Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2016, 8, 237-242
Published Online February 2016 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jwarp
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2016.82020
How to cite this paper: Olobaniyi, S.B. and Omo-Irabor, O.O. (2016) Environmental Impact Assessment of Selected Oil Pro-
duction Facilities in Parts of Niger Delta, Nigeria. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 8, 237-242.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2016.82020
Environmental Impact Assessment of
Selected Oil Production Facilities in
Parts of Niger Delta, Nigeria
Samuel Bamidele Olobaniyi
1
, Omoleomeo Olutoyin Omo-Irabor
2*
1
Department of Geology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
2
Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria
Received 1 January 2016; accepted 21 February 2016; published 24 February 2016
Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
The impact of oil production activities on the chemistry of soil and groundwater was investigated
around seven production facilities, ranging from flow stations to wellhead in the western Niger
Delta area. The method involved systematic sampling of soil and groundwater within a one kilome-
tre radius of such facilities. The samples obtained were analysed for pH, TOC, TPH, V, Ni and Fe by
standard procedures. The results indicate a general conformity of groundwater physico-chemistry
to international standards for chemical potability. However, the investigated soil samples reveal
in some cases elevated values of TPH (mean: 26.07 mg/kg) and Ni (mean: 8.89 mg/kg) which sug-
gest a negative impact on the soil in the vicinity of such oil production facilities. Although ground-
water may show no apparent contamination, pollutants trapped in the soil are in potential transit
to groundwater, and may eventually be dissolved and transported through the soil profile to the
water table by recharging rainwater. The environmental and health conditions of host communi-
ties are thereby endangered.
Keywords
Impact Assessment, Production Facilities, Soil, Groundwater, Heavy Metals, TPH, Niger Delta
1. Introduction
Nigeria is a country with a long history of oil exploration and exploitation. It is Africa’s largest oil producing
nation and ranks sixth in the world. Currently, Nigeria operates over 600 oil fields and in the process of granting
*
Corresponding author.