Multivariate Statistical Analyses of Palynodebris from the Middle Miocene of the Niger Delta and their Environmental Significance

Fourteen types of palynodebris have been identified in Middle Miocene reservoir sediments from the Niger Delta. They include palynomorphs, cuticle, parenchyma, resins, black debris, woody fragments and degraded components. The palynodebris types were interpreted by Principal Components Analysis and Average Linkage Cluster Analysis. Four assemblages of samples emerged and they have been grouped into two palynofacies associations because of their correlation with mudstone and muddy heterolithic lithofacies and sandstone lithofacies, respectively. The significant palynodebris components are black debris, parenchyma, resins and amorphous organic matter. The size, shape and texture of all the components were integrated with sedimentological features, palynomorph and foraminiferal assemblages to recognize seven, possibly eight, deltaic sub-environments of deposition in the reservoir