Geophysical and Geochemical Assessment of Oil Spillage in Agbura Area, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

                @article{CRSIJ26000512,
                  author = {Egbe Chukutem Favor , Ibe Stephen O, Omehe Nnamdi N, , },
                  title = {Geophysical and Geochemical Assessment of Oil Spillage in Agbura Area, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2026},
                  volume = {2},
                  number = {2},
                  pages = {1152-1162},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000512.pdf},
                  abstract = {Oil spillage, a major environmental challenge in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria alters soil quality, degrades ecosystem and poses threat to community health and economy. This study aims at analyzing the geophysical and geochemical effects of oil spillage on soil in Agbura Area, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Vertical electrical sounding (VES) and geochemical analyses of soil samples within the spill impacted zone and outside the zone of impact as control were used in the study. The VES data were interpreted using IPI2Win Software while soil samples were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and selected heavy metals such as copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). Three geoelectric sections were delineated in each of the ten (10) VES points sampled. Anomalous layer resistivities ranging between 2.8 Ω"m" and 21.5 Ω"m" were recorded within the impacted zones compared with 77.8 Ω"m" and 680.8 Ω"m" in the unimpacted (control) zones within the same vicinity. Geochemical analyses revealed a spike between 136.099" mg\/kg" and 2708.349" mg\/kg" in total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in spill impacted zone compared with a range of 53.185" mg\/kg" and 55.421" mg\/kg" in the unimpacted (control) zones. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) were detected in very high concentration in the spill impacted zones compared with the concentration in the unimpacted zones. A spike in electrical conductivity (EC) range between 0.84" dS\/m" and 5.01" dS\/m" was observed in the impacted zones compared with a range between 0.051" dS\/m" and 0.62" dS\/m" in the unimpacted (control) zones. The notably anomalous low resistivities and high EC in the spill impacted zones were attributed to long-term degradation of the spilled hydrocarbon by natural attenuation and microbial activities which enriched pore water with ionic species. This study has revealed that the spillage in Agbura Area has caused substantial geophysical and geochemical changes, leading to degradation of the soil.},
                  keywords = {Oil spillage, Agbura Area, Geophysical Analysis, Geochemical Analysis, Soil contamination},
                  month = {September}
        }