Geo-Environmental Assessment of Hydrocarbon Contaminated Sites in Parts of Central Swamp Depobelt, Eastern Niger Delta

Abstract

The environmental degradation resulting from hydrocarbon exploration and production has diverse health and socioeconomic implications on ecosystem functionality and a major concern to all stakeholders globally and the Niger Delta in particular. Effective mitigation of these impacts is a site specific science and is dependent on accurate determination of extent of spread and prediction of contaminant behaviour. This study evaluated soil type, grain-size distribution, contaminant concentration, migration pathways and their effects on the environment. Soil and groundwater samples were collectedand analysed in the study area using standard methods. Results indicate that soil type is predominantly fine silty sands to fine gravel with permeabilities between 1.36 x 10-4 to 1.58 x 10-4md. Electrical conductivity values ranged between 38.6 – 258.31 µS/cm, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) values between 64.5mg/L- 220.2mg/L, Total Suspended Solids values ranged from 24.0 mg/L - 187 mg/L, while heavy metals values were within acceptable limits. Atterberg limits for soils were higher at impacted sites as against the control sites. Collaborated effort by government, operating oil companies and other stakeholders are necessary in achieving a sustainable pollution management in the area.