Technological and economic evaluation of conversion of potential flare gas to electricity in Nigeria

28th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing (FAIM2018), June 11-14, 2018, Columbus, OH, USAGlobally, over 100 billion cubic metres (BCM) of gas is flared annually and linked to an annual emission of 400 million tons of carbon dioxide. In Nigeria the annual gas production is valued at 33.21 BCM, out of which more than 50% of this volume is wasted through flaring, thereby emitting about 35 million tons of carbon dioxide. About 14.94 BCM of gas produced in Nigeria is used for a variety of activities including electricity generation. Despite this scenario, Nigeria is still unable to generate and distribute enough electricity for the citizenry. This paper therefore proposes the option to divert gas which is normally flared to generate electricity in Nigeria while minimising the associated environmental impacts. The research methodology was based on interviewing top level managers in an electricity generation company, and gas Production Company, as well as the researchers’ site observations within the two case companies. Results from this study showed that electricity generation could be improved from its current daily production rate of 4358 MW to about 12000 MW. This improvement comes from the use of 18.27 BCM of gas currently flared annually in Nigeria, which could potentially be diverted as fuel for 50 units of gas turbine with power output of 150 MW each, with an increase in daily electricity generation of 7500 MW. The study also incorporates an economic analysis for the option to generate electricity as aforementioned

Geoelectrical Evaluation of Groundwater Occurrence in Anwai, Delta State, Nigeria

The purpose of carrying out this survey is to determine the groundwater occurrence in Anwai, Nigeria. Eight geoelectric soundings were conducted using the Schlumberger configuration. The data obtained were interpreted using two layer model. The result revealed the presence of five geoelectric layers made up of topsoil laterite, clay-clayey sand, fine-medium grain sand, coarse sand, medium coarse sand and very coarse sand. The fifth layer with a depth range of 33.4 to 47.2 m and resistivity range of between 1512 and 3294 Wm is identified as the aquifer layer from which groundwater can be sourced. It is deduced from this survey that groundwater development is viable in the area. Keywords: Groundwater, Geoelectric, Aquifer, Electrical Resistivity, Schlumberger Configuratio

Day and Night noise pollution study in some major town in Delta State, Nigeria

Day and night noise pollution studies have been carried out in some major towns in Delta State, Nigeria, using a P10Nneer 65 noise meter. The noise measurements were taken at 10 points within each of the twons at an interval of 30 min. during the peak period of the day and at the cool of the night. The results obtained show that the average day time noise level for Warri exceeded the WHO permissible limit of 90 dB. All other locations have an everage niose level lower than the WHO limit but within the range of 75-85 dB. The peak niose level for the day time exceeded the WHO permissible limit for all the towns except at Abraka with a peak of 76.2 dB. At night, all the towns investigated exhibited a quiet atmosphere for both the average as well as the paek noise measurements. The reason for the high value of noise in some places was due to automobiles plying the road at slow speeds as observed in Warri and other places. Other reasons were due to the use of electricity generators necessitated by the incessant public power suply failure, commercial motorcycles, recording houses and those using music to promote sales of their wares. Résumé Des études sur les nuisances sonores de jour et nuit ont été enterprises en quelques villes principales de l\'État deltaïque du Nigéria en employant le compteur de bruit, le dosimèter PIONnier 65. La mesure de bruit était faite à dix points en chaque villes à intervalle de 30 minutes pendant la période de bruit pointe de la journée et dans la fraîcheur de la nuit. Les résultats obtenus indiquent que le niveau de bruit moyen de la journée pour Warri excédait la limite acceptable de 90 dB recommandée par la OMS. Tous les autres emplacements avaient un niveau de bruit moyen plus faible que la limite exigée par OMS variant entre 75 dB et 85 dB. La période de pointe du niveau de bruit pour la journée excédait la limite recommandée par la OMS pour toutes les villes sauf à Abraka ayant une période de pointe de 76.2 dB. Pendant la nuit toutes les villes étudiées montraient une atmosphere paisible pour les measures de bruit moyen et de bruit de période de pointe. La raison pour le haut chiffre de bruit à quelques endroits était attribuable aux automobiles roulant sur la route à petites vitesses comme on a fait remarquer à Warri et aux autres endroits. D\'autres raisons étaient attribuables à l\'emploi de génératrices exigées par la panne incessante de courant du public, des motocyclettes commerçiales, des studios d\'enregistrement et ceux qui emploient la musique pour la promotion des ventes de leurs merchandises. Ghana Journal of Science Vol. 46 2006: pp. 47-5

Biochar remediation improves the leaf mineral composition of Telfairia occidentalis grown on gas flared soil

This study evaluates the effects of remediation of gas flared soil by biochar on the nutritional composition of cultivated Telfairia occidentalis leaves, relative to non-gas flared soil. Gas flared soils are degraded due to the presence of heavy metals, noxious gases, carbon soot and acidic rain. Biochar produced from oil palm fibre was applied at five different amounts: 0 t ha−1, 7.1 t ha−1, 13.9 t ha−1, 20.9 t ha−1 and 28.0 t ha−1 to containerized soils (both gas flared and control soil), inside a greenhouse, which were allowed to mineralize for two weeks. Two viable seeds of T. occidentalis per replicate were sown. After eight weeks of growth, leaves were harvested, dried and chemically analyzed. Application of biochar significantly increased leaf ash and crude fibre content of Telfairia occidentalis. Plants from soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 of biochar had the highest concentrations of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E irrespective of soil type. Maximum increase in leaf vitamin and mineral content was obtained from leaves cultivated on gas flared soil treated with 13.9 t ha−1 and 7.1 t ha−1 of biochar respectively. The results show that biochar treatment can increase leaf mineral concentrations and that this effect is dependent on the amount of biochar application

Mapping of aquifer hydraulic properties in Ogbeje and Umeghe in Abraka, Delta State Nigeria: insights from geophysical and hydrogeological methods

Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), Pumping test, well logging and grain size analysis were conducted with the aim of studying the subsurface geophysical formation in order to determine aquifer characteristics such as hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and other parameters for groundwater exploration purposes around Ogbeje and Umeghe, Abraka Delta State. Nine (9) VES stations were occupied and the results obtained from the computer iterations suggest 4 to 5 geoelectric layers. The aquiferous layers wwerefound at a depth ranging from 20.0 m – 38.3 m with resistivity ranging from 2200 ?m to 8500 ?m and thickness varying between 6.7 and 20.0 m. The VES study reveals the possibility of having a maximum drill depth the o water table of about 38 m. The results obtained from the pumping test and well logginwereas used to estimate the transmissivity value of T = 0.0722 m2/min, storativity S = 0.00063, specific capacity of the well = 0.39 m2/min and hydraulic conductivity, K= 8.5 m/day while the result from the grain size analysis gave hydraulic conductivity as Kmin= 12.96 m/d to Kmax = 26.96 m/d respectively. Thus, these results indicate that the aquifer is capable of proda ucing sufficient amount of water for both domestic and industrial purposes for the people in the area

Geophysical and geotechnical assessment of Obiaruku-Agbor road failure in Western Niger-Delta, Nigeria

A geophysical and geotechnical survey was carried out along the Obiaruku-Agbor Expressway in Delta State, Nigeria to determine the causes of its deterioration. The study used a 2D electrical resistivity approach using the ABEM SAS 1000 Terrameter and yielded subsurface resistivity values ranging from 5.12 Ohm-m to 4418 Ohm-m. The geo-electric resistivity result showed that the base, sub-base, infill and embarkment soil types range from an interchange of clay,sandyclay, clay sand, fine sand and coarse sand.The high percentage of low-resistivity soil indicated that the building materials were not appropriate. Using soil samples, gathered for various geotechnical parameter tests for surface sub-base and base materials in accordance with British standards, the geotechnical characteristics of the research sites were ascertained. The findings show that A-2 and A-7 soil types are the most common types. The soils from the stable sections have a higher specific gravity (2.59-2.89) and a smaller amount of clay (16.9 %) than the soils from the failed portions of A-7-6 which suggests substandard sub-grade materials. These soils correspond to A-2-6 on the AASHTO classification system. The bulk of soils from failed sections had significant values of linear shrinkage (> 8%), a large proportion of fine particles (> 40%), and pore water pressure occurred as a result in a loss of soil index strength. The majority of fines particles in lateritic soils, low California bearing ratio (08–63% un-soaked), intermediate and high OMC above guideline for most soil samples (07.4–20.1), maximum dry density (MDD) (<2000 kg/m3), and liquid limit (20.9–58.7) are the main causes of the observed degree of instability. Poor geotechnical characteristics in the lateritic and sub-grade soils of failed sections imply that they should not be used as sub-grade materials in other engineering works, let alone in the building of new roads. It is stressed that lateritic soils are crucial for precise sub-grade soil assessment in detail sampling for highways. When these values were compared to the standard, it became clear that the main reasons for road collapse were thin pavement, inadequate drainage, water-logged sands, low-quality infill, incompetent clayey materials beneath the built road, and neglect. It is consequently advised that a well-designed, organized drainage system be built and that the soils be stabilized or replaced with materials that adhere to standards.The results of this inquiry will be useful in the repair and rehabilitation of the road's deteriorating sections and it is recommended that a thorough record of this study be kept for future reference

Chapter 19 Noise pollution and its impact on human health and the environment

This chapter deals with (1) the basic theory of sound propagation; (2) an overview of noise pollution problem in view of policy and standards by the World Health Organization, the United States, and the European Union; (3) noise exposure sources from aircraft, road traffic and railways, in-vehicle, work, and construction sites, and occupations, and households; (4) the noise pollution impact on human health and the biological environment; (5) modeling of regional noise-affected habitats in protected and unprotected land areas and the marine environment; (6) noise control measures and sustainability in view of sustainable building design, noise mapping, and control measures such as barriers and berms along roadsides, acoustic building materials, roadway vehicle noise source control, road surface, and pavement materials; and (7) environmental noise pollution management measures and their impact on human health

Determination of the Protective Capacity of the Aquitard Stratum in Some Coastline Towns of Delta State, Nigeria

This study was aimed at determining the protective capacity of the aquitard stratum in some coastline locations in Delta State, Nigeria. This was carried out using the electrical resistivity method. A total of 13 vertical electrical soundings were conducted and data obtained were interpreted by partial curve matching and computer iterative technique. The result of the study show the presence of three to four geoelectric formations comprising top soil, sandy clay/clayey sand, fine sand and medium coarse sand. The aquitard resistivity ranged from 11.8 to 108.8 Ăm while the thickness ranged from 1.0 to 7.4 m. It can be concluded that the protective capacity of the aquitard in the area ranges from poor to moderate.Keywords: Groundwater, Protective Capacity, Aquifer, Aquitard, Electrical Resistivit