Delineating Potential Hydrocarbon Targets in the Anambra Basin Through Aero-Radiometric Techniques

This study delineates prospective hydrocarbon accumulation zones in the Anambra River area using Delineation of Radiometric Anomalies (DRAD) and normalized aero-radiometric data. High-resolution airborne gamma-ray data of potassium (K), thorium (Th), and uranium (U) were processed using ternary maps, isotope ratios, and the Simplified Thorium Normalization Method (STNM) to reduce surficial and lithological effects. The results revealed characteristic hydrocarbon signatures, particularly low normalized potassium and high normalized uranium values, which identified three potential hydrocarbon-bearing locations. These locations also recorded positive DRAD values, further indicating hydrocarbon accumulation. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of radiometric methods as a cost-effective, non-invasive tool for preliminary hydrocarbon exploration and highlights their importance in frontier basin evaluation.