A multi-perspective view of the effects of a pipeline explosion in Nigeria
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Date
2013-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Abstract
Vandalisation of petroleum pipelines is a major cause of pipeline fire disasters. However,
except the number of deaths recorded, little information of the effects of such disasters on
the environment is often reported in developing countries, and post-disaster remediation
process is thus usually unmonitored or ineffective. This study investigated the effect of
a major pipeline disaster in a rural environment in Nigeria from multi-date satellite
imageries (orthophoto map, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, ETM þand
IKONOS), social and ecological surveys. Results showed that some of the affected
settlements were within the pipeline corridor before the disaster, and pipeline vandalisa-
tion was encouraged by one or more cases of faulty and exposed pipeline, deficient
pipeline monitoring system, sabotage and readily available markets for siphoned oil.
Ecological effects include loss of about 200 ha of vegetation resulting into significantly
lower woody and herbaceous plant species in the affected regions than the adjacent plots.
Significant proportion of the survivors also reported lower quality of groundwater (well
water), air and streams, health problems (mainly abdominal pain) after they drank the
well water and destruction of their crops and farmlands. The study concluded on the need
for enforcement of the right-of-way laws on pipelines in Nigeria.
Description
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Issue no:2013, Pg. 68–77.
Keywords
Pipeline explosion, Ecosystem, Perception, Resource management, deficient pipeline monitoring system