| Title | Determining Geothermal Resources in Rifted Basins: Preliminary Analysis of the Bornu Basin, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hamza M. Sadiq, David McNamara, Emma Michie, Richard Worden, Adamu Suleiman |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | The Bornu Basin is a Cretaceous rifted basin that holds potential for geothermal energy development. To determine the extent and nature of Bornu Basin geothermal resources require investigation of the interplay between the basin’s extensional tectonic framework, thick sedimentary successions, and igneous intrusions. Borehole data from within the basin report bottom-hole temperatures of approximately 171°C at a depth of 3.5 km providing an average geothermal gradient of 2.81–5.88 °C/100 m, an average thermal conductivity of 2.35 W/mK, and a heat flow value of mean 80.6 mW/m². The existing conceptual geothermal model of the region proposes that dispersed igneous intrusions within the sedimentary infill may serve as localized geothermal heat sources, while the Gongila and lower Fika sandstone units act as hot fluid reservoirs, and the younger Fika Shale provides a low-permeability seal. Here we report on preliminary seismic-wireline integration using the Bornu Basin Albarka-1 borehole and on how this will assist upcoming characterization and evaluation of the basin architecture to assist its development as a geothermal resource. |