Geologic and stratigraphic field study of the Semliki Basin in Western Uganda
Abstract
The Geological and Stratigraphic field study exercise was conducted by third year Makerere university students pursuing bachelors of science degree in Petroleum Geoscience and Production and the report is submitted in partial fulfillment for the award of the above-mentioned degree. The study area (Kibuku), is located in Ntoroko district, Western Uganda, situated in the southern part of the Albertine Graben, and it also forms the northern part of the western arm of the East African Rift System (EARS).
The objective of the study was to train students on how to collect and interpret, petrographic, stratigraphic, sedimentologic and structural data; which are vital in hydrocarbon exploration. Various equipment, materials and methods were employed to come up with the results and these ranged from Brunton compass, GPS and tape measures among others. While in the field, the lithology and stratigraphy of the semliki basin was defined, various structures were identified and their structural measurement taken. These were useful in trying to ascertain whether elements of a petroleum systems were existent in the area before spending on much more expensive geophysical surveys and subsequently exploratory drilling.
Geophysical data of the semliki basin was availed to students inorder to dry to identify the depocenters and any possible structures within the basin. The seismic data of the Gulf of Mexico was also used in this case study. Petrophysical data of the Turaco 2 well was provided to students so that they could draw the log, interpret it and compare with the ones which they manually logged. The petrophysical log gave a clearer understanding of the stratigraphic succession in the semliki basin. Finally, the results are elaborately discussed with conclusions and recommendations as regards the whole field exercise and report.