be major targets for sand reservoir exploration on the upper slope of large muddy deltas. [Display omitted] •A 3D seismic volume is investigated to study the geomorphology of Pleistocene canyons of the Eastern Niger Delta.•Attribute maps and seismic sections are used to document a variety of geobodies emplaced by gravity-driven processes.•Meandering, sandy channel belts sourced by shelf-edge deltas are abundant and well preserved in the upper slope.•Growth faults and shale diapirs control traps for sand routed downstream the canyon.•The results support the idea that submarine canyon sands have a good reservoir potential.