Structural development of the Niger Delta outer fold and thrust belt.

WB Jones (william.jones@pgs.com) & JG Clark (john.clark@pgs.com)

PGS Reservoir UK, 17 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7AA
Introduction
2
10,000 km of PGS multi client 3D seismic data have been interpreted over the outer fold and thrust belt
(toe thrust zone) of the Niger Delta southern lobe, Gulf of Guinea. The survey covers OPL 244, 245, 256,
257 and JDZ Blocks 1, 2, 3, & 4 (Nigeria and Sao Tome & Principe). Four horizons have been interpreted
in the deltaic succession and also the Cretaceous oceanic crust which forms the basement.
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the nature of the toe thrust zone and its relationship with the
underlying mud prone Akata Formation and Cretaceous oceanic crust.

Chain Fracture Zone

Fernando Po Fr acture Zone

Charcot Fracture Zone

Figure 1: Location and Geological setting of the study area (in red) within Niger Delta Basin. Note, inner
thrust zone is within zone of shale diapirism in above diagram.

Regional Geology and Stratigraphic Development

The Niger Delta is a Cenozoic wave dominated delta system that can be regionally divided into two lobes
in the west and south separated by the Charcot Fracture Zone (Figure 1). The Chain Fracture Zone limits
the western lobe to the north and the Fernando Po limits the southern delta lobe to the south east.
The Niger Delta stratigraphy can be separated into three major Megasequences of the Benin, Agbada
and Akata Formations. The Benin Formation is the most proximal of the three composed of pre-
dominantly continental fluvial deposits that do not extend offshore into deepwater. The Agbada Formation
is a mixed clastic succession composed of sands and shales deposited in deepwater systems with sands
deposited in fan successions (Figure 2). The boundary of the Agbada and Akata Formations is broadly
tied to a major change in seismic facies from the stratified continuous reflections of the Agbada to the
incoherent reflections of the Akata. The Akata Formation is a sequence of pro delta muds deposited in a
pelagic system formed as a result of the Sokoto transgression during the Paleocene (Corredor 2005 et
al). The muds have become highly over pressured which has been attributed to chemical compaction.
The Akata Formation exhibits a velocity inversion as a result of over pressure reducing the interval
velocity of the succession.
A strong reflector is observed here within the Akata Formation (Figure 2A). The event has been
previously attributed to a detachment level of the overlying thrusts (Corredor et al 2005). Though, it may
also relate to a lack of overpressure in a particular unit resulting from fluid expulsion facilitating
compaction. Another possibility is an alternative lithology (limestone, cemented sandstone or igneous)
though more work is required to support this model (Figure 2A). The reflector is spatially coincident with a
compressional system characterised by a thickening of the Akata to the south, suggesting the two
features may be genetically related (Figure 2A).

Class I 10 km S
2A

Negative High amplitude Compressional

flower reflector pericline
structure (system)
Strike-slip fault Cretaceous
ocean floor

Figures 2/2A: 2 illustrates interpreted horizons (legend with inferred ages) and their relationship to the toe
thrusts, with underlying Akata Formation and oceanic crust. 2A illustrates an intra Akata high amplitude
reflector and its spatial coincidence with a potential slump structure.

Structural Geology and Relationship to Oceanic Crust

Two large fold and thrust belts (inner and outer fold and thrust belts) accommodate gravity driven
extension on the shelf of the southern delta lobe into the deep water (Figure 1). This subsequently
creates complex styles of compressional deformation (Figure 2/2A).
We have separated the compressional faulting into two broad classes;
• Class I toe thrusts: Individual thrusts range from 2-8km apart and are blind thrusts, with a single
basal detachment, creating broad closures (Figure 2).
 • Class II toe thrusts: Steeply dipping, higher spatial frequency (2-3km). Break the seabed in the
eastern JDZ part of the study region. They also form tighter folds and are more susceptible to
erosion.
The mixed clastic Agbada Formation can be structurally separated into 2 units. The lower (deeper) unit
has been deformed by the folding and thrusting at approximately the end of the Miocene with much of the
thrust packages exhibiting relatively conformable thicknesses (Figure 2). Recent fault movement is
evident in the more basinal (westerly) regions of the data, due to an increase in thickness of the faulted
succession. The succession is thrusted by both fore and back thrusts indicating resistance to basal
movement of the sediment. The younger upper unit onlaps the thrust blocks and infills the asymmetric
piggy back basins on the falling limb of the thrust faults (Figure 2). The top of the upper unit is the present
day seabed.
Fault displacement in the thrust faults is taken up by reverse faulting at depth but progressively by
hanging wall anticlines at shallower levels. The thrust planes detach within the underlying overpressured
Akata Shale (Figures 2/2A). The thrust belt appears to be mainly controlled by the critical taper wedge
contained between the surface and the Akata detachment plane, which exhibits an anomalously low taper
compared with most orogenic belts (Bilotti & Shaw 2005). This implies a very weak basal detachment in
the Akata shale due to overpressure.
The previously mentioned large compressional system (Figure 2A) is an example of a Type II imbricate
thrust system documented by Corredor et al in 2005. Two decollement levels within the Akata (at the top
and the other near the base) connected by a master ramp. This creates large anticlines cored by the
structurally thickened Akata Formation. This model suggests that this feature formed later than the
original thrust complex refolding older thrusts.
Recent discoveries in the outer fold and thrust belt, including Agbami, Bonga, Chota, Ngolo, Nnwa, Obo
and Zabazaba are all structural traps related to compressional structures.
Four important observations have been made on the relationship of the oceanic basement to the
overlying delta succession:
• NE – SW trending depressions (troughs) have been observed in the oceanic crust (Figure 3).
They are parallel to the oceanic fracture zones and seem to offset the sedimentary pile. Above
one such zone in the NW of the study region thrust orientation changes with basinal thrusting to
the South East and thrusts verging towards the hinterland on its North West side.
• NNW – SSE trending mid ocean ridge parallel normal faults (Figure 3). These faults are indicative
of oceanic crust and have also been identified on the western lobe of the Niger Delta (Briggs et al
2009).
• Class I toe thrusts appear to be unrelated to underlying oceanic crust and more coincident with
the orientation of the tapering wedge as they show a WNW – ESE orientation (Figure 3).
• There is an ENE – WSW trending basement ridge in the JDZ (Figures 4 & 5). The ridge is
spatially coincident with overlying ENE- WSW trending imbricate thrusts (Class II) suggesting that
they are genetically related.
 Thrust trend Basement trough NE- SW
Basement Trough NE- superimposed on Complex faulting in North
SW strike ocean crust fault trend
WNW- ESE

Mid Ocean Ridge 50 km

parallel normal faults
NNW- SSE striking

Figure 3: TWT map of the basement (blue/purple = deep, red/green= shallow) Ridge parallel faults in
west and JDZ. Velocity inversion in Akata Formation has left in print of thrusting in Agbada overburden
due to thickening of Akata Formation beneath thrust faults.

W Class I Class II E

Unconformity on top of 10 km
tilted fault blocks
Top of Upper Cretaceous sediments
downlapping onto oceanic crust

Figure 4: West to East strike line across region illustrating large anticlinal structure in the west (possible
slump feature) with Akata Formation upwelling. Imbricate thrusts of the eastern JDZ to the east.
 Area of 3D interpretation Class II

Top Akata

Top Oceanic Crust

Basement Ridge

Figure 5: NW to SE dip line illustrating imbricate thrust which are coincident with underlying basement
ridge

Conclusions
2
An interpretation of 10,000km of 3D seismic data within the toe thrust zone of the Niger Delta, Gulf of
Guinea has been completed. The data straddles Nigerian and JDZ acreage on the southern lobe of the
Niger Delta.
Four horizons plus the oceanic crust have been interpreted dividing the sedimentary succession into
Agbada Formation (upper and lower units) and Akata Formation. The oceanic crust appears to play a role
in the formation of Class II (imbricate) thrusts by providing a ridge at depth restricting basinal movement
of the sediment. Oceanic crust has less of an impact on the Class I toe thrusts as they appear to be more
WNW- ESE in orientation compared to the mid ocean ridge parallel faults in the oceanic crust which are
NNW- SSE. This suggests investigating the topography of the basement is important in understanding
formation of structures in the overlying sedimentary succession.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Jaume Vendrell and Henry Dodwell for their assistance during the undertaking of
this work.

References
Corredor, F, Shaw, J.H & Bilotti F.2005. Structural Styles in the deep- water fold and thrust belts of the
Niger Delta. AAPG Bulletin, v. 89, NO.6 (June 2005), pp 753-780
Bilotti, F. & Shaw, J.H 2005. Deep-water Niger Delta fold and thrust belt modelled as a critical taper
wedge: The influence of elevated basinal fluid on structural styles. AAPGBulletin, v. 89, NO. 11
(November 2005), PP. 1475-1491
Briggs, S.E, Cartwright, J. & Davies R.J.2009. Crustal structure of the deepwater west Niger Delta
passive margin from the interpretation of seismic reflection data. Marine and Petroleum Geology 26
(2009) 936- 950