Abstract
Nigeria is one of the largest oil producers in Africa, with a significant network of pipelines that transport crude oil and natural gas from extraction sites to refineries and export terminals. While pipelines are critical for the country's economy, they also have significant environmental impacts, both during construction and operation. This study was aimed at conducting an environmental impact of petroleum pipelines on vegetation using Landsat 8 within Warri and Environs, Southern Nigeria. The study area (latitude N5o14’23.9” to 6o3’3.6” and longitude E6o11’42.3” to E6o15’53.5”) covers pipeline route in and around Warri and environs. The pipeline runs west from Warri toward Ajudaibo, close to Escravos, southeast from Warri through Uzere, Ayagha among others and northwards through Okuabude, Ovade, Aragba Okpe, among others. The pipelines form a network of routes weaving through land use predominantly made up of vegetative forest, farmland, waterways and urban area. The pipelines are used to convey oil and gas to power stations, refineries, domestic outlets, export terminals, etc. Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to access Landsat 8 data and generate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps. After selecting Landsat 8 data set imagery, it was filtered using the date range − 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Results showed that NDVI values throughout the study ranged between − 0.56484 in 2017 to 0.83643 in 2017. NDVI value along the pipeline route ranged between − 0.29 in 2020 and 0.808 in 2017.Stressed vegetation was highest 2018 with coverage at 78.06 percent while no coverage was recorded for very healthy vegetation in 2015, 2018 and 2022.Stressed vegetation was occupied by 93.71% of the pipeline route in 2018 while dead plants occupy about 1.08 percent in 2017. Pipeline route occupied by dead plant has been constant between 2015 and 2022 with a slight rise in 2022. Decline in vegetation health along the pipeline route was observed in 2018, resulting in 829,152 hectares of land subjected to stress from pipeline hazard. Also, vegetative recovery started in 2019 and continued to 2021 especially as there was no pipeline accident reported. This study has provided information on the impact on pipelines on surrounding vegetation. Therefore, there is need for continuous monitoring of pipelines to forestall incidences of leakages and sustenance of vegetative growth.