Oil extraction in Nigeria has caused extensive environmental degradation and health problems in many Nigerian communities, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Niger Delta where nearly all of the oil extraction takes place. The reasons for this are complex and have roots in Nigeria’s colonial past. The Nigerian economy is largely reliant on its petroleum resources which, in conjunction with governmental corruption and high international demand for Nigerian oil, has created a system where environmental externalities are largely ignored. Multinational oil companies with little stake in the development and environment of Nigeria are responsible for most of the extraction projects and subsequent environmental damage. However, the Nigerian federal government has failed to effectively regulate these projects. Communities in the Niger Delta bear nearly all of the environmental burden of oil extraction, but see very little of the economic benefits. The main environmental impacts of oil extraction are oil spills, land use change, and gas flaring. Oil spills are very common in the Niger Delta. Cleanup efforts are often inadequate, resulting in loss of delicate ecosystems as well as fisheries and farmland. Large tracts of rainforest and mangrove ecosystems have been cleared or degraded by the oil extraction process. Nigeria flares more gas per barrel of oil extracted than any other country in the world, contributing to global warming and creating serious health hazards for communities located near gas flares. Diversification of the Nigerian economy would help to alleviate many of the factors that lead to environmental degradation, including the dependence of the government on oil revenues, high unemployment, and rampant oil theft. Curbing government corruption is also vital to effective regulation of oil extraction. International consumers can help Nigeria head towards a less petroleum-driven future through an increased awareness of the origins of their oil and pressure on the Nigerian federal government and the multinational oil companies to extract oil more conscientiously or even to discontinue oil extraction. But most importantly, the solution to Nigeria’s economic concerns must ultimately come from Nigerians as international influence has been a major contributor to the environmental degradation in the first place.

Through the Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) initiative a substantial amount of effort and international attention has been focused on the reduction of gas flaring since 2002 (Elvidge et al., 2009). Nigeria is rated as the second country in the world for gas flaring, after Russia. In an attempt to reduce and eliminate gas flaring the federal government of Nigeria has implemented a number of gas flaring reduction projects, but poor governmental regulatory policies have been mostly unsuccessful in phasing it out. This study examines the effects of pollution from gas flaring using multiple satellite based sensors (Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+) with a focus on vegetation health in the Niger Delta. Over 131 flaring sites in all 9 states (Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers) of the Niger Delta region have been identified, out of which 11 sites in Rivers State were examined using a case study approach. Land Surface Temperature data were derived using a novel procedure drawing in visible band information to mask out clouds and identify appropriate emissivity values for different land cover types. In 2503 out of 3001 Landsat subscenes analysed, Land Surface Temperature was elevated by at least 1 ℃ within 450 m of the flare. The results from fieldwork, carried out at the Eleme Refinery II Petroleum Company and Onne Flow Station, are compared to the Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+ data. Results indicate that Landsat data can detect gas flares and their associated pollution on vegetation health with acceptable accuracy for both Land Surface Temperature (range: 0.120 to 1.907 K) and Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (sd ± 0.004). Available environmental factors such as size of facility, height of stack, and time were considered. Finally, the assessment of the impact of pollution on a time series analysis (1984 to 2013) of vegetation health shows a decrease in NDVI annually within 120 m from the flare and that the spatio-temporal variability of NDVI for each site is influenced by local factors. This research demonstrated that only 5 % of the variability in δLST and only 12 % of the variability in δNDVI, with distance from the flare stack, could be accounted for by the available variables considered in this study. This suggests that other missing factors (the gas flaring volume and vegetation speciation) play a significant role in the variability in δLST and δNDVI respectively.

[pt] Anualmente, mais de 100 bilhões de metros cúbicos de gás são queimados mundialmente em flares nas instalações de petróleo e gás natural. Esse número era ainda maior a alguns anos atrás. No passado, o holofote estava sobre o petróleo e o gás natural era visto como uma fonte de energia não rentável. A preocupação mundial com o aquecimento global impulsionou as ações para redução das emissões de gases causadores do efeito estufa. A crescente mobilização dos órgãos reguladores de diversos países para imposição de restrições de queima e ventilação do gás natural vem contribuindo para a melhoria dos índices de aproveitamento do gás associado. Muito embora já tenha havido um avanço relevante, o montante de gás desperdiçado ainda precisa ser reduzido. Neste contexto, a necessidade de se quantificar corretamente os volumes desperdiçados de gás fica evidente. As ações para redução da queima ou ventilação de gás natural se baseiam fortemente em medições precisas. O reflexo disto são as constantes publicações de diretrizes regulatórias voltadas para as medições de vazão de gás dos sistemas de alívio/tocha. Apesar da medição de gás de flare não ser uma técnica nova, ela ainda é considerada desafiadora e bem diferente das demais aplicações de medição de vazão. A natureza imprevisível da queima de gás natural, associada a instalações inadequadas, torna a medição extremamente difícil e complexa. O presente trabalho traz uma visão geral da queima de gás natural, da regulação do tema no Brasil e no mundo e das características e desafios da medição de gás de flare. Adicionalmente, foram feitos estudos de incerteza sobre os volumes diários medidos nos pontos fiscais de gás de uma instalação típica, de forma a analisar a influência da incerteza da medição do gás de tocha sobre a incerteza da produção mensal de gás natural, que é a base de cálculo para as devidas participações governamentais. Também foram calculadas as diferenças obtidas entre a medição indireta (balanço volumétrico de gás) e a medição direta (medição ultrassônica) da queima de gás natural e as incertezas relacionadas à medição indireta. / [en] Annually, more than 100 billion cubic meters of gas are flared from upstream oil and gas facilities. This number was even higher a few years ago. In the past, the spotlight was on oil and natural gas was seen as a non-profitable source of energy. The worldwide concern over global warming spurred actions to reduce emissions of greenhouses effect gases, contributing to change the scenario above. The increased mobilization of regulators from many countries enforcing gas flaring and venting restrictions has contributed to the improvement of gas use. However, although some progress has been already achieved, the amount of wasted gas still needs to be reduced. In this context, the need to correctly quantify the volumes of gas flared is evident. Actions to reduce the flaring or venting of natural gas rely heavily on accurate measurements. This reflects on the rigorous flare measurement guidelines introduced by many countries to support flaring legislation. Although the flare gas measurement is not a new technique, it is still considered a challenging task and quite unique compared to other flow measurement applications. The unpredictable nature of the flaring, many times happening at inadequate facility, makes measuring it extremely difficult and complex. This work provides an overview of gas flaring, regulatory requirements in Brazil and worldwide and the characteristics and challenges of flare gas measurement. In addition, uncertainty studies were made over the daily volumes measured in the fiscal points of a typical installation, in order to analyze the influence of the uncertainty of flared gas measurement on the uncertainty of monthly gas production, which is the basis for calculating the government takes. The differences obtained between the gas flaring indirect measurement (bydifference method) and direct measurement (ultrasonic measurement) were also calculated, as well as the uncertainties related to the indirect measurement.

The issue of gas flaring and the attendant environmental effects have become a common sight in the Niger Delta. Apart from being a wastage of natural resources, it is a menace to the global existence of man. The incidences of acid rain and the disruption of economic life of the locals, basically farming and fishing, have led to consistent and irresistible agitation by the people of the Niger Delta for an end to gas flaring. The consistent release of harmful gases through gas flaring, with devastating effect on the surrounding environment of the Niger Delta region is discussed in this work. This dissertation examines why successive governments have not succeeded in their quest for a solution to gas flaring; policies and regulations are not being effectively implemented, and why despite the fact that flaring has been outlawed in Nigeria since 1st January 1984, it is still going on 24 years after. Flaring continues unabated undermining the consequences it has on the people and the effects on climate change. Interviews and case studies were used to examine the factors responsible for the non implementation of government policies and regulations, and why the consistent extension of flare-out deadline. Countries with outstanding results were examined in order to draw a baseline for the Nigeria situation. The research revealed that the Nigerian government has not enforced environmental regulations effectively because of its interests in the business of the multinationals. In addition there has been the dependence of environmental monitoring and regulatory agencies on government funding. This has drastically affected the proficiencies of the control and the insignificant penalties imposed on companies that flare gas. The need for government to play the role of an umpire rather than business partner with the multinationals is therefore of paramount importance. It is also pertinent that the regulatory and monitoring agencies be independent of government's supervision. More stringent measures, (ranging from more cost per a thousand standard cubic feet of gas flared to closure of platform(s) and/or outright withdrawal of license), should also be put in place to serve as deterrent to erring oil companies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The issue of gas flaring and the attendant environmental effects have become a common sight in the Niger Delta. Apart from being a wastage of natural resources, it is a menace to the global existence of man. The incidences of acid rain and the disruption of economic life of the locals, basically farming and fishing, have led to consistent and irresistible agitation by the people of the Niger Delta for an end to gas flaring. The consistent release of harmful gases through gas flaring, with devastating effect on the surrounding environment of the Niger Delta region is discussed in this work. This dissertation examines why successive governments have not succeeded in their quest for a solution to gas flaring; policies and regulations are not being effectively implemented, and why despite the fact that flaring has been outlawed in Nigeria since 1st January 1984, it is still going on 24 years after. Flaring continues unabated undermining the consequences it has on the people and the effects on climate change. Interviews and case studies were used to examine the factors responsible for the non implementation of government policies and regulations, and why the consistent extension of flare-out deadline. Countries with outstanding results were examined in order to draw a baseline for the Nigeria situation. The research revealed that the Nigerian government has not enforced environmental regulations effectively because of its interests in the business of the multinationals. In addition there has been the dependence of environmental monitoring and regulatory agencies on government funding. This has drastically affected the proficiencies of the control and the insignificant penalties imposed on companies that flare gas. The need for government to play the role of an umpire rather than business partner with the multinationals is therefore of paramount importance. It is also pertinent that the regulatory and monitoring agencies be independent of government's supervision. More stringent measures, (ranging from more cost per a thousand standard cubic feet of gas flared to closure of platform(s) and/or outright withdrawal of license), should also be put in place to serve as deterrent to erring oil companies. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

<p>The goal of this study is to examine the environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration and production (E&P), the roles of legislation, and the environmental management strategies in the petroleum industry with respect to the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study seeks to suggest sustainable solutions to the endemic economic, social, and environmental problems associated with oil and gas E&P in the region. The focus is on the environmental control in the upstream (E&P) operations of the oil and gas industry as it affects the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a view to proffering sustainable solutions.</p><p>The heavily polluting activities and environmental impacts of the upstream oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta have over the years taken a routine dimension and are endemic as a result of inadequate environmental legislations and ineffective enforcements. Sequel to these environmental impacts is militancy, adoption of expatriates, communal conflicts, inter-ethnic conflicts, human right abuses, restiveness and other social vices as the study reveals. These social and environmental impacts of oil and gas activities in this region bring impoverishment, abject poverty, hunger, squalor, birth disease, gene mutation, and death while exposing inhabitants of the region to afflictions and diseases as the study explicitly documents.</p><p>The study also reveals that the persistence rate of unrest, restiveness, militancy and other social vices is as a result of non-dialogue status between the different stakeholders, lack of infrastructural development, lack of basic amenities, high rate of unemployment, poor policy construct, federalized mineral right / resource ownership structure, and the monopolistic nature of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earning in petroleum resources.</p><p>In this dissertation, both proactive and corrective measures to curb the menace of the social, economic and environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration & production operations in Nigeria are presented and discussed with suggestions to sustainable solution and development, better environmental legislation, and better resource policy construct while advocating for good industrial practices in the petroleum industry with emphasis on the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.</p>

The goal of this study is to examine the environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration and production (E&amp;P), the roles of legislation, and the environmental management strategies in the petroleum industry with respect to the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study seeks to suggest sustainable solutions to the endemic economic, social, and environmental problems associated with oil and gas E&amp;P in the region. The focus is on the environmental control in the upstream (E&amp;P) operations of the oil and gas industry as it affects the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a view to proffering sustainable solutions. The heavily polluting activities and environmental impacts of the upstream oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta have over the years taken a routine dimension and are endemic as a result of inadequate environmental legislations and ineffective enforcements. Sequel to these environmental impacts is militancy, adoption of expatriates, communal conflicts, inter-ethnic conflicts, human right abuses, restiveness and other social vices as the study reveals. These social and environmental impacts of oil and gas activities in this region bring impoverishment, abject poverty, hunger, squalor, birth disease, gene mutation, and death while exposing inhabitants of the region to afflictions and diseases as the study explicitly documents. The study also reveals that the persistence rate of unrest, restiveness, militancy and other social vices is as a result of non-dialogue status between the different stakeholders, lack of infrastructural development, lack of basic amenities, high rate of unemployment, poor policy construct, federalized mineral right / resource ownership structure, and the monopolistic nature of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earning in petroleum resources. In this dissertation, both proactive and corrective measures to curb the menace of the social, economic and environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration &amp; production operations in Nigeria are presented and discussed with suggestions to sustainable solution and development, better environmental legislation, and better resource policy construct while advocating for good industrial practices in the petroleum industry with emphasis on the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Bei der Förderung von Erdöl wird auch Erdgas gefördert, das oft abgefackelt wird. Das Abfackeln von Erdgas ist sehr schädlich für die Umwelt und die Bewohner einer Umgebung in der Gas abgefackelt wird. Demzufolge ist die Reduktion dieses Prozesses eine wichtige Aufgabe, die durch Monitoring von Gasfackeln unterstützt werden kann. Dies gelingt am besten durch Fernerkundung mit Satellitendaten. Die vorliegende Dissertation widmet sich der Parametrisierung von Gasfackeln anhand von Infrarot-Satellitenaufnahmen. Eine Gruppe von Sensoren wurde verglichen, woraus optimale Eigenschaften eines Sensors zur Gasfackelanalyse abgeleitet wurden. Danach wurde ein Modell zur Berechnung des Gasflusses aus Infrarot-Satellitenaufnahmen entwickelt. Das vorgeschlagene Modell basiert auf der Physik der Verbrennung und wird von Teilmodellen zur Berechnung der Verbrennungsparameter unterstütz. Dadurch werden Prozesse mitberücksichtigt, die bisher in der Gasfackelforschung wenig adressiert wurden. Eine Experimentenreihe erlaubte eine Charakterisierung der Flamme in Bezug auf sich verändernde Bedingungen, z.B. Gasfluss. Zusätzlich wurde das Modell durch die Experimente validiert. Die abgeleitete Genauigkeit der Gasflusswerte ist verhältnismäßig hoch, insbesondere wenn man die Komplexität und Variabilität einer Gasflamme berücksichtigt. Durch Analysieren des Sensordesigns des BIROS Sensors aus der FireBIRD-Mission des Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt konnten die Sensorparameter charakterisiert und deren Einfluss auf ein abgeleitetes Bildprodukt quantifiziert werden. Die Fähigkeit des Modells mit unterschiedlichen Sensordaten zu funktionieren, wurde geprüft durch einen Vergleich der geschätzten Gasflusswerte aus Daten von zwei Satellitensensoren. Die verglichenen Gasflusswerte sind sehr ähnlich, was die Fähigkeit des Models mit unterschiedlichen Daten gut zu funktionieren, bestätigt. Das vorgeschlagene Model hat Potenzial, das globale Monitoring von Gasfackeln zu verbessern. / Routine gas flaring is harmful to the environment and people living in the vicinity of gas flares. Therefore, the reduction of this process is an important task, which can be supported by monitoring of gas flares, which can be done with remote sensing techniques. The presented work is devoted to the monitoring of gas flaring. The first aspect of the analysis was to compare a group of sensors with respect to the features crucial for gas flaring analysis. A set of requirements for an optimal sensor for this purpose was proposed. Next, a model for calculating gas flow from infrared satellite imagery was proposed, which relies on several other models, allowing to derive the values of the combustion parameters. By modelling these parameters in a gas flare, processes are accounted for that were scarcely addressed in the research conducted on gas flaring until now. To describe the characteristics of the flame coming from combustion in a flare, an experimental series was designed and conducted. The experimental series allowed to characterise the flame with respect to changing conditions, e.g. gas flow. Thus, the characteristics derived from the experiments could be included in the model for gas flow calculation. Additionally, the experiments served as a mean to validate the model. The accuracy of the derived gas flow values is relatively high, especially considering the variability of a gas flare flame. One design goal of the model for gas flow calculation was to ensure feasibility to work with data from different sensors producing equally accurate results. By analysing the design of the BIROS sensor of the DLR, the sensor parameters could be described, and their influence on the resulting imagery could be quantified. The feasibility was verified by comparing the gas flow values calculated using data from two different satellite sensors. The results obtained are very similar. The model proposed reveals potential to improve the global monitoring of gas flaring.