Simulation of Black Carbon Emissions from Gas Flaring Activities in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

There is no Black Carbon emission inventory for Nigeria and no standard Emission factor with which to measure the volume of emissions. This study aims at providing baseline emission inventory for the volume of Black Carbon released into the environment from gas flaring activities in the National Data Repository (NDR) between 1965 to 2016 (52 years) using Nigeria's associated petroleum gas-related emission factors; modelling of the estimated Black Carbon emissions using logistic growth model. The volume of gas produced and flared within this period was sourced from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) annual bulletins and other literature. The work shows that: for the period under review, 1.8 trillion cubic meters of gas was produced and 0.91 trillion cubic meters was flared, only 11% of gas produced was flared in 2016. Estimated cumulative Black Carbon emission shows that Black Carbon emission from gas flare is decreasing as the volume of gas flared is decreasing. The model shows that 487050 tons, 1116157 tons; 19438 tons, 44544 tons and 0.10 are the respective carrying capacities, initial Black Carbon volumes and growth rate for the upper and lower Black Carbon emissions.  Re-injection and Utilization of flared gas for cooking purposes and placing a heavy penalty on gas flaring activities are among solutions given to reduce gas flaring.