Waste Generation Issues in Petroleum Producing Communities in Nigeria

The increasing global concern on the environment demands that waste should be properly managed in order to minimize and possibly eliminate their potential harm to public health and the environment. This paper looks into the various classes of waste and their sources in petroleum producing communities in Nigeria and discusses possible treatment and methods of disposing of them. From research, it was discovered that the main sources of wastes in petroleum producing communities in Nigeria are from the Petroleum Industry (Upstream Operation). These include drilling mud/fluids and the drill cuttings which come as a result of well drilling processes. Others are the tank bottom sludges, which come as a result of crude oil sedimentation in the storage tank, the oily water phase, accidental oil spillage, well blow-out, leakage of the pipelines and storage tanks. Also, gaseous wastes are produced as a result of gas flaring, stock flare and the exhaust from heavy vehicles during the exploration process. This paper intends to summarise the consequences of the waste generated in the oil producing communities of Nigeria, and the methods adopted by oil companies in managing these wastes.

• Introduction

• Definition of Some Terms

• Classification of Wastes

• Consequences of Waste Generation

• Economic Consequences of Waste Generation

• Waste Management/Treatment Applied by Various Petroleum Companies in Nigeria

• Discussion

• Recommendation/Conclusion

• References