random case studies

Question 1

The Niger Delta

Answer 1

• It contains over 75 per cent of Africa’s remaining mangroves
• in 2006 estimated that up to 1.5 million tonnes of oil has been spilt in the delta over the last 50 years
• one of the five most polluted spots on Earth
• Pollution is destroying the livelihoods of many of the 20 million people who live in the delta
• damages crops and fishing grounds, and is a major contributor to the upsurge in violence
• People in the region are dissatisfied and see very little in terms of the benefits
• report accused the oil companies of not using the advanced technologies available to them to combat pollution
• Royal Dutch Shell and the Italian company ENI have admitted to more than 550 oil spills in the Niger delta in 2014
• By contrast, on average, there were only 10 spills a year across the whole of Europe between 1971 and 2011

Question 2

flaring of natural gas in Niger Deltra

Answer 2

• It is estimated that 70 million m3 are flared off each day.
• This is equivalent to 40 per cent of Africa’s natural gas consumption.
• Gas flaring in the Niger delta is the world’s single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 3

environmental disasters in Africa’s largest remaining mangrove forest

Answer 3

• One of the world’s largest wetlands
• Oil spills, acid rain from gas flares and the stripping away of mangroves for pipeline routes have killed off fish
• Between 1986 and 2003, more than 20 000 hectares of
  mangroves disappeared from the coast, mainly due to land clearing and canal dredging for oil and gas exploration
  -The oilfields contain large amounts of natural gas. This
  is generally burnt off as flares rather than being stored or reinjected into the ground. Hundreds of flares have burned continuously for decades. This causes acid rain and releases greenhouse gases
• The government has recognised 6817 oil spills in the region since the beginning of oil production. Critics say the number is much higher
• Construction and increased shipping have changed local wave patterns, causing shore erosion and the migration of fish into deeper water
• Various types of construction have taken place without
  adequate environmental impact studies

Question 4

Oil sands in Canada and Venezuela

Answer 4

• In 2012, the oil sands provided direct employment to over 22 000 workers
• Current production is about 1.3 million barrels a day
  -In 2012, 56 per cent of Canada’s total oil production came from oil sands
• Alberta’s oil sands are the third largest oil reserve in the world
• It takes 2 tonnes of mined sand to produce 1 barrel of
  synthetic crude, leaving lots of waste sand
• It takes about three times as much energy to produce a barrel of Alberta oil-sands crude as it does a conventional barrel of oil. Thus, oil sands are large sources of greenhouse gas emissions
• Oil sands require 2–4.5 barrels of water to produce a single barrel of oil
• The development of oil sands has had a huge impact on the landscape, including the removal of a significant area of boreal forest
• Greenpeace has called on the Canadian government and the oil companies to stop the development of oil sands on environmental, health and social grounds.
• 3rd largest in the world
• holds 170bn barrels (11% worlds oil)
• 80% is 75m sub-surface
• produces 2-3m barrels per day
• produces 3x GHGs than normal oil harvesting