Evaluation of Bio-molecular Signatures and Hydrocarbon Potential of Upper Cretaceous Shale, NE Nigeria

The Bornu Basin is a sector of the Chad Basin located in the northeastern part of Nigeria, occupying about one-tenth of total area in Chad Basin. Twenty-eight representative shale cutting samples retrieved from Tuma-1, Sa-1 and Albarka-1 exploratory wells were analyzed. Seventeen shale samples systematically selected from Gongila, Fika Shale and Chad Formations were subjected to Total Organic Content (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, Soluble Organic Matter, Liquid Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry analyses. This is to characterize and assess the potential capability of the shale units.