Abstract
The impact of oil production activities on the chemistry of soil and groundwater was investigated around seven production facilities, ranging from flow stations to wellhead in the western Niger Delta area. The method involved systematic sampling of soil and groundwater within a one kilometre radius of such facilities. The samples obtained were analysed for pH, TOC, TPH, V, Ni and Fe by standard procedures. The results indicate a general conformity of groundwater physico-chemistry to international standards for chemical potability. However, the investigated soil samples reveal in some cases elevated values of TPH (mean: 26.07 mg/kg) and Ni (mean: 8.89 mg/kg) which suggest a negative impact on the soil in the vicinity of such oil production facilities. Although ground-water may show no apparent contamination, pollutants trapped in the soil are in potential transit to groundwater, and may eventually be dissolved and transported through the soil profile to the water table by recharging rainwater. The environmental and health conditions of host communities are thereby endangered.
Highlights
Nigeria is a country with a long history of oil exploration and exploitation
The mean values of the physico-chemical data generated for soil and groundwater from each facility is presented graphically and compared with that from a non-impacted area (Figure 2 and Figure 3), whereas the statistical summary of all the mean values is presented in Table 1 and Table 2
Soil samples show near neutral pH (6.30 - 7.37), generally low total organic carbon (TOC) (2.33 - 5.98 mg/kg) and a highly variable Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) (4.51 - 76.68 mg/kg) reflected in high standard deviation (±30.93)
Summary
Nigeria is a country with a long history of oil exploration and exploitation. It is Africa’s largest oil producing nation and ranks sixth in the world. How to cite this paper: Olobaniyi, S.B. and Omo-Irabor, O.O. Between the years 1976 and 1996, a total of 2,369,470 barrels of crude oil was estimated to have spilled into the environment [1], causing significant negative impact on the ecosystem [2]-[4], and eventually reducing the quality of life of the people. This among other factors has fuelled persistent agitation within the region, for a greater share from the central government, of the proceeds from oil
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