Determination of Hydrocarbon Potentials Using High Resolution Aeromagnetic Data over Sokoto Basin, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Aeromagnetic method of exploration is famed for its suitability for locating buried magnetic ore bodies because of their magnetic susceptibility. This method has been used in the early stage of petroleum exploration to determine depth and major structures of crystalline Basement rocks underlying the sedimentary basin. In this study, high resolution aeromagnetic data were used to ascertain the viability for hosting hydrocarbon potentials of the study area which forms part of the Illummeden Basin (also known locally as the Sokoto embayment) of West Africa. This was largely carried out through Spectra analysis to determine sediment thickness. The results of the analysis of the aeromagnetic data show that, deeper magnetic source ranges from 0.41 km to 2.69 km, shallow magnetic sources from 0.17 km to 0.97 km. Areas with shallow sediment thickness could not allow the thermal maturation of the sediments, since temperature increase with depth and a depth of two kilometers and above has a temperature range of 60 ° C and above. Areas with sediment thickness of 1.5 km and above were delineated and considered as sub-basins and hence potential areas for hydrocarbon exploration.