Research Article
George NJ, Akpabio GT, Udofia
Abstract
Thermal implication of oil spillage on select soil samples obtained from different locations of the Niger Delta was performed. Three different soil samples of Beach ridge sand; medium coarse sand and sandstone interlaced with shale of the geologic formation known as Benin Formation were used. The study shows that spills on soil samples reduce the density of sandstone interlaced with shale, Beach ridge sand and medium coarse sand by 17.7%, 13.3% and 15.0% on the average respectively. In the same vein, crude oil-rich beach ridge sand, sandstone interlaced with shale and medium coarse sand are respectively on the average decreased by 4.4%, 9.9% and 15.2% of the original value of the specific heat capacity of the unmixed samples, while the thermal conductivity of the crude oil beach ridge sand, medium coarse sand and sandstone and shale derivative have their values increased by 9.8%, 2.6% and 12.3% respectively on the average. The departures on these thermal properties when the samples were smeared with crude oil as shown on the graph is a clear proof of the effect of oil spillage on the soil samples. This has effect on the use of land (soil) for agriculture and habitation in addition to the effect on the geologic controls.