Environmental Impact Assessment and Geological Evaluation of Non-Associated Gas Wells in Forcados-Yokri block, Burutu Area, Delta State, South-south Nigeria.

Abstract

Forcados-Yokri field is situated in Burutu area of Delta State. Its a large oil and gas province holding large volume of recoverable hydrocarbon. A Geological redevelopment was done to harness the abundant gas contained in it. There is urgent need for Nigeria to shift to cleaner source of alternative energy and reduce its carbon footprint, thus, the block was re-evaluated and re-developed for this gas deposit. The field was thus initiated to supplement gas production for domestic reserve and enhance the industrialization of the region and the country. The field has an expected STOIIP and GIIP (AG + NAG) of 2878 MMstb oil and 2298.7 Bscf of gas respectively. Cluster Jackets, 18" x 5.5km Oil Pipeline 12" x 6.4km Gas Pipeline, 33KV Power Cable Back-up, 8" Gas lift line (North Bank Gas Plant-Yokri Flowstation), new cluster jackets, 33kV Cable from North Bank Manifold, 700V Power Control Cable Ring were connected to the main Pipeline Phase 1. More importantly, 6" South Bank to Forcados Terminal fuel gas back-up Line, 8 km and 6“ flow line were also connected to slug catcher at North Bank Gas Processing Facilities with the existing Associated Gas facilities at the CPF. Findings revealed feasible environmental space for gas production with phytoplankton distribution of Bacillariophyceae 52%, Cyanophyceae 33%, Euglenophyceae 7%, Dinophycea 5%, Chlorophyceae 3% with the zooplankton belonged to six (6) taxa; Copepoda, Hydrozoa, Mollusc larvae, Decapod larvae, Rotifera, and Chaetognatha. The study concluded the feasibility and viability of producing the hydrocarbon content of about 291MMstb of oil and 94 bscf of gas in the block area under the prevailing environmental condition.