Impact of Oilfield Wastewaters from Soku Swamp Rig on the Population and Diversity of Microbes in Soku River in Niger Delta

Abstract

Oilfield wastewater contains poisonous and dangerous compounds that harm microorganisms and the quality of the water. An ongoing environmental concern in the Niger Delta is the rapid deterioration of water quality brought on by oilfield wastewater discharged from Nigerian oil industry operations. For a period of two months, biweekly studies were conducted to evaluate the microbiological effects of oilfield effluent from the Soku swamp oil rig on the Soku River in Rivers State in the Niger Delta. A total heterotrophic bacterial count, a hydrocarbon-utilizing bacterial count, a total fungal count, a hydrocarbon-using fungal count, and a microflora count were all determined using water samples obtained from upstream, downstream, drilling points, Deck drainage, and a control point. Total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) counts ranged from 0.2 to 2.4 (log10cfu/ml), total fungal (TF) count ranged from 0.1 to 0.95 (log10cfu /ml), while the total hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (THUB) count ranged from 0.01 to 0.25 (log10cfu/ml), and the total hydrocarbon utilizing fungal (THUF) count ranged from 0.01 to 0.85 (log10cfu/ml). A statistical study revealed no appreciable difference in THB between the sampling stations and the controls. Streptococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Pediococcus spp., Kurthia, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus spp. were among the bacteria species isolated for the study. Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium adamatzii, Rhizopus oligosporus, and Penicillium spp. were among the fungi that were isolated. The study's bacterial and fungal counts showed how oilfield effluent affected aquatic microorganisms. The abundance of microorganisms that use hydrocarbons demonstrated that the water body under study had active native hydrocarbon utilizers that can be used in the bioremediation process.