Nanno-Bioevents and Condensed Section of Well –BXW Offshore, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Ditch cutting samples from well - BXW in the offshore area of the Niger Delta were studied for their lithofacies and nannofossil content with the aim of establishing age and stratigraphic significance of the condensed section delineated from the well. Standard procedures were employed for lithologic description and nannofossils preparation techniques. The lithofacies penetrated thick shale units and some sandy shales. The rich and well preserved calcareous nannofossils recovered allowed the establishment of four zones of NN12, NN11, NN9 and ?NN8 belonging to early Pliocene - Late Miocene (Zanclean - Tortonian stage). The condensed sections identified were tied to 5.0Ma, 5.8Ma, 7.4Ma and 9.5Ma maximum flooding surfaces. Detailed analyses of condensed sections as important framework for assessing: age; acme /characteristic assemblages of nannofossils within the condensed section; paleo-depositonal environment; potential source rock; information on rate of sedimentation, and a glimpse of the oceanographic condition in the studied basin was presented.