Geoelectric Mapping Of Hydrocarbon Contamination And Characterization Of Ground Water Protective Layers In Parts Of The Western Niger Delta,Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Oil spills have become a major environmental hazard constituting serious social problems in Nigeria, especially in the oil producing communities. The geoelectric technique of geophysical investigation has been used to evaluate possible pollution of the groundwater by hydrocarbon as a result of oil spills in six oil producing communities comprising of Olch, Olomoro, Uzere, Aficsere, Ekakpamre and Uvwiamuge within the western Niger Delta. A total of one hundred and thirty nine vertical electrical sounding (139 VES) using the Schlumberger electrode configuration were occupied in these communities to determine the geoelectric parameters and evaluate the aquifer units, depths and lateral extent in order to determine the subsurface integrity of the study area. Seven radial sounding measurements were also taken to determine the direction of ground water flow. Aquifer parameters values obtained from pumping test data and sources of recharge and discharge were used to model the groundwater and contaminant flow using groundwater modelling software. Hydrogeochemical analysis was carried out to ascertain the quality of the groundwater. Geoelectric sections, isoresistivity and protective capacity maps were generated from a combination of first and second order parameters.