Oil Exploration Activities Research Articles

Vulnerability of Local Communities to Oil Installation in Isoko Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Background of Study: Petroleum exploration has generated over 90 percent revenues to the Nigerian government, and as such the nation pays all her liabilities from the sales of petroleum products. Nigerian’s mono economy mostly based petroleum exploration, has brought a lot of sufferings to the people in the region where the oils are being drilled from. The people of Isoko Local Government Area (LGA) has suffered from the environmental pollution and devastation of their lands as a result of oil exploration activities for many years now, especially from numerous oil installations of the operating oil companies. This study examines the vulnerability of the local communities to these oil installations.
 Materials and Methods: The study employed the use of questionnaire to acquire data relating to the vulnerability of communities to oil installation in Isoko LGA in Delta State. 600 copies of questionnaires were administered to the residents of the chosen communities using a simple random sampling technique which gives room for equal chance of any of the resident to be chosen in the study area. Descriptive statistics was used to explain the frequencies of the variables in terms of their percentage. Results of the analysis were presented using tables, bar charts, hazard maps, among others.
 Results: it was revealed that the vulnerability to oil installation is high in the Isoko LGA, thereby leading to a high rate of environmental degradation in these communities.
 Conclusion: it is concluded that end the suffering of the people to oil installations, the operating oil companies should pay special attention to needs of their host communities and proactive to any possible hazard that might have results from oil installation. The government should enforce the environmental laws that protect the environment and ensure that the multinational oil companies adhere strictly to them.

Evaluation of the Levels of Heavy Metals, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon and Total Hydrocarbon Content in Tympanotomus fuscatus and Sediment, Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study assesses the levels of heavy metals and hydrocarbons in Tympanotomus fuscatus and the sediments of Qua Iboe River, Akwa Ibom State; the interest in the study area was due to the several industrial and oil exploration activities in the area. The heavy metals (HM) of interest were Pb, Cd, Cu, Se, Zn, As, Cr, Fe, Ni and Hg, determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy while Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) were determined by the GC-FID method. Results obtained indicated that the heavy metal concentration in Tympanotomus fuscatus ranged as follows: Pb (1.037 – 2.002 mg/kg), Cd (0.00 – 0.088 mg/kg), Cu (0.0037 – 10.01 mg/kg), Se (2.364 – 5.063 mg/kg), Zn (0.025 – 1.393 mg/kg), As (0.0113 – 0.355 mg/kg), Cr (1.075 – 3.055 mg/kg), Fe (2.384 – 10.022), Ni (0.045 – 1.223 mg/kg), Hg (0.037 – 1.003 mg/kg) while heavy metal concentration in sediments were: Pb (1.399 – 2.345 mg/kg), Cd (0.0267– 0.222 mg/kg), Cu (0.017 – 10.0197 mg/kg), Se (1.388 – 3.369 mg/kg), Zn (5.688 – 8.038 mg/kg), As (0.003 – 0.0317 mg/kg), Cr (0.0157 – 2.057 mg/kg), Fe (27.351 – 86.686), Ni (0.017 – 5.0413 mg/kg), Hg (0.06 – 1.53 mg/kg); generally, heavy metals levels were higher in dry season than in wet season. The levels of TPH ranged from 160.86 – 1081.52 mg/kg in Tympanotomus fuscatus and 175.97 – 3143.91 mg/kg in sediments; meanwhile, the concentration of TPH ranged from 728.47 – 2442.04 mg/kg in Tympanotomus fuscatus and 492.41 – 7186.25 mg/kg in sediments. Multiple correlation coefficient matrixes were carried out to ascertain the relationship between the pollutants concentration in the biota and sediments. Furthermore, predictive modeling of pollutant concentration in flesh and shell of Tympanotomus fuscatus was estimated. The results indicate that the amounts of HM, TPH and THC in some of the study sites were above the maximum permissible limit set by WHO and FMEnv; thus, pose health risk to humans.

Emerging Security Management Issues Due to Oil Exploration Activities in South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County, Kenya

This study explored emerging security management issues due to Oil exploration in south Lokichar basin, Turkana County, Kenya. Inspiration for the study was drawn from the disagreements between the county government and the national government on the exploration, extraction, production and sharing of Oil benefits. The study was anchored on the Resource Curse Theory explaining that poor resource governance and policies usually results in problems rather than benefits. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 382 respondents was drawn from a target population was 8,493 adults who consist of the indigenous residents, of south Lokichar basin, Turkana County. The key informants were drawn from the expatriate employees of Tullow PLC, security managers and administrators. Focus discussion group of 12 participants was drawn from community leaders of South Lokichar. Indigenous respondents were sampled using cluster area sampling, while the key informants and FGD were purposively sampled. Primary data was collected using semi-structured interview schedule; while secondary data was collected through thematic review of relevant literature. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic method with inferences being drawn; while quantitative data was analysed using descriptive frequencies, charts and tables. The study was expected to come up with recommendations on how to mitigate negative security implications of oil exploration on socio-economic activities in south Lokichar basin, Turkana County, Kenya. The study found out that on emerging security issues following oil exploration, 55% of respondents confirmed that human rights abuses had occurred, 60% of the respondents reported participation of Civil Society Organisations in oil exploration activities, while 60% confirmed that oil exploration activities have led to increased insecurity. The study further established that 65% of the respondents felt that the security measures in place were insufficient to deal with security threats as a result of oil exploration while 60% of the respondents did not feel primarily entitled to the benefits of oil exploration and production. Finally, the study concluded that oil exploration had both positive and negative security implications on socio-economic activities in South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County,Kenya.

Acorn: Developing full-chain industrial carbon capture and storage in a resource- and infrastructure-rich hydrocarbon province

Research to date has identified cost and lack of support from stakeholders as two key barriers to the development of a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) industry that is capable of effectively mitigating climate change. This paper responds to these challenges through systematic evaluation of the research and development process for the Acorn CCS project, a project designed to develop a scalable, full-chain CCS project on the north-east coast of the UK. Through assessment of Acorn's publicly-available outputs, we identify strategies which may help to enhance the viability of early-stage CCS projects. Initial capital costs can be minimised by infrastructure re-use, particularly pipelines, and by re-use of data describing the subsurface acquired during oil and gas exploration activity. Also, development of the project in separate stages of activity (e.g. different phases of infrastructure re-use and investment into new infrastructure) enables cost reduction for future build-out phases. Additionally, engagement of regional-level policy makers may help to build stakeholder support by situating CCS within regional decarbonisation narratives. We argue that these insights may be translated to general objectives for any CCS project sharing similar characteristics such as legacy infrastructure, industrial clusters and an involved stakeholder-base that is engaged with the fossil fuel industry.

A new deep-water Tethya (Porifera, Tethyida, Tethyidae) from the Great Australian Bight and an updated Tethyida phylogeny

A new species of Tethya Lamarck, 1815 is described from a depth of 1000 m on the continental slope of the Great Australian Bight (GAB), southern Australia. The GAB slope was explored as part of systematic benthic surveys to understand unexplored communities in the light of current oil and gas exploration activity in the area. Tethya irisae sp. nov. was present at 1000 m in six of eight longitudinal depth surveys. Three molecular markers were obtained: COI, 28S (D3–D5) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. COI and 28S phylogenetic analyses show that the new species fits clearly within the genus Tethya. This is the 28th species of Tethya reported from Australia; it is unusual in that it has a stalk. The presence of a stalk as a morphological character to split genera in this family is questioned. The description of this new species is an opportunity to revisit the molecular phylogeny of the Tethyida Morrow & Cárdenas, 2015 using comprehensive datasets of COI and 28S markers. As in previous analyses, four Tethya clades were retrieved; we discuss the possibility of using external colour to support some of these clades. Despite unclear phylogenetic relationships amongst Tethyidae Gray, 1848 from Australia, our results suggest that tethyid genera Tethytimea Laubenfels, 1936, Tectitethya Sarà, 1994, Laxotethya Sarà & Sarà, 2002, Stellitethya Sarà, 1994, and Xenospongia Gray, 1858 derive from species of Tethya. We show that asters have been secondarily lost at least twice in the Hemiasterellidae Lendenfeld, 1889: in Liosina Thiele, 1899 and a potential new genus from northern Australia. We formally propose the reallocation of Liosina from Dictyonellidae van Soest, Diaz & Pomponi, 1990 to Hemiasterellidae Lendenfeld, 1889.

Abundance estimates and habitat preferences of bottlenose dolphins reveal the importance of two gulfs in South Australia

Informed conservation management of marine mammals requires an understanding of population size and habitat preferences. In Australia, such data are needed for the assessment and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts, including fisheries interactions, coastal zone developments, oil and gas exploration and mining activities. Here, we present large-scale estimates of abundance, density and habitat preferences of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) over an area of 42,438km2 within two gulfs of South Australia. Using double-observer platform aerial surveys over four strata and mark-recapture distance sampling analyses, we estimated 3,493 (CV = 0.21; 95%CI = 2,327-5,244) dolphins in summer/autumn, and 3,213 (CV = 0.20; 95%CI = 2,151-4,801) in winter/spring of 2011. Bottlenose dolphin abundance and density was higher in gulf waters across both seasons (0.09-0.24 dolphins/km2) compared to adjacent shelf waters (0.004–0.04 dolphins/km2). The high densities of bottlenose dolphins in the two gulfs highlight the importance of these gulfs as a habitat for the species. Habitat modelling associated bottlenose dolphins with shallow waters, flat seafloor topography, and higher sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in summer/autumn and lower SSTs in winter/spring. Spatial predictions showed high dolphin densities in northern and coastal gulf sections. Distributional data should inform management strategies, marine park planning and environmental assessments of potential anthropogenic threats to this protected species.

Modeling Soil Organic Carbon in Crude Oil Contaminated Soil in the Niger Delta

Oil spillage is a major environmental threat in south south of Nigeria where most of oil exploration and exploitation activities takes place. If this goes on unchecked or poorly managed, it would lead to total annihilation of the ecosystem. The objective of this study is to develop a model for the prediction of potassium depletion in the crude oil contaminated soil with time using regression analysis. Each sample containing 10kg of soil was artificially polluted with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 liters of crude oil (Bonny Light). The potassium concentrations were determined using standard methods. Results shows that the concentration of residual potassium in the soil for all the volumes of crude oil introduced into the soil decrees significantly with time when compared to values obtained for the control samples. The concentration of residual concentration in the control soil sample was about three times higher than the concentration obtained for other samples. The results obtained from the derived model were very close to the experimental value. The model is suitable for determining potassium content in crude oil polluted site.

Modeling Soil Organic Carbon in Crude Oil Contaminated Soil in the Niger Delta

Oil spillage is a major environmental threat in south south of Nigeria where most of oil exploration and exploitation activities takes place. If this goes on unchecked or poorly managed, it would lead to total annihilation of the ecosystem. The objective of this study is to develop a model for the prediction of potassium depletion in the crude oil contaminated soil with time using regression analysis. Each sample containing 10kg of soil was artificially polluted with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 liters of crude oil (Bonny Light). The potassium concentrations were determined using standard methods. Results shows that the concentration of residual potassium in the soil for all the volumes of crude oil introduced into the soil decrees significantly with time when compared to values obtained for the control samples. The concentration of residual concentration in the control soil sample was about three times higher than the concentration obtained for other samples. The results obtained from the derived model were very close to the experimental value. The model is suitable for determining potassium content in crude oil polluted site.

Oil: Visual Metaphors in Paintings of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri in the Niger Delta of Nigeria in 1956, served as a doorway to the discovery of several oil wells in Port Harcourt. Unfortunately, oil exploration activities have led to major changes in the historical, political and socio-economic dynamics of the area. Inevitably, these changes have resulted in social transformations which have inspired artists to produce artistic works - visual images that tell the stories of oil communities and people of Port Harcourt. These stories revolve around environmental degradation, conflict and the struggle for socio-political and economic development. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to explore the narrative metaphors which unfold within selected paintings that reveal the impact of oil exploration activities on Port Harcourt and its people, and the significance of these paintings in modern Nigerian art.Key Words: Oil, Port Harcourt, environmental degradation, conflict, painting

Groundwater Quality Assessment in a University Sub-Urban Community in Delta State, Nigeria: Part A-Physicochemical Analysis

This study provides detailed scientific information on the physicochemical properties of drinking water from groundwater in a Nigerian university sub-urban community. Water samples from boreholes (BHs) and handdrawn wells (HDWs) in the community were collected and analyzed for their biological and physicochemical parameters, and the metals from July 2016 to January 2017 for wet and dry seasons. Results obtained, showed that the physicochemical factors complied with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, except for pH being lower in some locations. In the wet and dry seasons, pH varied from 4.4 to 6.2 and from 4.8 to 6.7 respectively. While the mean value for wet season was 5.7, dry season was 5.9; to give a seasonal mean difference of 0.2.Cd and Pb, in both wells, for many locations, were slightly higher than the prescribed limits. The slight elevated concentrations of Pb and Cd could be attributed to oil exploration activities in the study area. The study recommends the provision of improved drinking water in the community. Keywords : Groundwater, quality monitoring, contamination, Niger-Delta

The socio-economic and environmental implications of oil and gas exploration: Perspectives at the micro level in the Albertine region of Uganda

The recent oil and gas exploration activities in the Albertine region of western Uganda has raised a debate on the plight of the local people at various scales. We used local perspectives on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration activities as a lens to examine the extent to which the “resource curse” and “resource blessing” theories are applicable in the oil and gas exploration sites in Uganda. Data was collected from Kyeihoro and Kaiso villages in Hoima district, western Uganda. Exploratory research design in which a total of 285 households randomly selected participated in a survey. The most mentioned positive socio-economic impacts were not directly linked to oil and gas exploration and these included: construction of roads and increased business opportunities. Direct positive impacts such as employment and increased wage rates were the least mentioned. The views of proponents of the “resource curse” theory were also reflected in the perspectives and these included: price inflation, increase in social ills and environmental degradation especially noise pollution, soil erosion and wildlife disturbance. The perceptions of local people indicate that oil and gas exploration activities can be both a “blessing” or “curse”.

Large-scale remediation of oil-contaminated water using floating treatment wetlands

The contamination of water with hydrocarbons resulting from oil exploration and production highlights the need for efficient and environmentally friendly technology to mitigate this form of water pollution. Floating treatment wetlands are a sustainable approach for remediating contaminated water. In this large-scale study, we used four different plants, Phragmites australis, Typha domingensis, Leptochloa fusca, and Brachiaria mutica, to vegetate a floating mat with an area of 3058 m2 made from locally sourced materials. The floating treatment wetlands constructed in this manner were used to treat an oil-contaminated water stabilization pit resulting from oil and gas exploration activities in District Chakwal, Pakistan. The plants and the water in the pit were inoculated with a consortium of 10 different hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. The application of floating treatment wetlands to the pit reduced chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, hydrocarbon content, and heavy metals by 97.4%, 98.9%, 82.4%, 99.1%, and 80%, respectively, within 18 months. All plants survived and showed growth, but maximum development and biomass production were exhibited by P. australis. Moreover, the bacteria used for inoculation were able to persist and show degradation activity in the water as well as in the rhizoplane, roots, and shoots of the plants. We conclude that floating treatment wetlands can be applied to oil-contaminated water stabilization pits for affordable and effective water treatment.

Assessment of crude oil bioremediation potential of seawater and sediments from the shore of Lebanon in laboratory microcosms

With the planned oil and gas exploration activities off the coast of Lebanon, the risk of shoreline contamination with crude oil spills has become a major concern. This study aimed at assessing the crude oil bioremediation potential of the chronically polluted Lebanese shores in light of the continuous discharge of nutrient-rich sewage into the Mediterranean Sea and the long-lasting absence of proper sewage treatment systems. It was anticipated that, with the high pollution levels of the coastline, background concentrations of nutrients would be sufficient to sustain high intrinsic biodegradation rates without human intervention. Biodegradation experiments were conducted using crude oil-spiked beach sediments and seawater under natural attenuation and biostimulation conditions. The experiments were conducted at 18 and 28 °C to account for seasonal variation in temperature, background nutrient levels, and microbial communities. The biodegradability of oil constituents – namely alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), was monitored over a 42-day period using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Under biostimulation conditions, significant enhancement in the overall biodegradation rates of alkanes and PAHs was observed in seawater at 18 and 28 °C, while little to no improvement was measured at both temperatures in sediments where background nutrient levels were sufficient to induce near maximum intrinsic biodegradation rates. Under both natural attenuation and biostimulation treatments, the increase in temperature increased the oil biodegradation rates in sediment and seawater microcosms. In both instances, the overall trend in the biodegradation of individual alkanes and PAHs suggested a typical decrease in biodegradation rates with the increase in carbon number/rings and alkyl groups.

Determination of heavy metals concentration in produced water of oil field exploration in siak regency

Oil and gas industry exploration activities produce a lot of formation water called produced water with a total of up to millions of barrels per day. Produced water from oil fields has different chemical compositions depending on geographic location, formation depth, oil production methods, and age of oil production wells. Currently, produced water is still considered as industrial waste water containing heavy metals which are harmful to humans and the environment, and require special treatment to be able to dispose of it into the environment. To determine heavy metals content in produced water of oilfield exploration, laboratory tests were performed for Siak Regency of Riau Province. Laboratory testing parameters include arsen, barium, boron, cadmium, cobalt, chromium hexavalent, iron, copper, lead, manganese, selenium, mercury, and zinc using instrument inductively couple plasma (ICP-OES) Perkin Elmer 8300DV, spectrophotometer HACH DR2800, and LUMEX RA-915. The results show the heavy metal content of <0,01 − 1,0 mg/L, and only barium and boron have a concentration of more than 1.0 mg/l. Without advance treatment especially to eliminate heavy metal content, the produced water in Siak Regency is harmful as source of drinking water and other daily activity including for fisheri and crop plantation.

Rapid Assessment of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination in Soils: Spectroscopy Approach

Soil contamination with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as a result of crude oil exploration and exploitation activities is currently a major environmental challenge. This study proposed diffuse reflectance spectroscopy as a viable technique for rapid assessment of hydrocarbon contamination on oil spill sites in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Spectroscopy approach was carried out in the laboratory for the prediction of TPH concentrations (mg kg-1) in genuine petroleum contaminated soils (fresh wet), as compared with analytically measured TPH concentrations. Very strong positive correlation (r = 0.9686) was achieved between analytically and spectroscopically-predicted TPH (mg kg-1). Actual and predicted absorbance (ABSact and ABSpred, respectively) values were determined and appear not to be consistent. However, very strong positive correlation appears when each of parameter was plotted against measured TPH concentration. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy methodology was found to be as good as the labour-intensive and expensive traditional laboratory analysis of soil PHCs and could be an alternative for laboratory methods and as a viable field-screening tool to enhance risk decision making on-site.

Unmasking Politics in the Niger Delta Narrative: Eco-Degradation and Activism in Tanure Ojaide’s the Activist and Christie Watson’s Tiny Sunbirds Far Away

The global outcry of ecological degradation by mankind has been the thematic focus in the creative oeuvres of writers and eco-critics in the literary domain as regards the degraded Niger Delta region of Nigeria and its consequent activism amongst her people. In view of the foregoing, this research in distancing itself from previous studies, seeks to examine the politics in the representation of ecological degradation and activism in the Niger settings of Tanure Ojaide’s The Activist and Christie Watson’s Tiny Sunbirds Far Away . Furthermore, this study equally examines points of similarities and differences within the dynamics of degradation of places and characters as well as resultant reactions among characters in both novels. This study deploys an eco-critical approach as its theoretical framework. Based on the findings of this study, it is evident that the unguided oil exploration activities by multinational oil companies as well as self-induced actions among characters spell doom on the environment as both living and non-living things become negatively affected in all ramifications. This study also reveals various forms of eco-activism ranging from radical, liberal, civil, conservative to revolutionary standpoints among characters in both texts. It is concluded that the two authors, though from different socio-cultural backgrounds used both texts as channels of creating global awareness towards promoting environmental conservation and various means of entrenching peace in the fictional devastated Niger Delta environment. Keywords : Eco-degradation, Activism, Politics, Environment, Niger Delta Region DOI : 10.7176/JLLL/52-06

Integrating berth allocation decisions in a fleet composition and periodic routing problem of platform supply vessels

The aim of this work is to present mathematical models and a heuristic solution strategy to solve the heterogeneous fleet-sizing problem of platform supply vessels (PSVs) that support the offshore oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities. The problem considered in this research takes into account a novel characteristic related to the berth allocation problem of the supply base, which must be considered together with the decisions of selecting the departure days and the routes. The adopted solution strategy consists of sequentially solving models that capture different aspects of the problem, by starting with models that are simpler to solve. The solution found in one step provides a lower bound to the next step. This procedure was devised in order to reduce the search space and to speed up convergence. The proposed solution strategy was applied to real instances in Brazil, which has up to 79 offshore units grouped into clusters, with fair/acceptable results. The procedure allowed for assessing the impact of the number of berths on the fleet composition.

The Niger Delta Crises in the Niger Delta Novel: Reflections on Kaine Agary’s Yellow-Yellow

Ecocriticism is a bridge-building theory; one which connects the physical environment with literature. It is the ideological point of convergence between literature and the environment, an embodiment of the interdisciplinary nature of literature, and the anchor on which the Niger Delta literary discourse is hinged. The Niger Delta region is one region that is richly endowed with both natural and human resources. But some of the questions which many literary scholars in and outside the region have been asking are: to what extent has these deposits influenced the socio-economic developments in this part of the country? Why are some of the persistent crises in the region? Thus, the study undertakes an assessment of the forms of crises occasioned by oil exploration activities in the region with focus on Kaine Agary’s fictional work, Yellow-Yellow; working within the context of postcolonial theory and the African ecocritical approach, an attempt has been made at offering measures which if adopted, would address these issues limitin

Effects of oil spills on fish production in the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta region is the oil producing area of Nigeria, which consists of highly diverse ecosystems that are supportive of numerous species of terrestrial and aquatic fauna and flora. Crude oil spills endanger fish hatcheries in coastal water and also contaminate valuable fish. This study examines the effects of oil spills on fish production in the Niger Delta of Nigeria from 1981–2015 using an estimable Cobb Douglas production function. The findings suggest that oil production and spills negatively affect fish production, while farm labour has a positive effect on fish production. On the other hand, fishery loan exerts a negative effect on fish production and this could be ascribed to the bottlenecks in accessing these loans. This study corroborates the findings in literature on the negative concomitance of oil spills and fish production and suggests a cautious approach to oil exploration activities for a sustainable development in the region.

Assessment of the bacterial community structure in shallow and deep sediments of the Perdido Fold Belt region in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Mexican region of the Perdido Fold Belt (PFB), in northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), is a geological province with important oil reservoirs that will be subjected to forthcoming oil exploration and extraction activities. To date, little is known about the native microbial communities of this region, and how these change relative to water depth. In this study we assessed the bacterial community structure of surficial sediments by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene at 11 sites in the PFB, along a water column depth gradient from 20 to 3,700 m, including five shallow (20–600 m) and six deep (2,800–3,700 m) samples. The results indicated that OTUs richness and diversity were higher for shallow sites (OTUs = 2,888.2 ± 567.88; H′ = 9.6 ± 0.85) than for deep sites (OTUs = 1,884.7 ± 464.2; H′ = 7.74 ± 1.02). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed that shallow microbial communities grouped separately from deep samples. Additionally, the shallow sites plotted further from each other on the NMDS whereas samples from the deeper sites (abyssal plains) plotted much more closely to each other. These differences were related to depth, redox potential, sulfur concentration, and grain size (lime and clay), based on the environmental variables fitted with the axis of the NMDS ordination. In addition, differential abundance analysis identified 147 OTUs with significant fold changes among the zones (107 from shallow and 40 from deep sites), which constituted 10 to 40% of the total relative abundances of the microbial communities. The most abundant OTUs with significant fold changes in shallow samples corresponded to Kordiimonadales, Rhodospirillales, Desulfobacterales (Desulfococcus), Syntrophobacterales and Nitrospirales (GOUTA 19, BD2-6, LCP-6), whilst Chromatiales, Oceanospirillales (Amphritea, Alcanivorax), Methylococcales, Flavobacteriales, Alteromonadales (Shewanella, ZD0117) and Rhodobacterales were the better represented taxa in deep samples. Several of the OTUs detected in both deep and shallow sites have been previously related to hydrocarbons consumption. Thus, this metabolism seems to be well represented in the studied sites, and it could abate future hydrocarbon contamination in this ecosystem. The results presented herein, along with biological and physicochemical data, constitute an available reference for further monitoring of the bacterial communities in this economically important region in the GoM.