keywords: Foraminifera, Middle Miocene, Western Niger Delta, Planktic, Benthic and Biomarkers
Foraminiferal biostratigraphic analysis was carried out for sequences within the depth interval of 200-9840 feet of Abara-1 well located onshore of the Western Niger Delta. The analysis showed that the distribution of both benthic and planktic foraminifera varied from poor to fairly rich. One planktic foraminiferal zone, Praeorbulina glomerosa corresponding to the N8/N9 Blow (1969, 1979) is proposed for the studied sections of the well. Middle Miocene age has been proposed for the studied intervals of Abara-1 well based on the foraminiferal assemblages. The occurrence of the biomarkers within the studied intervals aided the zonation of the sediments. A littoral (deltaic) to marine (inner neritic, middle neritic) environment of deposition has been suggested for the well on the basis of presence of environmentally benthic foraminiferal species such as Saccammina complanata, Globigerinoides sp. and Eggerella sp.