Assessment of the petroleum, coal and geothermal resources of the economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) Region

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5585730· OSTI ID:5585730

Mattick, Robert E. ^[1]; Spencer, Frank D. ^[1]; Zihlman, Frederick N. ^[1]

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1. U.S. Geological Survey, Boulder, CO (United States)

Approximately 85 percent of the land area of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) region is covered by basement rocks (igneous and highly metamorphosed rocks) or relatively thin layers of Paleozoic, Upper Precambrian, and Continental Intercalaire sedimentary rocks. These areas have little or no petroleum potential. The ECOWAS region can be divided into 13 sedimentary basins on the basis of analysis of the geologic framework of Africa. These 13 basins can be further grouped into 8 categories on the basis of similarities in stratigraphy, geologic history, and probable hydrocarbon potential. The author has attempted to summarize the petroleum potential within the geologic framework of the region. The coal discoveries can be summarized as follows: the Carboniferous section in the Niger Basin; the Paleocene-Maestrichtian, Maestrichtian, and Eocene sections in the Niger Delta and Benin; the Maestrichtian section in the Senegal Basin; and the Pleistocene section in Sierra Leone. The only proved commercial deposits are the Paleocene-Maestrichtian and Maestrichtian subbituminous coal beds of the Niger Delta. Some of the lignite deposits of the Niger Delta and Senegal Basin, however, may be exploitable in the future. Published literature contains limited data on heat-flow values in the ECOWAS region. It is inferred, however, from the few values available and the regional geology that the development of geothermal resources, in general, would be uneconomical. Exceptions may include a geopressured zone in the Niger Delta and areas of recent tectonic activity in the Benue Trough and Cameroon. Development of the latter areas under present economic conditions is not feasible.

• Research Organization: US Geological Survey, Boulder, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Dept. of the Interior (DOI) (United States); USDOE
• OSTI ID: 5585730
• Report Number(s): USGS-OFR-82-714; ON: DE84900493
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
AFRICA
COAL DEPOSITS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
STRATIGRAPHY
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
CHAD
GAMBIA
IVORY COAST
LIBERIA
MALI
MAURITANIA
NIGER
NIGERIA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SENEGAL
SIERRA LEONE
UPPER VOLTA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
Geothermal Legacy
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
011000 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
150102 - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability- Non-USA- (-1989)