Radiological impact of oil and Gas Activities in selected oil fields in Production Land Area of Delta State, Nigeria

A study of the radiological impact of oil and gas exploration activities in the production land area of Delta State has been carried out in-situ using two synchronized and calibrated radiation meters (Digilert 50 and 100) and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Ten oil field facilities were studied. At each facility, nine sampling locations and their host communities were evaluated making a total of 100 study points. Measured exposure rate in the oil field facilities ranged from 0.011±0.003mRh-1 in Evwreni camp site to 0.031±0.01mRh-1 at the Otorogu gas plant. Mean field exposure rates/equivalent dose rates ranged from 0.016±0.006mRh-1(0.839±0.34mSvy-1) to 0.0213±0.008mRh-1(1.134±0.44mSvy-1). In the host communities the values ranged from 0.0115±0.003mRh-1 (0.612±0.16mSvy-1) in Evwreni community to 0.021±0.007mRh-1 (1.117±0.37mSvy-1) in Otujeremi town, while for the control study area the value obtained was 0.009±0.002mRh-1(0.479±0.11mSvy-1). The results show that the radiation levels for the Ughelli East, Kokori, Eriemu, Evwreni, Eriemu, Oweh, Olomoro-Oleh oil and gas fields are within the 1mSvy-1 maximum permissible limit recommended for the public and non-nuclear industrial environment, while the levels for the fields at Otorogu, Ughelli West, Afiesere and Uzere West and East and the host communities of Olomoro, Uzere and Emeragha exceeded the maximum recommended value, an indication that the oil fields and host communities environment have been impacted radiologically. However, these results obtained may not have immediate health hazard, but will pose some long-term health side effects on the staff working in the facilities and residents of the host communities. Interim proactive measures are recommended @JASE