3D structural and stratigraphic characterization of X field Niger Delta: implications for CO2 sequestration

Carbon capture and sequestration technology has been a ground-breaking tool in tackling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions worldwide but has limitedly been researched and practised in Africa at present. Considering the vast growth and developmental level in the continent, there is a need to consider this option of mitigating global climate change. In this study, a systematic and process-based incorporation of seismic and well logs datasets was used to characterize the structural and stratigraphic framework of sandstone reservoirs within the field in order to determine their capacities for effective CO2 sequestration. Petrophysical analysis, fault modelling as well as geostatistical techniques were used to build facies and property models which enabled a qualitative assessment of the sealing potential of faults associated with the reservoirs based on prediction of key properties such as shale gouge ratio, lithological juxtaposition, fault permeability and fault transmissibility across the fault faces. Nine water-bearing sandstone reservoirs (reservoirs A–J) with varying reservoir quality were identified in the field. The dominance of high SGR, low permeability, higher fault throws and low fault transmissibility values at the lower parts of the faults indicates the deeper structural traps of the field are low-risk zones and might serve as good storage areas for CO2.