Organic geochemical evaluation of crude oils from some producing fields in the Niger Delta basin, Nigeria

Geochemical and biomarker characteristics of representative crude oil samples from selected fields in southern Nigeria were evaluated to determine the organic matter input, origin of biological material, depositional environment, thermal maturity, and genetic relationship between the oils. Four crude oil samples were obtained from various oil producing fields from Delta, Bayelsa and Abia state in southern Nigeria and labeled Kwale (KW), Kolo creek (KLC), Owaza (OWA1 and OWA2). The crude oil samples were fractionated into saturates, aromatic hydrocarbons and polar compounds using column chromatography on silica gel thereafter, analyzed using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The calculated ratios of normal alkanes, acyclic isoprenoids, carbon preference index (CPI), hopanes, and steranes showed the following results: Pr/Ph (0.34 to 0.89); C29/C27 (0.78 to 1.25); 20S/(20S + 20R)C29sterane (0.28 to 0.66); 22S/(22S + 22R)C32 homohopane (0.17 to 0.23); CPI (0.96 to 0.98); Ts/Ts + Tm (0.46 to 0.50); and sterane/hopane (0.16 to 0.87). The results obtained were used to correlate the crude oils with respect to depositional environment, thermal maturity, and organic matter source. The Pr/Ph ratios of KW and KLC were less than one, and the cross-plot of Pr/nC17 versus Ph/nC18 of KW and KLC suggested that the oils were deposited under anoxic environments, whereas OWA1 and OWA2 indicated oxic conditions with no biodegradation. From the calculated ratios of 22S (22S + 22R)C32 homohopane and CPI, the oils were mature and had entered the generating window. Sample OWA1 is the most mature, while KLC is the least mature. The calculated ratios also showed that the four oil samples were from a shale source rock with both terrestrial and marine inputs.