Groundwater Risk and Spill Prevention Take Centre Stage at Nigeria’s Premier Petroleum Conference

Oluchi Chibuzor

Groundwater protection and spill-risk prevention remain persistent challenges in petroleum-producing regions, where subsurface contamination can threaten drinking-water security and environmental sustainability long after surface impacts are addressed. In Nigeria, recent applied hydrogeological research is increasingly shaping how industry and regulators approach these risks.

One such contribution is the work of Akintunde Stephen Samakinde, an environmental and hydrogeological consultant at Master Energy Oil & Gas Limited whose groundwater-risk and spill-prevention research was featured during the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition, held from November 13 to 17, 2022, at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Samakinde’s work focuses on identifying contamination pathways, forecasting spill risks, and protecting aquifers beneath and surrounding petroleum infrastructure.

The research addresses a critical industry problem: the tendency for even minor subsurface fuel leaks to migrate rapidly through soils and groundwater systems, creating long-term risks to water supplies and surrounding ecosystems. Samakinde’s applied hydrogeological frameworks integrate groundwater vulnerability assessment, contaminant-transport analysis, and site-specific risk modelling to support early intervention around tank farms, fuel depots, aviation-fuel infrastructure, and liquefied petroleum gas facilities.

According to conference participants, the work represents a practical shift toward preventive environmental management within downstream and midstream petroleum operations. Rather than relying solely on post-spill remediation, the research emphasizes early detection and risk forecasting to limit environmental damage before it escalates.

Speaking on the regulatory relevance of such research, Idris Olubola Musa, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), underscored the importance of scientifically grounded groundwater-risk assessment in spill-prevention policy. He noted that regulatory agencies increasingly depend on applied hydrogeological tools to reduce response times and limit environmental harm, particularly where petroleum infrastructure intersects with shallow or highly permeable aquifers.

From an international technical perspective, Professor Jared West, Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Leeds, highlighted the significance of integrating hydrogeological science into petroleum-industry decision-making. He explained that groundwater contamination often develops silently and can persist for decades if not detected early. Approaches that combine field measurements, tracer analysis, and predictive modelling, he noted, reflect global best practice for managing subsurface risks in energy-producing regions—an approach reflected in Samakinde’s work.

Industry stakeholders further observed that the research is particularly relevant for facilities operating in complex geological settings, including coastal and deltaic environments where groundwater flow paths are difficult to predict. Applications discussed include airports, marine terminals, and storage depots, where fuel-handling operations coexist with sensitive environmental receptors.

Discussions surrounding the research emphasized how scientifically informed groundwater-risk management can strengthen regulatory compliance, reduce remediation costs, and improve public confidence in petroleum operations. By embedding hydrogeological assessment into routine infrastructure planning, Samakinde’s work was noted as contributing to a broader shift from reactive spill response toward preventive environmental stewardship.

As Nigeria continues to expand and modernise its energy infrastructure, the research highlights the growing role of applied hydrogeological science in safeguarding subsurface water resources. The coverage reflects a widening consensus within the petroleum sector that groundwater protection is not only an environmental obligation, but also a strategic component of sustainable petroleum operations.