The Effect of Gas Flaring on the Environment and its Utilization (Case Study of Selected Villages in Niger Delta Area of Nigeria)

Abstract

The effect of gas flaring involving some areas of the Niger Delta in Nigeria has been successfully carried out. Four villages were considered under this work: Aghigho, Obagi, Imeh and Edikan. An analysis of the volume of carbondioxide produced in each of the villages was carried out. The results of the analysis revealed that the effect of flaring associated gas on the environment is high based on the fact that carbondioxide, which is responsible for global warming, is released in large quantities. The least volume of carbondioxide produced was in the month of March in Aghigho and has a flare ratio of 0.15 %. The highest volume of carbondioxide produced on the other hand was in the fields of Imeh and Edikan which both had a flare ratio of 100 %. It was also observed that when the produced gas is not utilized but flared totally, the volume of carbondioxide produced is greater than the critical threshold limit value of carbondioxide (about 30,000 ppm).This is an indication that the volume of carbondioxide produced depends on the volume of gas flared. More ways of utilizing associated gas are proposed.