Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments of Well BL-IX, Deep Offshore, Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

Foraminiferal biostratigraphic analysis was carried out using one hundred and sixty (160) ditch cutting samples from BL-IX well, deep offhore, Niger Delta basin, Nigeria. The interval studied is 7710 -13020 ft belonging to Agbada Formation. Lithologically the section varies from shaly sand to sandy shale to shale. Biozonation included four planktonic zones are : Globigerinoides extremis, G. humerosa zone-interval zone , Globorotalia acostaensis zone-taxon range zone Globorotalia fohsi peripheronda- Globigerinetella insueta zone-interval zone , Catapsidrax stainforthi zone,- taxon range zone which are correlatable with the zones of previous workers. Samples from the section was dated early to late Miocene based on the paleontological evidences. Sediments of well BL-IX were deposited in the lower to upper bathyal environments based on the environmentally restricted benthic species