--> Abstract: Pushing Exploration Boundaries in the Heartland Niger Delta, by Fidel I. Onichabor, Ian G. Wilson, Berti Ozumba, Enyinnaya Eteh, Thibaut Burckhart, Raphael Esedo, and Oduagbon Okao; #90039 (2005)

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Pushing Exploration Boundaries in the Heartland Niger Delta

Fidel I. Onichabor1, Ian G. Wilson1, Berti Ozumba2, Enyinnaya Eteh1, Thibaut Burckhart1, Raphael Esedo1, and Oduagbon Okao1
1 Shell Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2 Shell Petroluem Development Company of Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Although the onshore Niger Delta has been exploited for hydrocarbons for about 50 years and has begun to exhibit attributes of a mature basin, recent integrated evaluation efforts indicate that it still has enormous potential. In 2002, SPDC's top 50 oil and gas prospects had total MSVs of over 2,000 mmbbl and 24 TCF respectively. This portfolio satisfied the near field exploration objective. However, a new Shell group exploration strategy for “Big Cats” (prospect MSV > 300 mmbbl), which led to the creation of the Growth team, triggered a change in paradigm, and unleashed the full benefits of integration of regional geology and geophysics.

Results of recent integrated regional studies indicate large oil resources in hydrostatically pressured reservoirs at depth > 15,000 ft ss in the Central and Coastal Swamp Depobelts of the Niger Delta. This has, thus, opened up a new play….”The Deep Normally Pressured Play”. This play, which hitherto constituted a large proportion of the deep play portfolio, was believed to be characterised by high pressures and high temperatures (HPHT). Hence it remained unattractive due to the perceived cost and risks associated with deep HPHT drilling. The new play has stratigraphically controlled onset of top overpressures at depths > 15,000 ft ss and corresponds to the major depocentres of the macrostructures. The evaluation result of Diebu Creek East deep prospect (oil MSV > 400 mmbbl) illustrates the potential of the new deep play. This prospect is scheduled to drill in 2005.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005