Framework for Assessment of Oil Spill Site Remediation options in Developing Countries a Life Cycle Perspective.

Abstract

One of the main issues faced by the oil and gas industry in developing countries is that of oil spill and its impacts on the social-cultural, economic and environment. The adverse effects of oil spill on the environment as well as the socio-cultural life of the inhabitants in the affected areas make it mandatory for proactive management of oil spills. Oil spill contaminated sites management in developing countries such as; (Venezuela, Libya, Iraq and Nigeria) suffers from a number of limitations: lack of a clear statutory definition for contaminated sites, life cycle assessment-based approach, inexperience, weak policy frameworks and limited funding. From the literature on oil spill contaminated sites management, there are different approaches adopted by developed countries to improve the management process as well as the outcome of such processes. However, context specific approaches are sometimes required for successful management decisions to promote efficient policy transfer. In this study we propose an integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) that monitors and assesses the environmental impacts of oil spill and remediation processes applied on the case study environment (Nigeria) with a view to managing them sustainably. Life cycle thinking approach has been identified as a decision-making tool for remediation of contaminated sites because it presents the opportunity to take into consideration the inputs and outputs to the process of remediation, as well as the activities that take place during the remediation process. This research developed a conceptual framework for oil spill sites remediation in the Nigerian. The framework can also be applied to similar oil spill sites whose methodology is currently underdeveloped.