International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development-– Volume 3 Issue 3, May – June 2020 Available at www.ijsred.com ISSN : 2581-7175 ©IJSRED: All Rights are Reserved Page 1288 Application of Vertical Electrical Sounding in Characterisation of a Hydrocarbon Impacted Site in Ikarama and Kalaba Communities of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria *Egai Ayibawari Obiene & Oki Austin Oyinkuro Department of Geology, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Nigeria *Corresponding author:aegai19@yahoo.com Abstract Ten (10) Vertical Electrical Soundings were carried out in a hydrocarbon impacted sites of Ikarama and Kalaba communities to investigate the effect of hydrocarbon spills on the subsurface resistivity distribution in the area. Four (4) other VES points in non-impacted areas of both communities were sampled as control. The geophysical survey was carried out with the aid of an ABEM SAS 1000 Terrameter set with a maximum current electrode (AB) spacing of200 m. The results of impacted sites show a topsoil with an average resistivity distribution of 2.03Ωm-93.6Ωm and thickness of 0.09m- 0.463m, a second layer with resistivity ranging 1.57Ωm-35.8Ωm having a thickness of 1.13m-12.6m characteristic of clays and a third layer with resistivity ranging 2.83Ωm – 3570Ωm with a thickness of 1.01m-12.6m indicative of saturated sandstones with intercalations of clays. Similarly, the un-impacted sites show respective resistivity distribution and thickness variations of 13.9Ωm – 220Ωm and thickness of 0.02m - 1.34m for the top soil, resistivity range of 5.23Ωm-56.6Ωm and thickness of 0.929m -5.26m for the second layer indicating clay and a third layer with resistivity of 73.3Ωm – 966Ωm and thickness 5.57m-8.59m indicative of sandy-clays. The 1-D resistivity distribution indicated that most of the models started from a top soil of moderate high resistivity which could be attributed to near surface effect, the sub-soil shows a slight decrease in resistivity which could be attributed to clay sand layer after which there is a sharp increase in resistivity which could be attributed to the presence of petroleum contaminants within the subsurface in the impacted sites contaminating shallower depths in the study area. The resistivity distributions of the current study indicate subsurface hydrocarbon contamination hence, other complementary geophysical and geochemical methods are recommended to map the extent of the contaminant dispersal. Keywords: Hydrocarbon, VES, Geoelectric Characterisation, Bayelsa Introduction. All geologic materials like rocks, minerals deposits and formation fluids are characterized by a range of resistivity values which are representative of their physical and electrical properties, the resistivity of an earth materials depends on such factors as physical properties (metallic or non-metallic), prevailing temperature of materials, amount of ground water present, concentration of dissolved salts, presence of RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS