The impacts of exploitation of natural ground hydrocarbon deposite and biogas production on the climate: a case study of Niger delta hydrocarbon deposite and national biotechnology development agency (Nabda), Abuja – Nigeria, Biogas production

Studies on the Impact of Natural Ground Hydrocarbon exploitation and Biogas Production on the Climate have been carried out. The Niger Delta (South Eastern Nigeria) hydrocarbon exploitation and the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Nigeria, Biogas (CH4) production, offer very useful information to understanding the objectives of the research, which is to: study biogas production and natural hydrocarbon exploitation effects on climate; to highlight the benefits of using a bio digester in the production of methane and to proffer solutions that will reduce the negative impact on climate. 150 liters designed and constructed anaerobic bio digester was used for this study. Under mesophilic condition, 100kg of food waste from restaurant was used as feed stock, inoculated with the content of the cow rumen and digested for 60 days anaerobically. The temperature of the system was controlled between 20 – 35oc; PH between 7 – 8; substrate and water mixing ratio 1:1. 4.5kg of methane was recorded after scrubbing, 1.5kg of NaCo3 crystals, 0.1kg of NH3 and H2S were trapped in the scrubbers. The result shows that during anaerobic digestion in the biodigester, no form of Co2 escaped to the environment. The NaCo3 is useful during saponification. Studies on the “Niger Delta: Stratigraphy, Depobelts and Samples Locations”, shows that hydrocarbon are trapped with the help of the faulting systems. The gravity controlled rollover anticline and listric growth faults provide the traps. The integrity of a trap depends on the juxtaposition of a shale seal across the fault plane. The density controlled occurrence of ground hydrocarbon is such that the least dense gaseous hydrocarbon (CH4) is above the solid hydrocarbon, while the solid hydrocarbon lies above the basinal water in a trap. This stratigraphic occurrence of hydrocarbon is a major reason why exploitation of hydrocarbon is not without flares to flame. Fire accidents during hydrocarbon transportation processes also account for a high degree of pollution in the region. Currently, 56.6 million m3 of associated gas is flared daily in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, and an amount equivalent to about 16% of the total world gas that is flared daily. The major impact of gas flaring is on the climate, which result to: global warming as a result of ozone layer depletion; extinction of flora and fauna; sea level rise due to melting of the polar ice. Nigerian oil companies in the Niger Delta, are yet to comply 100% to the global best practices of, liquefying the flared gas (methane) for domestic and other purposes.