EFFECT OF OIL SPILLAGE ON SURFACE WATER QUALITY IN OWAZA, UKWA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ABIA STATE, NIGERIA.
ABSTRACT: Exploration of crude oil has been known to cause oil spillage within the environment which is detrimental to the environment, hence, the need to study the effects of oil spillage on the surface water quality in Owaza, Ukwa West local government of Abia state.
The research methodology used in this researched work was descriptive and survey method. To achieve this, interviews were conducted using a randomly stratified method. The village councils which comprises of the chiefs, youth, women, men and their respective secretaries with two personnel who are interested in the welfare of the community and the subject matter specialist and they all recognized the occurrence of oil spills in their community alongside the negative effects on the surface water quality at the community.
A well-structured questionnaire was also prepared and distributed to 60 people; which represents the sample population of the study area. 55 copies of the distributed questionnaires were filled completely and returned while 5 copies were returned incomplete.
Analysis of the questionnaires on the causes of oil spillage within the study area showed that old/rusted pipelines contribute 60%, sabotage contributes 14% while 20% of the oil spillage within the community is caused by pressure on the pipe.
Water samples were collected within the study area at the upper, middle and downstream. From the laboratory analysis, the result showed an average temperature of 28.9oc as compared to the WHO standard of 25oc while the pH had an average of 3.4 which shows to be acidic and it falls below the WHO standard of 6.5 to 8.5. Turbidity was high with an average of 15.3mg/l while the conductivity was low with an average of 24.1mg/l. Total hardness and total dissolved solids of the sample had an average of 11.03mg/l and 334mg/l respectively which are below the standard of WHO. Total suspended solids, Dissolved Oxygen and Biochemical Oxygen Demand had an average of 8.3mg/l, 1.33mg/l and 14.34mg/l respectively, while the COD and TOC are 550mg/l and 1.57mg/l respectively.
Heavy metals were detected in the sample collection with iron having an average value of 1.7mg/l, zinc was given as 0.8mg/l, lead was 0.1mg/l, nickel was 0.09mg/l, vanadium was given as 0.03mg/l and nitrate had an average of 0.65mg/l while copper, chromium, and cadmium were not detected in the sample of the study area.
This shows that the quality of the surface water in Owaza has been undergoing degradation as a result of oil exploration activities which have affected the environment negatively.
The study, therefore, recommends adequate maintenance of the facilities especially by replacement of old/rusted pipelines, provision of more potable water supply through groundwater infrastructural development to support the existing ones and provision of treatment plant to avoid excessive withdrawal of the groundwater resource and inclusion of local dwellers on remediation of oil spillage on the environment for a pollution-free Owaza.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Water, described as the most abundant natural resource on earth is also a necessity of life, for there would be no life on earth without water and its unique properties (Jones et al., 2008). Water perhaps is the greatest asset that nature bestows to all living organisms in their various environments. It is the major component of all living things.
The development of the human environment worldwide has been accompanied by industrialization. The oil industry has remained the leading sector of the Nigerian economy for many decades now.
According to EIA (2009), THE Nigerian economy is heavily dependent on the oil sector which accounts for over 95 percent of export earnings and about 85 percent of government revenues. The oil industry is primarily located in the Niger Delta area of the country. In addition, Nigeria had an estimated 31.27 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of March 2018.
In 2018, Nigeria crude oil production averaged 1.874 million barrels per day, making it the largest crude oil producer in Africa. The major foreign producers in Nigeria are Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Total and Eni/Agipo (Experts column, 2010). Nigeria is greatly endowed with abundant natural resources and the weather supports all-year-round agricultural production. In the past, Nigeria has depended largely on industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as agricultural production and the export of cash crops like groundnut, millets, maize, cocoa and palm oil, which had a positive growth rate for its income, until oil was discovered in Nigeria?
Crude oil is the term for “unprocessed” oil, the substances that come out of the ground. Crude oil is a fossil fuel, meaning that it was made naturally from decaying plants and animals living in ancient seas millions of years ago (in most places you can find crude oil where there once was sea beds). Crude oil varies in color, from clear to tar-black, and in viscosity, from water to almost solid.
Oil has become the world’s most important source of energy since the mid-1950’s. This is as a result of its relative abundance, high energy density and easy transportability to different areas. Additional oil (in the form of petroleum) serves as raw material for many chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics. It is also an energy source powering the vast majority of vehicles.
Generally, oil is vital in industries and it accounts for a large percentage of the world’s energy consumption. Oil consists of hydrocarbons, which include mostly alkanes, cycloalkanes, and various aromatic hydrocarbons, which other organic compounds contain nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, as well as the trace amounts of metals such as iron, nickel, copper, and vanadium.
TABLE 1.1 COMPOSITION OF CRUDE OIL BY WEIGHT
| Elements | Percentage Range |
| Carbon | 83-87% |
| Hydrogen | 10-14% |
| Nitrogen | 0.1-2% |
| Oxygen | 0.1-1.5% |
| Sulfur | 0.5-6% |
| Metals | Less than 1000ppm |
This is the composition of crude oil by weight; although the exact molecular composition varies widely from formation to formation. However, the proportions of chemical elements vary over fairly narrow limits as indicated above (Wikipedia, 2009).
Crude oil is sent to the refinery after it is removed from the ground, and at a refinery, different parts of the crude oil are separated into useable petroleum products. The petroleum industry is involved in this process as well as with the exploration, extraction, transportation, and marketing of the entire petroleum product. The industry is divided into three major components, namely the upstream, midstream and downstream. Some of the products made from a barrel of crude oil include Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG), heavy fuel oil, diesel, gasoline, etc. (EIA, 2009).
The processes involved in the petroleum industry cause spillage in the environment, thus affecting the ecosystems. It affects all aspects of life such as the quality of surface and groundwater for potable water supply, aquacultural purpose, irrigation, soil, and vegetation.
Oil spillage has affected the quality of water supply in communities of the oil-producing regions, thus making life unbearable and quite unfortunate for the rural dwellers. Most rural dwellers are dependent on surface water for domestic water supply, fishing, and irrigation.
Oil spillage will cause pollution of the surface water and pose a threat to the livelihood of the inhabitants.
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION / PREVIEW
It is obvious that the spillage of oil in the environment is damaging. The situation is complex with many factors contributing to it. These consist of rapidly expanding oil exploration and deforestation.
In Nigeria, the discovery of oil” the black gold” in the 1970s has brought with it the attended effect of oil spillage on the water bodies which is the major source of water supply in the rural communities. These spills affect the economic and social activities of the community members who take fishing as their main occupation.
There is no doubt that the Nigeria oil industry has affected the country in a variety of ways at the same time. On the other hand, it has fashioned a remarkable economic landscape for the country. However, on the negative side, oil spills on surface water do not affect humans only but also aquatic lives of that water which are hindered of their life activities such as coming in contact with oxygen and their sources of food are stained with the spills of oil which they cannot consume any longer. The result of this is loss of aquatic forms of life.
Irrespective of the benefits of oil to the country and the world at large, the negative impact on the socio-economic life and the environment of the immediate oil producing local communities and its inhabitants has left balance sheets of ecological and socio-physical disaster (Ofomata, 1997). Oil spillage has a major impact on the ecosystem into which the it is released and the various spillage has a major impact on the ecosystem into which it is released and the various ways that it is made possible through leaks from old, corroded and poorly maintained pipelines and installations including both producing and abandoned offshore rigs, oil in produced water, refinery effluent and toxic sludge, toxic drilling mud, tank and tanker hold washing, oil in gas flare, below outs and other spills occur continuously . Many of these spills are now being caused by the many disenfranchised residents (Paul, 2004).
The effect of oil resource extraction on the environment of the Niger Delta has had a lot of negative effect on the region as studied by Eteng, (1997).
(Badejo and Nwilo, 2004) noted that the growth of the country’s oil industry, combined with a population explosion and a lack of environmental regulations led to substantial damage to Nigeria’s environment, especially in the Niger Delta region, the center of the country’s oil industry.
Access to clean water is a prerogative of every human being regardless of the geographical location, therefore the need to study the effects of oil spillage on the surface water quality in Owaza, ukwa west local government area of Abia state. The perception of the people of Owaza about the effects of oil spillage on their source of water supply and its effect on their socioeconomic life will be studied. Descriptive and experimental techniques will be employed in this study so as to answer the researched questions raised and ascertain the effects of oil spills on the surface water within Owaza.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Oil spill is on the increase in the oil producing communities of Nigeria especially in Owaza community in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, with less concern about the protection of the natural resources of the region.
Oil spills within the zone are mainly caused by equipment failure, operational errors and leaks from obsolete pipes or willful damage (sabotage). Many of the oil facilities and operations are located within sensitive habitats including areas vital to fish breeding, sea turtle, nesting, mangroves and rainforests. These areas have been severely damaged, contributing to increased biodiversity loss, pollution of water and land resources, deforestation and distortion of the natural ecosystem which has culminated in poverty as a result of the loss of their livelihood.
There have been many forms of oil-generated environmental pollution evident throughout the region; there have been traits of seepage into the surface water which serves as the means of potable water supply in Owaza and a means of livelihood for fishing and all year round farming.
The presence of oil spillages causes a major impact on the surface water ecosystem, which may affect the quality of potable water available to the people, causes fish poisoning and mortality, hence the need to find out the effect of oil spill on the surface water quality in Owaza, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, Nigeria for optimal conservation of the surface water quality and the environment at large while they explore oil within the region.
Several researches have been carried out on the effect of oil spillage but the effect of oil spillage on the surface water quality in Owaza have not been done, hence, the need to carry out an investigation to find out the quality of the surface water in Owaza, Ukwa West local government area of Abia State, Nigeria.
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is to determine the effect of oil spillage on surface water quality in Owaza, Ukwa west local government area of Abia state, Nigeria.
The objectives of this study are as follows;
- To identify the various methods oil spillage within the study area.
- To identify the perception of the people of Owaza on oil spillage on the surface water.
iii. To identify the physico-chemical properties of the surface water in Owaza.
- To proffer possible measures to militate against oil spills and its effects.
1.4 PURPOSE OF RESEARCH
Due to the importance of water to man and the environment and the effect of oil spill on the environment, this research seeks to address the issue associated with oil spillage on the surface water quality in Owaza, so as to identify the sources of oil spillage, their possible effects on the surface water quality and identify possible means of mitigating against the ill-effect caused by oil spill in Owaza, Ukwa West local government area of Abia State, Nigeria.
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY
This research will focus on the perception of the people of Owaza on the oil spillage on surface water and examine the physico-chemical properties of the surface water, identify possible means of oil pollution within Owaza and its environs and proffer possible ways to militate against oil spills and ways of combating the negative effects of oil spillage on surface water quality.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will provide fundamental information on the quality of water available to the people of Owaza. It will showcase the level of pollution of the available surface water quality which will depict the level of degradation in which the water has undergone.
This research will also focus on the sources of oil spillage on surface water within Owaza. This will serve as a base for policy makers at all levels, interest groups and professionals by providing an insight of the quality of the available surface water and guide them in their decision making in terms of policy formulation and resources exploitation as regard to the study area and the country at large.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
The limitations of this research work include;
- the challenges of high level security measure as to who should be allowed into the flow station for the purpose of collecting information.
- Hurdling of knowledge and information by Shell Petroleum Development Company staff, since they thought, it was to be used against them.
1.8 DEFINITION OF CONCEPT
- Oil Spillage:
According to Nelson (1973), oil spillage is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment especially the marine ecosystem due to human activities and is a form of pollution.
- Surface Water:
A surface water is defined as natural water that has not penetrated much below the surface of the ground example include; river, sea, ocean, streams, estuaries and wetlands, etc.
1.9 PLAN OF WORK
The plan of this research work is illustrated as stated below;
- Chapter one of this work covers the introductory, aim and objectives, significance and limitation of the study.
- Chapter two reviews similar work done by other scholars and presents their respective findings.
- Chapter three states clearly the location, research design, methodology and statistical analysis used in this research work. The methodology is descriptive and experimental.
- Chapter four presents the results and discussions of this research work.
- While chapter five is simply a summary of the whole work, conclusion and recommendations of the findings in this work. There is an annexure which presents reference and appendix.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Table of Content
List of Figures
List of Tables
Abstract vii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION / PREVIEW 3
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 4
1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 5
1.4 PURPOSE OF RESEARCH 6
1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY 6
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 6
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY 6
1.8 DEFINITION OF CONCEPT 7
1.9 PLAN OF WORK 7
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 8
2.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 8
2.2. THE HISTORY OF OIL IN THE WORLD AND ITS EXPLORATION IN NIGERIA 9
2.3. OIL RESOURCE EXPLOITATION AND PRODUCTION IN THE NIGER DELTA 10
2.4. OIL PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT IN NIGERIA 11
2.5. CAUSES OF OIL SPILLAGE 12
2.6. FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF OIL SPILL DAMAGE 13
2.7. THE ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY 15
2.8. THE IMPACT OF OIL SPILLAGE ON LAND AND WATER 18
2.9. THE SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OIL SPILLAGE 23
2.10. OIL COMPANY RELATIONS WITH THE OIL PRODUCING COMMUNITIES 27
2.11. OIL ROYALTIES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 29
2.11.1. Problems with oil royalties 30
2.12. LEGAL / INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PETROLEUM OPERATIONS
IN NIGERIA. 32
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 35
3.0. INTRODUCTION 35
3.1 LOCATION OF THE RESEARCH 35
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN 36
3.3 METHODOLOGY 37
3.3.1 Data Collection 37
3.3.2 Methods of Data collection 39
3.3.3 Sources of Data 40
3.3.4 Data Collection Techniques And Instrumentation 40
3.4 SAMPLE COLLECTION / LABORATORY ANALYSIS 42
3.4.1 Sample Collection and Preservation 42
3.4.2 Determination of physico-chemical properties of Water Quality 42
3.4.3 Determination of Temperature of Samples 43
3.4.4 Determination of pH of The Water Samples 43
3.4.5. Determination of Electrical Conductivity 43
3.4.6 Determination of Dissolved Oxygen (D0) 44
3.4.7 Determination of Acidity 44
3.4.8 Determination of Alkalinity 44
3.4.9 Determination of COD 45
3.4.10 Determination of Suspended Solid (SS) 45
3.4.11 Determination of Chloride (Cl–) 45
3.4.12 Determination of BOD 45
3.4.13 Determination of Heavy Metals 47
3.5 TOOL OF ANALYSIS 48
3.5.1 Data Analysis Procedure 48
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND PRESENTATION 50
4.1 PRESENTATION OF RESULTS 50
4.2 PRESENTATION OF INTERVIEWED RESULTS 50
4.3 PRESENTATION OF QUESTIONNAIRES ADMINISTERED 52
4.4 CAUSES OF OIL SPILLAGE IN OWAZA 54
4.5 IMPLICATION OF AN OIL SPILL CONTAMINATED SURFACE WATER ON HEALTH 55
4.6 PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF OWAZA SURFACE WATER 56
4.7 HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATION OF SURFACE WATER IN OWAZA, UKWA WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. 59
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION 62
5.1 SUMMARY 62
5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS 63
5.3 CONCLUSION 64
REFERENCES 66
List of Figures
Fig 3.1: Map of Abia State 35
Fig 3.2: Map of Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area 36
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Composition of Crude Oil by Weight 2
Table 3.1 Calculated Sample Population f the Study Area. 39
Table 3.2: Physico-Chemical Properties Water 46
Table 3.3: Heavy Metals 47
Table 4.1 Showing the Group of People Interviewed 50
Table 4.2: Percentage of the numbers of questionnaires administered 52
Table 4.3: Physico – Chemical Properties of Surface Water in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area 56
Table 4.4 Heavy Metals Concentration of Surface Water in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area 60
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