Assessment of Geothermal Potential of Parts of Middle Benue Trough, North-East Nigeria

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Science, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

3 M.Sc. Graduated, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Lafia, Nigeria

Abstract

This research deals with assessment of geothermal potential in parts of middle Benue Trough, north-east of Nigeria. The study area lies within the Longitude 9°E – 10°E and Latitude 8°N – 9.50°N with an estimated total area of 18,150 km2. Regional/Residual separation was performed on the total magnetic intensity using polynomial fitting. The residual map was divided into 14 overlapping spectral blocks, and the log of spectral energies were plotted against frequency. Centroid depth and depth to top boundary obtained were used to estimate the Curie point depth isotherm, which was then used to compute geothermal heat flow of the study area. The result shows that the geothermal heat flow varies between 50.02 and 85.1 mWm-2 with highest value in the southern part (Akiri and Ibi) and north-western part (Pankshin) of the area. The geothermal heat flow obtained from this study indicates that the study area possess a good source of geothermal potential. The aero-radiometric data covering the study area was also analysed to estimate the radiometric heat contribution. The analysis of aero-radiometric data shows that the area possesses high content of Uranium, Potassium and Thorium. The radioactive heat production values vary between 1.58 μW/m3 and 2.53 μW/m3 with an average of 2.21 μW/m3. Thus, harnessing the geothermal potential in this area would be of added values and advantage to power generation in Nigeria.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abraham, E. M, Lawal, K. M., Ekwe, A. C., Alile, O., Murana, K. A. and Lawal, A.A., 2014, Spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data for geothermal energy investigation of Ikogosi Warm Spring-Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria. Geothermal Energy. 2(1), 1, doi:10.1186/s40517-014-0018-9.
Ajayi, C. O. and D. E. Ajakaiye, 1986, Structures deduced from gravity data in the middle Benue, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 5, 359-369.
Akande, S. O.,  Egenhoff, S. O., Obaje, N. G. and Erdtmann, B. D., 2011, Stratigraphic evolution and petroleum potential of middle cretaceous sediments in the lower and middle BenueTrough, Nigeria: Insights from New Source Rock Facies Evaluation. Petroleum Technology Development Journal (ISSN 1595-9104).
Babalola, O. O., 2004, High-Potential geothermal energy resources areas of Nigeria and their geological and geophysical assessment. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 1, 68, 4, AAPG.
Bako A. S. J., 2010, Geothermal energy potential in the part of middle benue trough located in Nasarawa state. A thesis submitted to the postgraduate school, Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, Nigeria.
Benkhelil, J., 1982, Benue Trough and Benue Chain. Geological Magazine, 119, 155-168.
Benkhelil, J., 1989, The origin and evolution of the cretaceous Benue Trough (Nigeria). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 8, 251-282.
Bhattacharyya, B. K., 1966, Continuous spectrum of the total magnetic field anomaly due to a rectangular prismatic body. Geophysics, 31, 97-121.
Bhattacharyya, B. K. and Leu, L. K., 1975, Analysis of magnetic anomalies over Yellowstone National Park: mapping of Curie point isothermal surface for geothermal reconnaissance. Journal of Geophysical Research, 80, 4461–4465.
Burke, K. C., Dessauvagie, T. F. J. and Whiteman, A. J., 1970, Geologic history of the Benue Valley and adjacent areas. In: Dessauvagie T.F.J. and Whiteman, A.J. (eds): African Geology, University of Ibaban Press, Nigeria, 187-206.
Connard, G., Couch, R. and Gemperle, M., 1983, Analysis of Aeromagnetic measurements from the Cascade Range in Central Oregon. Geophysics, 48, 376- 390.
Cratchley, C. R. and G. P. Jones, 1965, An interpretation of the geology and gravity anomalies of the Benue Valley, Nigeria. Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 1, 1-26.
Dickson, M. and Fanelli, M., 2004, What is geothermal energy. Instituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse,CNR , Pisa, Italy.
Dolmaz, M. N., Ustaomer, T., Hisarli, Z. M. and Orbay, N., 2005, Curie point depth variations to infer thermal structure of the crust at the African-Eurasian convergence zone, SW Turkey. Earth Planets Space, 57, 373–383.
Eletta, B. E. and Udensi, E. E., 2012, Investigation of Curie point isotherm from the magnetic field of Easter sector of central Nigeria. Global Journal of Geosciences, 2(4), 101–106.
Holmberg, H., Naess, E. and Evensen, J. E., 2012, Thermal Modeling in the Oslo rift. In: Norway. Proceedings, 37th workshop on geothermal reservoir engineering, Stanford University.
Ikechukwu, I. O., Derick, C. A. and Olusola, O. B., 2015, Exploration and application of geothermal energy in Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 6(2), 726, ISSN 2229-5518.
Jaupart, C. and Mareschal, J. C., 2003, Constraints on crustal heat production from heat flow data. In: Treatise of geochemistry: the crust. Rudnick, Elsevier, (3), 65–84.
Kasidi, S. and Nur, A. 2012, Curie depth isotherm deduced from spectral analysis of Magnetic data over sarti and environs of North-Eastern Nigeria. Scholarly Journal of Biotechnology, 1(3), 49 -56.
Kasidi, S. and Nur, A., 2013, Estimation of Curie Point depth, heat flow and geothermal gradient infered from aeromagnetic data over Jalingo and Environs. International Journal of Science and Emerging Technology, 6(6), 294-301.
Kuforijimi, O. and Christopher, A., 2017, Assessment of Aero-radiometric Data of Southern Anambra Basin for the Prospect of Radiogenic Heat Production. Journal of Applied Science and Environmental Management. 21(4), 743-748.
Megwara, J. U., Udensi, E. E., Olasehinde, P. I. Daniyan, M. A. and Lawal, K. M., 2013, Geothermal and radioactive heat studies of parts of southern Bida basin, Nigeria and the surrounding basement rocks. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 125-139.
Mishra, D. C. and Naidu, P. S., 1974, Two Dimensional Power Spectrum and Analysis of Aeromagnetic Fields. Geophysical Prospecting, 22(2), 345-353.
Muffler, P. and Cataldi, R., 1978, Methods for regional assessment of geothermal resources. Geothermics, 7, 53-89.
Nagata, T., 1961, Rock Magnetism, 350 pp., Maruzen, Tokyo,
Nwankwo, L. I., Olasehinde, P. I. and Akaosile, C. O., 2011, Heat flow anomalies from the spectral analysis of airborne magnetic data of Nupe Basin, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Earth Sciences, 1(3), 5-6.
Nwogbo, P. O., 1997, Mapping the shallow magnetic sources in the Upper Benue Basin in Nigeria from aeromagnetic. Spectra, 4(3/4), 325-333.
Nwosu, O. B., 2014, Determination of Magnetic Basement Depth over Parts of Middle Benue Trough by Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) Technique Using HRAM. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 3(1), ISSN 2277-8616.
Obaje, N. G., 1994, Coal Petrology, Microfossils and Palaeoenvironments of Cretaceous Coal Measures in the Middle Benue Trough of Nigeria. Tubinger Mikropalaontologische Mitteilugen, 11, 1-150. 
Obaje, N. G., 2009, Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences. Eds.: Bhattacharji, S., Neugebauer, H.J., Reitner, J. and Stuwe, K. pub. Springer.
Offodile, M. E., 1976, The Geology of the Middle Benue Nigeria. Cretaceous Research, Paleontological Institute: University of Uppsala. Special Publication. 4, 1-166.
Offodile, M. E., 1984, The Geology and Tectonics of Awe Brine Field. Journal of Earth Sciences, 2, 191-202.
Ofoegbu, C. O., 1985, A review of the geology of the Benue trough, Nigeria. Journal African Earth Sciences, 283-291.
Ofor, N. P. and Udensi, E. E., 2014, Determination of the heat flow in the Sokoto Basin, Nigeria using spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 83-93.
Okubo, Y., Graf R. J., Hansen, R. O., Ogawa, K. and Tsu, H., 1985, Curie point depths of the Island of Kyushu and surrounding areas, Japan. Geophysics, 53(3), 481–494.
Okubo, Y., Tsu, H. and Ogawa, K., 1989, Estimation of Curie point temperature and geothermal structure of Island arc of Japan. Tectonophysics, 159, 279–290.
Onuoha, K. M., Ofoegbu, C. O. and Ahmed, M. N., 1994, Spectral Analysis of Aeromagnetic Data over the Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of Mining and Geology, 30, (2), 211-217.
Osazuwa, I. B., Ajakaiye, D. E. and Verheiien, P. J. T., 1981, Analysis of the structure of part of the upper Benue rift valley on the basis of new geophysical data. Earth Evolution Sciences, 2, 126-135.
Patrick, N. O., Fadele, S. I. and Adegoke, I., 2013, Stratigraphic report of the middle Benue Trough, Nigeria: Insights from petrographic and structural evaluation of Abuni and Environs part of late Albian–Cenomanian Awe and Keana Formations. The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 14, 557-570. Retrieved from http://www.akamaiuniversity.us/PJST.htm
Ross, H. E., Blakely, R. J. and Zoback, M. D., 2006, Testing the use of aeromagnetic data for the determination of Curie depth in California. Geophysics, 71(5), L51–L59.
Rybach, L., 1976, Radioactive heat production in rocks and its relation to other Petrophysical parameters. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 114, 309-318.
Sedara, S. O. and Joshua, E. O., 2013, Evaluation of the existing state of geothermal exploration and development in Nigeria. Journal of Advances in Physics, 2(2), 118-123, ISSN 2347-3487.
Salako, K. A. and Udensi, E. E., 2013, Spectral depth analysis of parts of upper Benue Trough and Borno Basin, North-East Nigeria, using aeromagnetic data. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2(8), 2319-7064.
Shuey, R. T., Schellinger, D. K., Tripp, A. C. and Alley, L. B., 1977, Curie depth determination from aeromagnetic spectra. Geophysical Journal Royal Astronomical Society, 50, 75–101.
Slagstad, T., 2008, Radiogenic heat production of Archean to Permian geological provinces in Norway. Norwegian Journal of Geology, 88, 149-166.
Spector, A. and Grant, F. S., 1970, Statistical models for interpreting aeromagnetic data. Geophysics, 35, 293-302.
Stacey, F. D., 1977, Physics of the Earth. John Wiley and Sons publication New York, NY,  USA: 2nd edition.
Tanaka, A., Okubo, Y. and Matsubayash, O., 1999, Curie point depth based on spectral analysis of the magnetic anomaly data in East and South-East Asia. Tectonophysics, 306, 461-470.
Telford, W. M., Geldart, L. P. and Sherif, R. E., 1990, Applied Geophysics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Journal of the Earth and Space Physics
Volume 45, Issue 4
February 2020
Pages 27-42

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics