Qualitative interpretation of high resolution aeromagnetic (HRAM) data from some parts of offshore Niger delta, Nigeria

Abstract

This research is aimed at determining the lineaments with corresponding trend directions, to infer the effect of such lineaments on the general tectonic history and, perhaps, the implication of the above findings towards hydrocarbon exploration within the offshore Niger Delta of the study area. The original raster map, obtained from the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) in half degree sheet, was subjected to qualitative data analysis using the WingLink geophysical and visualization software. This analysis generated the contoured composite map of the study area. The Regional and the residual map were generated first and the Residual map obtained is in turn used to generate the first vertical derivative, first horizontal derivative, second vertical derivative, upward continued, and the reduction to pole maps. The result shows NE-SW, NW-SE, N-S and S-W trends. This probably was the result of faulting, fracturing, down warp and epeirogenic warping within the study area with the N-S and E-W bounded fault blocks, regarded as secondary faults, influencing tectonics of the area.

Key Words: Enhancement techniques, High resolution aeromagnetic data, Magnetic partial derivatives, offshore Niger Delta.