Estimation of Sedimentary Layer Thicknesses over Parts of Northern Bida Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out with the aim of interpreting the aeromagnetic data to delineate the sedimentary layer thickness over Northern part of Bida Basin for possible hydrocarbon potential. The study area is bounded by longitude 40 30’ to 50 30’ N and latitude 90 30’ to 100 30’E with an estimated total area of 12100 km2 covering four (4) aeromagnetic sheets of Auna, Kontagora, Kainji and Fashe. The Total magnetic intensity (TMI) map was subjected to the regional-residual magnetic field separation using the upward continuation filter. Subsequently, the residual magnetic field anomaly map was subjected to the estimation of the sedimentary layer thickness using; the Spectral depth analysis, Source parameter imaging (SPI) and Euler deconvolution (ED) methods. However, the Spectral analysis revealed a maximum sedimentary thickness of 3.16 km, SPI method revealed a depth of 3.78 km and also ED method also revealed a depth of 3.34 km. The results from the ED method were superimposed on the SPI map plot to measure the degree of similarity between the two interpretation methods and a very good correlation was observed. It was found that, the northwestern (NW) around Auna to southeastern (SE) at Fashe sheets has the highest sedimentation while the northeastern (NE) at Kontagora to southwestern at Kainji showed low sedimentation. Therefore, the maximum sedimentary layer thickness obtained from the Spectral analysis, SPI and ED techniques can perhaps act as prospective locations for hydrocarbon characterization.