Hyper-Extractivism and the Global Oil Assemblage

Abstract

The Niger Delta’s oil frontier resembles an astonishing spatial patchwork, a quilt of multiple overlapping and intersecting spaces of territorial concessions, blocs, pipelines, risers, rigs, flowstations, and export terminals. Spatial technologies and representations are foundational to the oil industry: seismic devices map the contours of reservoirs, and geographic information systems monitor and meter the flows of products within pipelines. Over the last century, resource extraction from non-renewable stocks has grown while extraction from renewable stocks has declined as the agricultural economy has contracted in relation to manufacturing. Local and foreign intermediaries did much of the legwork—Lebanese and Greek enablers loomed large—but the scale was small, perhaps a few thousand barrels per day. All of the oil companies, including the national oil company, in theory provide surveillance and security to manage pipelines for reasons of safety and security. The costs of spills and explosion in and around communities, farms and fishing grounds are especially high.