Impact of Groundwater Flow Direction and Sediment Properties on Oil Spill Areas in Ahoada West, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of groundwater flow direction and sediment properties on oil spill areas in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Nigeria. The research involved the selection of six boreholes, with one each in the oil-affected regions of Joinkrama 4 and Akinima. Various tools such as water level meters, handheld GPS devices, and tripod drilling equipment were employed to collect sediment samples from the topsoil, 3m and 6m depths. Data were gathered by measuring the static water level in the boreholes and the ground surface elevation relative to the average sea level of the region. ArcGIS software was used to analyze the data and generate groundwater flow direction maps. Sieve analysis was conducted, and Microsoft Excel was used to calculate and plot the grain size of the samples. The study reveals a groundwater flow direction from the north to the southeast in the study area. To assess the potential impact of the oil spill, grain size values and their interpretation were analyzed in Joinkrama 4 and Akinima. The sediment characteristics varied with depth, with Joinkrama 4 exhibiting coarse silt, very fine sand, and very coarse sand, while Akinima displayed very fine sand and fine sand. Sediment sorting characteristics were also evaluated, with Joinkrama 4 showing poor to moderate sorting and Akinima displaying moderately sorted sediments. These findings offer awareness into sediment properties and oil spill migration pathways, aiding environmental management, remediation, and research, and improving understanding of impacts to guide effective strategies and policy-making.