Effects of oil spillage on the inhabitant of the Niger-Delta region in Nigeria

Introduction

In the Niger-Delta, the effect of oil operation on the environment has produce a technological shock of unexpected dimension, this has  made it necessary to focus attention on the issue of oil exploration which constitute a sound bedrock to national growth and development (Nwankwo, 1988).

The first oil spillage occur in 1970, the Agede-Bomu truck pipeline situated in their farmland of Ejamah-Ibubu in River State and there was no clean-up carried out until 1984. Oil spillage occur at Warri Local Government Area  in October, 1999, along Benin-River affecting 12 Ijaw communities among which are Odibogbene, Opia, Babatia, Ubeji, Emedeja in Udu on 1^st February 2003 respectively(Unuraye, 2003).

Oil spillage has now become a recurring decimal associated with oil exploitation in the Niger-Delta. The Niger –Delta inhabitants are getting more enlightened by each day of the deleterious effects. The pollution (oil spillage) will pose to their survival in the far and nearest future. They never knew too well that the oil reserves will run dry one day(Unuraye, 2007)

With the Federal Government posture of minimal concern for the town that is producing the golden eggs, one day the reserves we be depleted. One may wonder what will be the fate of the Niger- Delta people whose environment has been degraded through years of exploitation activities of the oil industry. For posterity to forgive us part of the billions of dollars from the oil should be used to develop the areas, the people and restore dignity and balance to the Niger-Delta environment (Kinako,1981).

Conceptual framework

Oil spillage is a common player in any area of intense petroleum exploration, exploitation, production and transportation in the world; hence the Niger Delta is not an exception. Spillage has become feature in the oil industries operating with the Niger Delta province of Nigeria. Shell-BP was able to discover oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, River State in 1956 and since then the activities of the oil production company has been on the increase, drilling millions of barrels of oil daily from their different oilfields in the country (Arctic Research Commission, 1993). Crude oil in its underground prison is associated with gas and water under pressure and it is the degree produce by these that will determine whether the oil will be forces to the surface. If the pressure is high, the oil is forced through the pones of rock to the bottom of the wells there they are later blow upward.

In the early stages of exploration, an oilfield may mainly contain flowing wells but when the underground pressure declines pumping becomes necessary, other means are employed to increase the pressure by the injection of gas and/or water into the tanks of oil bearing strata. In other cases, the pressure is inadequate from the onset and pumps are used (Reyling, 1995). Several authors and researcher have given their own opinion of what oil spillage is and its impact on the environment. In writing this literature review certain conclusion will be drawn.

Oil spillage (oil pollution)

The drilling of crude oil in the developing countries is characterized by frequent failure in the outpouring of crude oil to the surface which is known as spillage (Uwakwe,1999). According to Omatutu (2003), oil spillage is the running or providing out of any petroleum product of a vessel, pipe or drilling well to the environment thereby killing both organic and inorganic matters in the affected areas.

Unuraye (2007), defined oil spillage as the process whereby oil is discharged to the land, water bodies, upland, surface water such as stream, rivers, seas as well as ground water resulting in contamination with its inherent health hazard dangerous to lives and properties. Oil spillages are almost in daily occurrence with Shell Company accounting for more than 200.00 barrels in the last five alone (The Pointer, 2005). In 1981, it was recorded that billion tonnes of oil tones of oil polluted Nigeria water each year. 1/10 of this amount occurs through accidental spillage while most of the remaining 5.4 million is caused by constant dripping of petroleum products from ordinary activities in all phases of the oil industry (Unuraye, 2007).

Oil spillage like an unsafe condition is caused by human activities through exploration and extraction Ekakpamre episode is a good cause in point. Since pollution is the release of toxic materials into the surrounding by man or natural forces as to constitute danger to himself and other living organism. Materials which have their natural consequence to life oil spillage are one of those manmade activities which tend to pollute the environment. Oil spillage involving both crude and refined petroleum product have given rise to reported case of underground water pollution in Nigeria, Canada, U.S.A. (Eughelhard, 1999).

The table below shows the production rate of all companies, recorded number of spill and the approximate quality uncovered oil between 1972 and 1979 in Nigeria.

Global Environmental Analysis

The total number of recorded spills as above was 353 between 1972 and 1979. Oil spills can be categorized depending on the barrels of the spilled.

The categories included:

1. Minor: Which is any discharge of oil less than 25 barrels in inland water or 250 barrels on land, offshore and coastal waters.
2. Medium: Any discharge of oil in the order of 25-250 barrels in inland water or 250-2500 barrels on land, offshore and coastal water.
3. Major: Any discharge more than 250 barrels in inland waters or 2500 barrels on land, offshore and coastal waters and any uncontrollable well-blow out pipeline rapture or storage failure.

Sources of oil spillage

According to Daidola and Reyline (1995) the sources of oil spillage include:

• Natural source: These are the direct input of petroleum from the natural source into the marine environment by means of submarine seepage and erosion of sedimentary rocks.
• Offshore production: These are crude oil entering marine environment from these sources resulting from operational discharge, minor and major spills.
• Marine transportation: They are operational discharge that occurs as a result from human errors during marine terminal, bilge and fuel oil discharges.
• Accident discharges: This occurred ports during routine ship operations such as loading, discharging and bunkering or from collision, grounding and blow-out.
• Pipeline failure: Spillage occurs when there is pipeline failure submarine pipeline rapture or storage tank rapture either at terminal or from flow-line piping from well heads.

Causes of oil spillage

The major causes of spillage in the zone were identified and group as follows:- Environmental Affair Department SPDC Warri.

1. Sabotage
2. Corrosion
3. Mystery spills
4. Erosion and accident
5. Oil production operations
6. Others

Sabotage: This is the act of vandalism of hooliganism. The flow-lines / hacksaw cuts, tempering with oil installation values. This type of spillage occurs 30 times with 1,489 barrels of spills. All 1,489 barrels are in an identifiable area Isoko / Ughelli area. The most notorious field were Kokori, Afiesere, Utorogu, Emede, Ekakpamre and Eruemukowhoarien (Unuraye, 2003). Between 1990 and 1993, some 43% of oil spillage in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria Limited, area of operation has been due to sabotage and the act is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Corrosion: This occurs as a result of rupture in pipeline tanks and other equipment spills could occur when there is pipeline failure submarine pipeline rupture or storage tank rupture either at terminal or flow-line piping from wellhead. These lack spreading to the surrounding to affects fishing channels and ponds. It occurs due to hose rupture seepage, and value malfunction due to negligence (Unuraye, 2007)

Mystery spills: Nobody knows the sources nor causes and is sometime referred to as natural causes.

Erosion and accident: Spillage occurs through this process, if the pipeline passes through water or area where there is a runoff there wearing the parts where the pipes are sealed. Also during farming and construction works pipe can easily be ruptured accidentally resulting in spillage.

Oil production operations: During production operation there might failure from the equipment, blow out of oil leading to spillage. In marine environment, there is bound to be operational discharge which could be minor or major

Others: The transfer of oil from the stock to tanks or ship to bunker fuel can lead to accidental leakage of oil from the tank. Other causes include spill from seepage, ports and terminals for handling oil offshore production accident and shipping traffic (Unuraye, 2007). All oil spillage no matter how small should be reported. This will help to identify weakness and strengthen operation system as well as prevent further occurrence of spill.

Below is a table showing of oil spill reported by cause between 1993 and 1997

Table: Number of oil spill reported by cause

(Source: Unuraye, 2007)

Effect of oil spillage

The effect of oil spillage on environmental is of paramount importance hence cannot be over emphasized. In this project work, the effect of oil spillage will be discussed as it affect plants animal, water, land, air, man and others.

Effect on plants

Agricultural products are affected as a result of the pressure of the spilled oil on soil, leading to the destruction of such plants and resulting in low agricultural productivity. In other words, when plants are affected, the result is reduction in plants growth and crop yield(Odu, 1975).

Effect on animals

Where there is oil spillage the hydrocarbons is deposited on the plant, grasses etc thereby contaminating them. When animal gets in contact with these hydrocarbons during grazing they tend to be exposed to serious health hazard which could lead health mortality rate in the animals. One of such diseases caused by these hydrocarbons in animals is flourosis (WAHEB, 1991).

Effects on water

Oil spill amongst other effect result in the interference with natural aeration of water due to the blanketing of water surface by oily firm which could deplete the dissolved oxygen content of the water, aquatic lives are destroyed and there contamination of upland surface underground sources of water supply (Unuraye,  2007).

Effect on land

When there is out pouring or seepage of oil into the surrounding ground, it tends to pollute the land making it too poisonous to both plants and animals. The land looses most of its nutrients as a result of the presence of the hydrocarbons that may not be needed by the land for nourishment. The land become infertile and crops cultivated on such land will have a reduced crop yield (Holdgate, 1979).

Effect on air

Explosive discharge by seismic operation during oil exploration activities can cause air pollution. A violent explosion take place with the removal of a large part of soil from the ground and scatter it into the upper part of the atmosphere in tiny particles in the air which when inhaled causes some respiratory tract infection such as asthma, lung, cancer, chest pain etc (Allen et al., 1993).

Effect on man

According to Akintola (2003), the lethality of oil and its compound is infallible exposure to hydrocarbons causes’ injury to the internal organs. It has been discovered to the carcinogenic do to its ability to react with the DNA in such a way as to cause cancer. Prince Well (2000) in his own view said that the heavy metals present in crude oil accumulate in fishes and other aquatic creatures and when consumed by individuals such persons tend to be infected. The hazardous effect of consuming petroleum could be long term with possible poisoning of the blood and heart as well as leading to cancer apart from the above effect mentioned; it has been speculated by some quarter that the Jesse Fire Accident of October 27, 1998 and Ekakpamre 1999 episode are caused by oil spillage live and properties are exposed to danger when the spillage occurs.

Allen et al. (1993) stated that oil spillage destroys or limit aquatic live ruin wild life habitat contaminate water sources, cause land in problem and create fire hazards.

Recent oil spillage in the Niger-Delta

Some of the recent cases of oil spillage were reported in the Niger Delta Area and to be specific in Delta State, among which are:

• Oil spill at Emede, Isoko Local Government Area in the month of September 1999.
• Oil spill at Ubeji in Warri South Local Government Area in October 1999.
• Oil spill at Emadadja in Udu Local Government Area in February 1^st
• Oil spill at Out-jeremi in Ughelli South Local Government Area in July 23^rd
• Oil spill at Eruemukowhoarien.
• Others include at Ugbokodo and another at Ikarama a Bayelsa State community. These happened barely a month before that of Otu-Jeremi in July 23^rd

References

Abudu P. U (2001), The Nigeria environmental problem conservation and sustainability.

Boosh D F (2000), Long Term Environmental Effect on Oil and Development. John Willy and Sons.

Olojoba (2009), Management and Environmental Pollution Mitigation. Ama Ohoror Printing Press Coy Ughelli Delta State, Nigeria.

Unuraye .L. (2009), Occupational Safety and Environmental Health Management, Ama Ohoror Printing Press Coy Ughelli Delta State.

Kinako .F. O. (1981): Short-term of oil pollution on species numbers and productivity of a simple terrestrial ecosystem, environmental pollution series.

Olorunda O., Olowoparija O., David O., Samuel K., Mercy .O. & Adam S. (2007): Monitoring and Modelling Techniques of Environmental Pollution: his mercy publishers Akure Ondo State. Nigeria.