Depositional Environment and Hydrocarbon Potential of Kibuku Area

Kibuku area is located within Semlik sub basin, the southern part of the Albertine Graben in the western branch of the East Africa rift system. The rift flanks are underlined by basement rocks such as gneisses, quartzite, amphibolite, schist, and granitic-gneisses. Kibuku area is further divided into six formations namely Kisegi, Kasande, Kakara, Oluka, Nyaburogo and Katorogo, from oldest to youngest respectively. To delineate deposition environment and hydrocarbon potential; geologic mapping, grain size analysis, palaeocurrent analysis and sedimentologic logging.The main Syn rift Lithology encountered include clays, sands, silts, iron bands, pebbles, and conglomerates while Pre-rift Lithology includes schist, granitic-gneisses, mafic intrusions, amphibolite, gneisses and quartz veins. The structures included joints, faults, foliation (mainly in metamorphic rocks) and laminations, mega-ripple marks, tabular beds, trough beds, gypsum veins and tangential beds (mainly in sediments). The main deposition environments are alluvial, fluvial and shallow lacustrine. Kibuku area is a potential area for hydrocarbon exploration.

Patrick Mugwano is a research student at Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Science in University of Ibadan, Jacob Mutua is a research student at Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Science in University of Ibadan, Dr. Kevin Aanyu is a senior lecturer at Makerere University.