Page:Niger Delta Ecosystems- the ERA Handbook, 1998.djvu/176

Environmental Impact of the Oil Industry 15.4.4 AREAS SURROUNDING INSTALLATIONS

The clearing of sites for Drilling, Flowstations and Terminals and the establishment and operation of these installations, have impacts upon the surrounding ecosystems in terms of altering hydrological conditions and the ecological conditions of forest area. Also noise and toxic emissions will spread over a wide area.

15.4.5 OIL SPILLS

Oil spills have three main sources:
 * Oil Blowouts from wellheads as a result of poor maintenance or damage. The chances of blowouts are fairly high because Nigerian oil is naturally contained under pressure. Pollution from blowouts is made worse if the area around the wellhead is not properly sealed. Blowouts may also occur during drilling.
 * Oil Spillage from pipelines and flowlines as a result of poor maintenance or damage.
 * Oil Spillage at flow-stations during separation from water.

A subsequent impact of oil spillage is on human health and especially mental health. In areas of intensive oil industry activity, local people often complain of increased physical and psychological symptoms which they blame on the presence of oil in their 174