Evaluation Of Remediation Techniques Used For Contaminated Lands By Oil Spills

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Oil spills have been a significant menace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria over the past few decades. These spills have occurred due to a wide range of reasons including sabotage, operational error, and equipment fault, to mention but a few. Despite existing regulations that mandate oil companies to be responsible for the cleanup of oil spills, only a minute portion of contaminated lands in this region have been remediated. This has caused untold hardship to residents of the communities in this region as their primary source of livelihood, farming, and fishing, are consistently lost to these incidents. Therefore, this study evaluated the remediation techniques that have been adopted across the region and globally to determine the appropriate techniques that would be suitable for this particular region. Before this study, most research had focused on single techniques, and each technique had their limitation. It was unclear whether a holistic approach to the policy regulating oil companies' operations and a multidisciplinary strategy to choice of remediation techniques could improve the situation. A review of published articles in the news, journals, and regulatory policies was conducted to determine how best to tackle this task. The various reviews showed that the nature of spills and circumstances surrounding each spill in this region was complex. Also, remediation techniques adopted for the region's cleanup were not documented. The review of other major oil spill incidents worldwide showed that each remediation technique has its major demerits but can be adapted to meet restoration goals. The study developed a framework based on five criteria: timeframe, climate/geography, efficiency/effectiveness, associated costs, and environmental considerations. The study concluded that, indeed, a complex problem could not be solved with a simple solution which means a range of remediation techniques may need to be adopted for each spill incident. This study will inform decision-makers and oil companies of the need to review existing cleanup operation policies and procedures for optimal results.