Oil Spillage Monitoring in Nigeria and the Role of Remote Sensing - An Overview

Authors

  • Nwankwo Evalistus Iloabuchi Institute of Environmental Engineering, Peoples Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7121-6348
  • Godspower Oke Omokaro Institute of Environmental Engineering, Peoples Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7478-2327
  • Oluwatayo Enahoro Agbede Institute of Environmental Engineering, Peoples Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5872-308X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v3i1.2650

Keywords:

Oil Spillage, Nigeria, Oil Spill Monitoring, Remote Sensing, Niger Delta

Abstract

Oil spillage poses a persistent challenge in Nigeria most especially in oil-rich Niger Delta region, necessitating effective monitoring and mitigation measures. This study provides an overview of oil spill monitoring in Nigeria, emphasizing the pivotal role of remote sensing technology. Leveraging data from the NOSDRA Oil Spill Monitoring website, spanning 2016 to 2020, variations in spill occurrences among oil companies are analyzed. In 2016, a total of 42,741.25 barrels were spilled across 689 incidents, with NPDC emerging as the top spillage contributor. Similarly, 2017 witnessed 35,076.62 barrels spilled across 604 incidents, with NPDC and SPDC maintaining dominance. The trend continued in 2018, with SPDC recording the highest volume of spills among the top six contributing companies. However, in 2019, spillage increased, led by SPDC, followed closely by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited and Aiteo. Conversely, 2020 saw a decrease in spillage, albeit SPDC retained its lead. These findings underscore the critical need for enhanced monitoring and regulatory enforcement to mitigate the environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil spills in Nigeria. However, proactive measures are needed to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve spill response capabilities, and promote transparency and accountability within the petroleum industry.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adamu, B., Tansey, K., & Bradshaw, M. J. (2013). Investigating vegetation spectral reflectance for detecting hydrocarbon pipeline leaks from multispectral data. In SPIE Remote Sensing (pp. 889216-889216). International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Adamu, B., Tansey, K., & Ogutu, B. (2015). Using vegetation spectral indices to detect oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Remote Sensing Letters, 6(2), 145–154.

Adelana, S. O., Adeosun, T., Adesina, A. O., & Ojuroye, M. O. (2011). Environmental pollution and remediation: challenges and management of oil Spillage in the Nigerian coastal areas. American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 2(6), 834-845.

Adoki, A. (2013). Trends in vegetation cover changes in Bonny area of the Niger Delta. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 17(1), 89-103.

Ajide, O. M., & Isaac, O. O. (2013). An Assessment of the Physical Impact of Oil Spillage Using GIS and Remote Sensing Technologies: Empirical Evidence from Jesse Town, Delta State, Nigeria. British Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 12(2).

Anifowose, B., Lawler, D. M., Van der Horst, D., & Chapman, L. (2012). Attacks on oil transport pipelines in Nigeria: A quantitative exploration and possible explanation of observed patterns. Applied Geography, 32(2), 636-651.

Arellano, P., Tansey, K., Balzter, H., & Boyd, D. S. (2015). Detecting the effects of hydrocarbon pollution in the Amazon Forest using hyperspectral satellite images. Environmental Pollution, 205, 225–239.

Barenboim, G. M., et al. (2015). New Problems and Opportunities of Oil Spill Monitoring Systems. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 366, 64-74.

Brekke, C., & Solberg, A. H. S. (2005). Oil spill detection by satellite remote sensing. Remote Sensing of Environment, 95(1), 1-13.

Carter, G. A. (1993). Responses of Leaf Spectral Reflectance to Plant Stress. American Journal of Botany, 80(3), 239–243.

Casciello, D., Lacava, T., Pergola, N., & Tramutoli, V. (2011). Robust Satellite Techniques for oil spill detection and monitoring using AVHRR thermal infrared bands. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 32(14), 4107-4129.

Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (2002). The use of remote sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Environment, development and sustainability, 4(2), 93-112.

Department of Petroleum Resource. (2002). Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria, 1991 (as revised). Abuja.

Department of Petroleum Resources, (2018) Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Annual Report, 99.

Egberongbe, F. A. O., Nwilo P. C., & Badejo O. T. (2006). Oil spill disaster monitoring along Nigeria coastline. 5th FIG Regional Conference, Accra, Ghana.

Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2006). National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (Establishment) Act 2006. Abuja.

Federal Republic of Nigeria. (2010). National Oil Spill Contingency Plan for Nigeria. Abuja.

Fingas, M. F., & Brown, C. E. (1997). Review of Oil Spill Remote Sensing. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin, 4(4), 199-208.

Francis, P., Lapin, D., & Rossiasco, P. (2011). Securing Development and Peace in the Niger Delta: A Social and Conflict Analysis for Change. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington DC.

Harahsheh, H. A. (2016). Oil Spill Detection and Monitoring of Abu Dhabi Coastal Zone Using KOMPSAT-5 SAR Imagery. International Archives of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Information Sciences XLI-B8.

Jha, M. N., Levy, J., & Gao, Y. (2008). Advances in remote sensing for oil spill disaster management: state-of-the-art sensors technology for oil spill surveillance. Sensors, 8(1), 236-255.

Jorgensen, K. S., et al. (2019). The EU Horizon 2020 Project GRACE: Integrated Oil Spill Response Actions and Environmental Effects. Environmental Science Europe, 31, 44.

Khanna, S., Santos, M. J., Ustin, S. L., Koltunov, A., Kokaly, R. F., & Roberts, D. A. (2013). Detection of salt marsh vegetation stress and recovery after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in Barataria Bay, Gulf of Mexico using AVIRIS data. PLoS One, 8(11), e78989.

Kokaly, R. F., Couvillion, B. R., Holloway, J. M., Roberts, D. A., Ustin, S. L., & Peterson, S. H., et al. (2013). Spectroscopic remote sensing of the distribution and persistence of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in Barataria Bay marshes. Remote Sensing of Environment, 129, 210–230.

Mishra, D. R., Cho, H. J., Ghosh, S., Fox, A., Downs, C., & Merani, P. B. T., et al. (2012). Post-spill state of the marsh: remote estimation of the ecological impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Louisiana Salt Marshes. Remote Sensing of Environment, 118, 176–185.

Muhammad, M. A. (2013). Relevance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) to Environmental Education: A Panacea for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(10).

Ngobiri, C. N., Ayuk, A. A., & Anunuso, C. I. (2007). Differential degradation of hydrocarbon fraction during bioremediation of crude oil polluted sites in the Niger-delta area. J Chem Soc Nigeria, 32, 151-158.

NNPC. (2014). 2013 Annual Statistical Bulletin Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. http://www.nnpcgroup.com/Portals/0/Monthly%20Performance/2013%20ASB%201st%20edition.pdf

Nriagu, J. O. (2011). Oil industry and the health of communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. In Encyclopedia of Environmental Health. Elsevier, 240–250.

Nwankwoala, H. O., & Nwaogu, C. (2009). Utilizing the tool of GIS in oil spill management-a case study of Etche LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Environmental Sciences, 8(1).

Nwilo, P. C., & Badejo, O. T. (2005, May). Oil spill problems and management in the Niger Delta. In International oil spill conference (Vol. 2005, No. 1, pp. 567-570). American Petroleum Institute.

Nwilo, P. C., & Badejo, O. T. (2006). Impacts and management of oil spill pollution along the Nigerian coastal areas. Administering Marine Spaces, International Issues, 119.

Ogri, O. R. (2001). A review of the Nigerian petroleum industry and the associated environmental problems. Environmentalist, 21(1), 11-21.

Onwurah, I., Ogugua, V., Onyike, N., Ochonogor, A., & Otitoju, O. (2007). Crude oil spills in the environment, effects and some innovative clean-up biotechnologies. International Journal of Environmental Research, 1(4), 307–320.

Opukri, C. O., & Ibaba, I. S. (2008). Oil induced environmental degradation and internal population displacement in the Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 10(1), 173-193.

Orimoogunje, O. O. I., & Ajibola-James, O. (2013). Mangrove Ecosystem Recovery and Restoration from Oil Spill in the Niger Delta: The GIS Perspective. Geoinfor Geostat: An Overview S1, 5, 2.

Osei, A., Merem, E. C., & Twumasi, Y. A. (2006). Use of Remote Sensing Data to Detect Environmental Degradation in the Coastal Region of Southern Nigeria. In Proceedings of the ISPRS Commission VII Mid-term Symposium” Remote Sensing: From Pixels to Processes.

Oyehan, T. A., & Al-Ramadan, B. M. (2014). A GIS Approach to the Management of Oil Spill in Nigeria. The 9th National GIS Symposium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. April 28 – 30, 2014.

Ramsey, E., Meyer, B. M., Rangoonwala, A., Overton, E., Jones, C. E., & Bannister, T. (2014). Oil source-fingerprinting in support of polarimetric radar mapping of Macondo-252 oil in Gulf Coast marshes. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 89(1-2), 85–95.

Ramsey, E., Rangoonwala, A., & Jones, C. (2015). Structural classification of marshes with polarimetric SAR highlighting the temporal mapping of marshes exposed to oil. Remote Sensing, 7(9), 11295–11321.

SHELL. (2014). Shell in Nigeria: Environmental Performance-Oil Spills. http://s04.staticshell.com/content/dam/shellnew/local/country/nga/downloads/pdf/2013bnotes/env-perf-oilspills.pdf

Sun, S., Hu, C., Feng, L., Swayze, G. A., Holmes, J., & Graettinger, G., et al. (2016). Oil slick morphology derived from AVIRIS measurements of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: implications for spatial resolution requirements of remote sensors. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 103(1-2), 276–285.

Twumasi, Y. A., & Merem, E. C. (2006). GIS and remote sensing applications in the assessment of change within a coastal environment in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. International journal of environmental research and public health, 3(1), 98-106.

Uchegbulam, O., & Ayolabi, E. A. (2013). Satellite Image Analysis using Remote Sensing Data in Parts of Western Niger Delta. Nigeria Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 4(4), 612-617.

UNDP. (2006). Niger Delta Human Development Report. Abuja.

UNEP. (2011). Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland Nairobi, UNEP.

Urbahs, A., & Zavtkevics, V. (2020). Oil Spill Detection Using Multi Remote Piloted Aircraft for the Environmental Monitoring of Sea Aquatorium. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 24, 1-22.

Van der Werff, H., van der Meijde, M., Jansma, F., van der Meer, F., & Groothuis, G. J. (2008). A Spatial-Spectral Approach for Visualization of Vegetation Stress Resulting from Pipeline Leakage. Sensors, 8(6), 3733-3743.

Watts, M., & Zalik, A. (2020). Consistently Unreliable: Oil Spill Data and Transparency Discourse. The Extractive Industries and Society, 7, 790-795.

Zabbey, N., & Uyi, H. (2014). Community responses of intertidal soft-bottom macro zoobenthos to oil pollution in a tropical mangrove ecosystem, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 82(1-2), 167–174.

Zhao, M., Timmermans, M.‐L., Cole, S., Krishfield, R., Proshutinsky, A., & Toole, J. (2014). Characterizing the eddy field in the Arctic Ocean halocline. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 119, 8800–8817.

Downloads

Published

2024-05-03

How to Cite

Iloabuchi, N. E., Omokaro, G. O., & Agbede, O. E. (2024). Oil Spillage Monitoring in Nigeria and the Role of Remote Sensing - An Overview. American Journal of Environment and Climate, 3(1), 78–87. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v3i1.2650