n-AlKanes Base Exploration as Potential Petroleum Source Rocks in ILullemmeden Basin (Sokoto Basin) North west Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this work is to investigate the potential petroleum shales of Dukamaje formation in Sokoto basin for their petroleum potentials. A total of sixteen samples were obtained from different parts of the basin. The samples were subjected to sohxlet extraction to extract the bitumen. The bitumen was subjected to column chromatography and aliphatic and aromatic fractions were collected from each sample by using DCM and n-hexane as solvents. The fractions were subjected to GC/MS analyses with the application of SIM method (selected ion monitoring) which revealed the wide variety of hydrocarbons compounds including n-alkanes, hopanes, sterenes, phenanthrenes, methyl-phenanthrenes and triaromatic steroids. Interpretation biomarker parameters revealed that the rocks under studies are endowed with organic matter. Also biomarker correlation parameters were employed to compute the quantity of organic matter, type of organic matter, thermal maturity of the organic matter and to assess the depositional environment of the rocks samples. The biomarker parameters indicated that the source organic matter is mostly from marine environment, the depositional condition found to be anoxic reducing condition. The shales are reach in organic matter and the shales are found to be partially matured.