TITLE:
Impact of Crude Oil Storage Tank Emissions and Gas Flaring on Air/Rainwater Quality and Weather Conditions in Bonny Industrial Island, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Vincent Ezikornwor Weli, Nsikak I. Itam
KEYWORDS:
Gas Flaring, Crude Oil Tank, Air Quality, Rainwater, Meteorological Parameters
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Air Pollution,
Vol.5 No.2,
June
13,
2016
ABSTRACT: This
study investigated the effects of gaseous emissions from crude storage tank and
gas flaring on air and rainwater quality in Bonny Industrial Island. Ambient
air quality parameters, rainwater and weather parameters were collected at 60 m,
80 m, 100 m, 200 m and control plot for 4 weeks at the Bonny. Rainwater
parameters were investigated using standard laboratory tests. Data analyses
were done using Analysis of variance, pairwise t-test and Pearson’s correlation
statistical tools. Results show that emission rates, volatile organic compound
(VOC) noise and flare temperature decreased with increasing distance from flare
points and crude oil storage tanks. Findings further revealed the emission
rates varied significantly with distance away from the gas flaring point (F = 6.196;
p = 0.004). The mean concentration of pollutants between gas flare site and
crude oil storage tank showed that CO (0.02 ± 0.001 - 0.002 ±0.001), SPM (0.011
± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001), VOC (0.005 ± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001) and NO2 (0.04 ± 0.001 - 0.005 ± 0.000) had significant variations (p > 0.05) with
CO, O3 and NO2 having higher concentrations at the gas
flare site while SPM, and VOC were higher around the crude oil storage tank
site. Wind turbulence was higher around the gas flaring point (4.93 TKE) than
the crude oil storage tank (4.55 TKE). Similarly, there was significant
variation in the sun radiation, precipitation, and wind speed caused by gas
flaring (1582.25 w/m2, 436.25 mm, 0.53 m/s) and crude oil storage
tank (1536.25 w/m2, 3.91.41 mm, 0.51 m/s). There were also
significant variations in flared temperature (F = 22.144; p = 0.001); NO2 (F = 8.250; p = 0.001), CO (F = 6.000; p = 0.004) and VOC (F = 5.574; p = 0.006)
with distance from the gas flaring point. The variation in the rainwater
parameters with distance from the gas flaring indicated significant variations
in pH (F = 5.594; p = 0.006). The study showed that the concentration of VOC
and particulates were high in the supposedly control area which is perceived to
be safe for human habitation. Significant variations exist in emission rate (p =
0.015), flare temperature (p = 0.001), NO2 (p = 0.003), VOC (p = 0.001),
noise (p = 0.041), hydrogen carbonate (p = 0.037) and chromium (p = 0.032)
between the gas flaring and crude oil storage tank. Regular monitoring is
advocated to mitigate the harmful effects of the pollutants.