150
A. G. Kostianoy et al.
Fig. 8.1 Oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta area and coastal zone of Nigeria (Africa Confidential
2008)
petroleum-rich one in the world. Nigeria has a total of 159 oil fields and 1481 wells
in operation (Wikipedia 2012a). The main oil fields are concentrated in and around
the Niger River Delta, but off-shore rigs are also encountered in the coastal zone.
The environment of the Niger River Delta is seriously damaged by oil leakages.
The Government documented 6,817 spills between 1976 and 2001– practically one
per day for 25 years, but analysts suspect that the real number may be ten times
higher. It has been estimated that between 9 and 13 million barrels have been spilled
since oil drilling started in 1958 (Wikipedia 2012a, b). The main causes include
corrosion of pipelines and tankers (accounts for 50 % of all spills), sabotage (28 %),
and oil production operations (21 %), non-functional production equipment (1 %)
(Wikipedia 2012b). A massive parade of major tankers can be observed daily in
Cawthorne Channel, which are filled by the Bonny Light at export terminal at Bonny
Island. Little is known about the oil spills in the coastal zone, but offshore spills,
which are usually much greater in scale, contaminate coastal environments and cause
a decline in local fishing production.
A. G. Kostianoy et al.
Fig. 8.1 Oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta area and coastal zone of Nigeria (Africa Confidential
2008)
petroleum-rich one in the world. Nigeria has a total of 159 oil fields and 1481 wells
in operation (Wikipedia 2012a). The main oil fields are concentrated in and around
the Niger River Delta, but off-shore rigs are also encountered in the coastal zone.
The environment of the Niger River Delta is seriously damaged by oil leakages.
The Government documented 6,817 spills between 1976 and 2001– practically one
per day for 25 years, but analysts suspect that the real number may be ten times
higher. It has been estimated that between 9 and 13 million barrels have been spilled
since oil drilling started in 1958 (Wikipedia 2012a, b). The main causes include
corrosion of pipelines and tankers (accounts for 50 % of all spills), sabotage (28 %),
and oil production operations (21 %), non-functional production equipment (1 %)
(Wikipedia 2012b). A massive parade of major tankers can be observed daily in
Cawthorne Channel, which are filled by the Bonny Light at export terminal at Bonny
Island. Little is known about the oil spills in the coastal zone, but offshore spills,
which are usually much greater in scale, contaminate coastal environments and cause
a decline in local fishing production.