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oil and gas pipelines
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
In accordance with Fingas (2012), the major use of onshore oil and gas pipelines refers to the transport of oil and gas alongside different related products such as Kerosene Oil, Diesel and gasoline. Further, it is stated by Lentz and Felleman (2003), that the onshore pipeline is one of the safest methods to transport the onshore oil and gas products from one site to another. As argued by Papadakis, Porter and Wettig (1999), the onshore pipelines are considered as safe medium due to the fact that the occurrence of accidents and fatalities from onshore pipes has been significantly lower as compared to other mediums over the past years as indicated in figure 1 as well (Papadakis, Porter and Wettig, 1999). Lentz and Felleman (2003) state that alongside the safety as an advantage of onshore pipelines, the amount of oil spill from the onshore pipelines can always be significant in the case of leakage. Further, in the view of Lentz and Felleman (2003), the social, technological, economic and environmental issues of oil and gas exploration have been reported to international and national authorities over the past.
oil and gas pipelines As stated by Onuoha (2008), the research on oil and gas transport systems and their consequences on the society, technology, economy and environment is insufficient in the developing countries like Nigeria. Fingas (2012) argued that onshore pipelines networks are generally extended for hundreds of kilometres as indicated in figure 1 below; it leads to limited containment to avoid/decrease the risk of oil spillage especially at the critical sites like rivers and crossing of roads.
Figure 1 – The Downstream Pipeline networks of different regions of Nigeria spread over hundreds of KMs
(Source: (NCP/BPE (2008); PPMC Handbook (n.d.))
In the view of Omeje (2006), the availability of onshore pipeline is a critical and important facility available in the oil and gas industry. It is further stated that the survival of the industry can become difficult in the absence of these onshore pipelines. However, the oil spills from these onshore pipelines can occur at undesired locations and as a result, the deployment of emergency measures can become difficult in order to handle the issue (Bonvicini et al., 2015). It suggests that the oil spill over is not only an economic risk but it is a risk to overall society, government and environment in the long-run (Osuji, Erondu and Ogali, 2010).
1.1 Statement of Problem
Since the oil spill risks by the usage of onshore pipelines are experienced in all the developing and developed nations. Nigeria is one of the emerging economies where the onshore pipelines are being used so Nigeria also faces the risk of the oil spill over (Omeje, 2006). Cabedo and Tirado (2004) defined risk as a factor that can lead to uncertainty based on any external or internal factors; the risks can change organisational challenges, wealth and opportunities. On the other hand, Linsley, Shrives and Crumpton (2008) state that risk is any threat that can affect the organisations/economies or even societies in an adverse manner.
However, as stated by Aroh et al. (2010), it must be noted that the onshore pipelines networks are one of the main risks and contributors toward the increasing rate of the negative effects on the environment and the land pollution in Nigeria.
It is stated by Guerin (2000) that the oil spills from the onshore pipelines are refined products but it has proved as a big risk to the environment and the life of humans and particularly animals. The oil spilt from these onshore pipelines consists of aromatic hydrocarbon and metals and these constituents can damage both the residual soil and water very quickly (Al-Mansouri and Alam, 2008). It is further stated that apart from these damages, these constituents also result in dangerous diseases for humans such as lungs failure, cancer and other similar diseases for human (EMMANUEL, O. and GORDON, 2006).
The major causes behind the oil spill from these onshore pipelines can be attributed to the combination of lack of corporate social responsibility by oil companies and lack of measures taken to ensure safety and security to the society by saving them from adverse effects of the oil spill over (Smith and Pangsapa, 2008). Apart from these industry causes, the Nigerian government can also be held responsible for these oil spills as it has not focused on good governance (Townsley and Sidebottom, 2010). The Nigerian government is also involved in the corruption and there is an inadequacy in the implementation of rule of law (Smithand Pangsapa, 2008). Therefore, it suggests that the focus is needed in the economy of Nigeria where there are many unnoticed and unrecorded oil spills of the smaller amount which eventually hurt the economy and environment significantly over the long-run (Bonvicini et al., 2015).
1.2 Research Gap
Several past types of research focused on reducing the risk pertaining to spillage from the onshore pipelines with a focus on different perspectives. Onuoha (2008) conducted a research focusing on the attacks on oil transport pipelines used in Nigeria including onshore pipelines. Kadafa (2012) analysed the causes of accidents resulting from oil pipelines in a particular region of Nigeria named Niger Delta and Al-Mansouri and Alam (2008) analysed the impact of spill incidents and oil pipelines on the health of common people in Nigeria…
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