Geological and Petroleum System Insights from the Northern Benue Trough: Implications for Hydrocarbon Potential in the Bornu Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

This study integrates comprehensive fieldwork conducted in the Gongola Sub-Basin of 
the Northern Benue Trough with subsurface data from the Bornu Basin to provide a 
detailed examination of the geological evolution and hydrocarbon potential of these 
interconnected basins. Due to security concerns limiting direct access to the Bornu 
Basin and the lack of accessible outcrops, field studies were instead carried out in an 
analogous region within the Northern Benue Trough, which exhibits similar stratigraphic 
and structural characteristics. The primary goal was to gather direct evidence of 
sedimentological and tectonic processes to support the interpretation of hydrocarbon 
generation in the Bornu Basin. Key stratigraphic units, including the Bima, Yolde, and 
Kerri-Kerri Formations, were analyzed for their depositional environments, sediment 
provenance, and diagenetic alterations, with particular emphasis on tectonic features 
such as normal faults and unconformities. The field investigations revealed critical 
geological features, such as fractured basement rocks, cross-bedded sandstones, and 
oil-stained sediments, suggesting active petroleum migration and entrapment in the 
region. Petrographic analysis of well cuttings and well logs from the Bornu Basin further 
corroborated these findings, providing evidence of oil-charged intervals and confirming 
the presence of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. Additionally, diagenetic processes, 
including quartz overgrowth and iron oxide cementation, were observed to influence 
reservoir quality by altering porosity and permeability within the Bima and Kerri-Kerri 
Formations. The study demonstrates the significant tectonic and paleoclimatic 
influences that have shaped the geological history of both basins, with particular focus 
on rifting and faulting during the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. By utilizing an 
integrated approach that combines field observations with subsurface data, this 
research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the petroleum systems in the 
Bornu and Northern Benue Troughs. The findings suggest that while the Northern Benue 
Trough has been relatively well-explored, the Bornu Basin remains underexplored and 
holds substantial untapped hydrocarbon resources. This work also emphasizes the value 
of analog basin studies in addressing logistical challenges in hydrocarbon exploration, 
particularly in regions with limited access due to security or terrain constraints.