Pdf oil spills and gas flaring are major environmental problems. Oil spills, gas flaring, desertification top nigerias. There is a need to increase research effort on understanding the association of gas flaring, air pollution and related health and. Gas flaring is a combustion device to burn associated, unwanted or excess gases and liquids released during normal or unplanned overpressuring operation in many industrial processes, such as oil gas extraction, refineries, chemical plants, coal industry and landfills.
Introduction he coastal areas of the niger delta in nigeria have experienced tremendous oil exploration and exploitations over the years. Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation. This paper assessed the effects of oil spillage on community development in the niger delta region of nigeria with a view to determine its adverse effects on poverty and hunger and its eradication in the region. Flaring of associated gas from oil exploitation has several consequences on the environment. Effects of oil spillage on community development in the niger. Prominent among the hydrocarboninduced pollution include oil spill, gas flaring, and pipeline explosions. Causes and solution 2 comments economics analysis by emmanuel joseph noko the negative effect of oil spillage on nigerian cannot be over emphasized, in terms poor crops harvest, aquatic destruction and impact on human health and wellbeing.
Gas flaring is a prominent source of vocs, co, co 2, so 2, pah, no x and soot black carbon, all of which are important pollutants which interact, directly and indirectly, in the earths climatic processes. Pdf gis based mapping and analysis of oil pollution in. Some international institutions like the world bank 2009, 2008, and the who, 2002, have equally reported facts on what constitute the causes and effects of oil and gas on a particular environment like the niger delta region. Human activities and those of oil exploration and exploitation raise a number of issues such as depletion of biodiversity, coastal and riverbank erosion, flooding, oil spillage, gas flaring, noise pollution, sewage and wastewater pollution, land degradation and soil fertility loss and deforestation, which are all major environmental issues. Effects of gas flaring and oil spillage on rainwater. Environmental crime liability of the nigerian government. Over 10,000 oil spill and pipeline explosion incidents have been recorded and more than 350 billion cubic metres of gas have been flared in the region in the last 14 years. Since the discovery of oil in nigeria, way back in1950s, the country has invariably suffered some negative environmental consequences such as oil pollution resulting from gas flaring and oil extraction, loss of mangrove trees, which before now was a source of livelihood for the indigenous people and habitat for the areas biodiversity. Effects of oil spillage on community development in the. As an oil producing region, oil spillage is one of the most outstanding causes of water and land or soil pollution while air pollution is mostly caused by gas flaring and industrial effluents. The effects of gas flaring on crops in the niger delta.
The causes, consequences, solutions to the problem of oil spill incidents and remediation measures were articulated to ameliorate this problem and assist oil communities. Health risks associated with oil pollution in the niger delta. Because oil and natural gas are mixed in every oil deposit, the natural gas called associated. Petroleum exploration, exploitation, production, storage, distribution and transportation activities affect the. Prospecting and extraction of petroleum occur in over 50% of the niger delta region, resulting in a cornucopia of access roads, pipelines, wells, gas flaring, dredged spoils and flow stations that are often located near homes, schools, farms, and within communities. The same report noted that these problems have existed for years and have continued to escalate due to rapid expansion of. Gas flaring has also continued unabated irrespective of the nigerian governments directive to end. Last year, dozens of major oil companies and oilproducing nations agreed to end the routine flaring of natural gas from wells by 2030. It is widely acknowledged that flaring and venting of associ. This paper assessed the effects of oil spillage on community development in the niger delta region of nigeria with a view to determine its adverse effects on poverty and hunger and its eradication in the. Impact of crude oil spillage and gas flaring activities on soil.
An analysis all over the world, environmental pollution is an issue of great concern because of what the environment is to the human survival and indeed, the. Regrettably, 75% of the cost is borne by the local communities through polluted water, infertile farmland and lost biodiversity. A comparative analysis of nigeria and texas regulations. Because oil and natural gas are mixed in every oil deposit, the natural gas called associated gas must be removed from oil before refining ashton et al. Oil spills, gas flaring, desertification top nigerias environmental challenges on july 15, 2014 12. Current developments in these countries to mitigate the effects of gas flaring have been discussed under trends of gas flaring. An analysis all over the world, environmental pollution is an issue of great concern because of what the environment is to the human survival and indeed, the survival of the earth itself. Environmental crime liability of the nigerian government in. The major sources of environmental pollution in the niger delta region include oil spillage, pipeline explosion, gas flaring and venting, improper disposal of large volumes of petroleumderived. Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation in the niger delta of nigeria.
All over the world, environmental pollution is an issue of great concern because of what the environment, is to the human survival and indeed, the survival of the earth itself. The study examined the degree of influence of oil spillage and gas flaring costs on life expectancy rate of the niger delta people of nigeria. This paper is therefore geared towards addressing the. Oil spillage and gas flaring activities are still commonplace in nigeria, especially in the oilrich niger delta. Phd dissertation sustainable environmental management in. One major pollutant that has aroused public and research interest is crude oil osuji and ezebuiro, 2006. In the niger delta, oil spill is perceived to be a major consequence of an. Impacts and effects of oil spillage in niger delta nigeria.
Delta oil fields responsible for polluting the environment by way or relentless flaring and venting of gas in to the environment, heat radiation, noise radiation, oil spillage, water pollution, site clearing, deforestation and destruction of the flora and fauna and. Environmental policies and strategies in nigeria oil and gas. Phd dissertation sustainable environmental management in the. Several years of oil exploration and exploitation by multinational corporations, and the hazards of spillage and gas flaring which. A comparative analysis of nigeria and texas regulations university of tulsa college of law, oklahoma 20, p. Although the average gas flare in the world is about 4% 11, records have put an estimate of. The causes, consequences, solutions to the problem of oil spill incidents. Air pollution due to gas flaring in the niger delta.
Land degradation and soil fertility loss and deforestation as well as noise pollution are all major environmental setbacks that have negatively. The various policies and strategies of environmental policies and strategies in nigeria oil and gas industry. Indeed, it is one of the most significant environmental problems facing niger delta nigeria. Human activities and those of oil exploration and exploitation raise a number of issues such as depletion of biodiversity, coastal and riverbank erosion, flooding, oil spillage, gas flaring, noise pollution, sewage. Eia process and regulations in solving the problems of oil spill and gas flaring and make. Nigeria is the largest oil producer in africa and the eleventh largest producer of crude oil in the world.
Pollution by crude oil usually occurs as spillage that is uncontrolled, release of crude oil into the. Pdf oil spills, gas flaring and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This is largely due to the huge deposits of crude oil and natural gas deposits within the region. Since the discovery of oil in nigeria, way back in1950s, the country has invariably suffered some negative environmental consequences such as oil pollution resulting from gas flaring and oil extraction, loss of.
Rather the paper shall examine the extent of liability of the nigerian government with respect to enforcement of regulation against oil and gas pollution in nigeria. That the flaring of gas has continued to impact negatively on the vegetations in the oilproducing community of niger delta is undoubted. Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the nigerian. Delta oil fields responsible for polluting the environment by way or relentless flaring and venting of gas in to the environment, heat radiation, noise radiation, oil spillage, water pollution, site clearing. Odjugo, 2002 stated that crude oil pollution has deleterious effects on plant. Environmental impact assessment of oil and gas industry in by. Introduction he coastal areas of the niger delta in nigeria have experienced tremendous oil exploration and exploitations over the years nwilo and badejo, 2005. Gas flaring and thermal plants emissions in the niger delta region are.
Sep 06, 2018 oil spillage is a form of pollution, which involves the release of a liquid petroleum into the environment due to human activity. Gas flaring regulation in the oil and gas industry. Oil spills and gas flaring are major environmental problems and pose major source of adverse health outcomes to communities hosting oil wells and natural gas. Analysis of oil spillage, gas flaring and sustainable development. Nigeria is at present the largest oil producer in africa and the sixth largest in the world, averaging 2. Air pollution from natural gas flaring, exhaust emissions from the explosion in car ownership, and electricity generators continue to leave the major cities of. Again, that oil spills which contaminated the sources of drinking waters and rivers in. Africas proven 66 billion barrels of oil reserves and more than 3 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves. Pdf effects of oil spillage on community development in. Health risks associated with oil pollution in the niger. The oil and gas industry is the largest industria l source of voc emissions in the u. Oil spillage is a form of pollution, which involves the release of a liquid petroleum into the environment due to human activity.
This study explores the spatial variability effects of gas flaring on the growth and. Sheen of oil on water bodies in the coastal region okeowo, 2014. Pollution by crude oil usually occurs as spillage that is uncontrolled, release of crude oil into the environment as a result of equipment failure, operational mishaps, or intentional damage to facilities undp, 2010. Gas flaring is a combustion device to burn associated, unwanted or excess gases and liquids released during normal or unplanned overpressuring operation in many industrial processes, such as oilgas. Petroleum exploration, exploitation, production, storage, distribution and transportation activities affect the environment in a conspicuously negative manner. The major sources of environmental pollution in the niger delta region include oil spillage, pipeline explosion, gas flaring and venting, improper disposal of large volumes of petroleumderived hazardous waste streams, such as drilling mud, oily and toxic sludge, equipment failureoil spills associated with ageing facilities, sabotage of.
Oil spill and carbon particles in their rivers, land and air from co2. The idoho oil spill incidence of 1997 spilled 40,000 barrels of crude oil into the environment. Gas flaring has also continued unabated irrespective of the nigerian governments directive to end flaring by 2010 kalu, 2009. Oil spillage and gas flaring have caused severe environmental damages, loss of plants, animals and human lives, and loss of revenue to both the oil producing companies and the government. The cost of oil spillage and gas flaring on the socio. Prospecting and extraction of petroleum occur in over 50% of the. Bonga oil spill pollution of marine environment premium times, 2014104 figure 20. This paper addresses the environmental impact of oil spillage and degradation in the niger delta region of nigeria. The issue of oil spillage is a common phenomena in the niger delta region, more than any other part of nigeria. Environmental policies and strategies in nigeria oil and. Gas flaring is simply the burning of this associated gas. Oil spillage and gas flaring, the twin bye products of petroleum operations have caused severe environmental pollution and lost of revenue by both the oil prospecting companies and the government. Last year, dozens of major oil companies and oil producing nations agreed to end the routine flaring of natural gas from wells by 2030. Land degradation and soil fertility loss and deforestation as well as noise pollution are all major environmental setbacks that have negatively impacted the oil rich region of niger delta, nigeria.
The direct impact of oil exploration in the region has been felt by everyone living in the area. Environmental issues of gas flaring are generally described in terms of efficiency and emissions 12. Several years of oil exploration and exploitation by multinational corporations, and the hazards of spillage and gas flaring which accompany it, have degraded the environment of the region and left the communities desolate. Some international institutions like the world bank 2009, 2008, and the who, 2002, have. Oil exploration and poverty in the niger delta region of. Oil spillage cost, gas flaring cost and life expectancy rate of the niger delta people of nigeria. Reducing air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry. Pdf effects of oil spillage on community development in the.
Oil exploratory activities of oil companies in nigeria have caused gas flaring resulting in loss of lives and properties in the affected communities where gas is flared. Oil and gas resources account for over 85% of nigerias gross domestic product gdp, over 95% of the. Oil spills might take several months or even years to clean up. The negative effect of oil spillage on nigerian cannot be over emphasized, in terms poor crops harvest, aquatic destruction and impact on human health and wellbeing. To observe their habitat and how it is affected by oil spillages and gas flaring. Historically, it is said that gas flaring is as old as oil production in nigeria. Gas flaring pollution as it is in nigeria gas flaring, that has been defined as the burning of natural gas, which could have otherwise, been refined into usable products, seems to be another strong source of. Gas flaring is a significant source of greenhouse gases emissions. Effects of oil spills on fish production in the niger delta plos. Phd dissertation sustainable environmental management. Today, there are 606 oil fields in the niger delta region, out of which 360 are onshore and 246 are offshore nigeria country analysis brief, 2005. Oil and gas resources account for over 85% of nigerias gross domestic product gdp, over 95% of the national budget and over 80% of the nations wealth. Oil spillage and gas flaring, the twin bye products of petroleum operations have caused severe environmental pollution and lost of revenue by both the oil prospecting companies and the. Oil spills, gas flaring and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Over 10,000 oil spill and pipeline explosion incidents have been recorded and more than 350 billion. Gas flaring pollution as it is in nigeria gas flaring, that has been defined as the burning of natural gas, which could have otherwise, been refined into usable products, seems to be another strong source of pollution in nigerias delta basin 10. Air pollution from natural gas flaring, exhaust emissions from the explosion in car ownership, and electricity generators continue to leave the major cities of nigeria shrouded in smog. Destruction of fishes by oil pollution businessnews, december 21, 2011.
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