Page:Niger Delta Ecosystems- the ERA Handbook, 1998.djvu/182

Environmental Impact of the Oil Industry

Although drilling typically lasts for only a few months it brings in technicians and labour many of whom live in a camp on the site.

In isolated areas drilling camps are set up to a very high standard of comfort. For instance it may be a houseboat with single or double air-conditioned rooms and a very well stocked canteen and bar. It is often these camps that make local people aware for the first time that the oil industry creates a great deal of wealth; wealth in which they are not sharing despite having to put up with the environmental problems which the industry is creating for them on their door-step.

Access to onshore drilling sites has a significant impact because it is at this exploration stage that major access is first made to a site. The impact is especially significant where the site has been previously inaccessible: oil operators testify that the very accessibility of drill sites attracts settlement. Even if the well is dry, access will have been made available for a significant period following abandonment (and clearly the same applies when a production well is worked out).

All the same in certain circumstances and as has been explained above the provision of access may provide economic benefits to local people.

Noise arises from the generators of the drilling camp and from the drilling operation.

Most people find noise that they cannot control particularly disturbing, and the people of the Niger Delta are no exception.

Flaring may occur during drilling where associated gas cannot conveniently be piped to a flow station. For details about flaring, see the production section, 5.3 below. 180