Natural Gas and safety issues

By Isabella Gyau Orhin

On July 11, 2000, a pipeline explosion in the Niger Delta killed an estimated 250 villagers near the southern Nigerian town of Warri. This explosion occurred just miles from the Niger Delta town of Jesse, where about 1,000 people died in a similar explosion in 1998. Media reports at the time indicated that the Delta is crisscrossed with more than 3,000 pipelines. Many of these are old and leaky and allegedly go unfixed by multinational oil companies that use them to extract their wealth from Africa's most populous country.
The reports according to Democracy Now, a US based advocacy radio and online news service added that when such these explosions happen, the corporate media, the government and the oil corporations accuse thieves and vandals of being responsible. “The press accounts almost always leave out the fact that many of the Delta's pipelines are rusty and corroded and go unrepaired by oil companies like Shell, Chevron and Mobil,.” said Democracy Now on its website of 12 January 2000.
Apart from the deaths that occur, there are other problems associated with such incidents, as depicted by the Friends of the Earth International’s website.
“When oil spills here, those of us who go to the mangrove forest to harvest periwinkle and other sea foods suffer. The crude oil affects the growth and development of the mangrove forest resources such as periwinkles, oysters and crabs. When the river is polluted they all die,” says Ikuroma Samipe, fisherwoman and mother of five children.
As Ghana nears the completion of the West African Gas pipeline project, images of the above narrated incidents among others happenings in the Niger Delta are getting closer to the people.
This became evident at a Stakeholders meeting in Accra last Tuesday which partly discussed safety, health and environmental measures associated with the over 500 kilometre pipeline from a terminal near Lagos to Takoradi in Ghana with supplies to Cotonou in Benin, Lome in Togo and Tema in Ghana.
Owned by Societe Beninoise de Gaz (BENGAZ) from Benin, Societe Togolaise de Gaz (SoToGaz) of Togo, Takoradi Power Company Limited (TAPCo), Nigerian national petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of Nigeria, Chevron, Nigeria and Shell Overseas holdings Limited, WAPCo is to build, own, operate and transport natural gas to help solve the energy needs of the countries mentioned.
Stakeholders were particularly concerned about the preparedness of WAPCo to deal with emergencies.
“Everything looks perfect but I know a project of this magnitude has risks,” said the Member of Parliament for South Dayi Dr. Kwame Ampofo who is also a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy. He was also concerned about the energy security.

A representative of the Ministry of Finance was also concerned about the risks the pipeline poses to the people living around the eight communities comprising, Tema Manhean, and Kpone in the Tema area as well as Aboadze, Nchaban, Abuesi, Dwomo and Shama, all in the Western Region.
The Director of Petroleum of the Ministry of Energy and Mines Dr.Appiagyei Gyamfi asked a question about whether the gas in the pipelines will be compressed or free flowing.
The Deputy Director of Tema branch of the Environmental Protection Agency Lambert Faabeluon was concerned about arrangements for secondary suppliers who will transport the gas from the Tema Port to other industries that might need the gas.
“I don’t expect any leaks at all, ” says the Managing Director of WAPCo Jack Derickson.
“Although we have emergency response in place we should ensure we never have to use them,” he added.
Michelle Cowherd, an advisor on Health and Safety from Chevron said the company is following the guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency on safety measures.
However, the Health Environment and Safety (HES) Manager of the West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAPCo) Mr. Patrick Akwasi Yeboah appealed to opinion leaders, particularly Members of Parliament who hail from the gas pipeline area to assist in educating the people on safety measures.
Speaking at the Stakeholders meeting, Mr. Akwasi Yeboah said
“We are interested in protecting people, the environment, assets and our reputation.”
This is why we are asking for help in educating the people on how to protect themselves from gas leakage and report such issues,” he said.
He said it is dangerous for individuals to attempt to put out a fire outbreak from the pipeline since they cannot do so.
“This is natural gas under pressure,” he said.
Additionally, no one should attempt to insert a plug in any part of the pipeline to stop a leakage or excavate or disturb the topsoil covering the pipeline.
He said any emergency resulting from a leakage or fire from the Gas pipeline will require prompt action to protect life and property.
Further he said continuous action is required until conditions are no longer hazardous.
Emergency he said is in phases and comprises the “Incident phase” where emergency arises, flowed by the “Emergency Phase” where there is movement from chaos to control as well as the “Management phase” when control is acquired and allows typical project management procedures to be used.
According to Yeboah, in case of a gas leakage of the pipes, residents should immediately leave the leak area and move against the direction of the wind while they warn others about the leakage.
Again they have to inform the local fire department immediately adding, “One should not make contact with the leaking gas.”
Yeboah also warned, residents along the pipe not to create sparks or sources of heat that could cause the gas to ignite.
“If you come upon a leak, while in an automobile do not drive into that area.”
He explained that what makes the situation more difficult is that natural gas is colourless and odourless. “You cannot rely on your sense of smell to detect the natural gas that contains methane,” he said.
One could recognize it as fire burns from the ground or continuous bubbles if it is in water or a swampy area.
“You may also hear a blowing or a hissing sound from the ground.”

Sabotage, leak or rapture alongside, fire and community unrest could result in an emergency along the pipeline route.
He explained further that occasionally, a plow, post-hole, or other excavation strikes a pipeline. While the impact may not seem significant, damage to the pipelines and coating initiates corrosion on that part of the pipeline, which must be reported promptly.

Yeboah said it is the goal of the company to minimize environmental impacts, protect he pipelines, equipment and other facilities.
The Company has therefore drawn a an Emergency Response Plan which is a guide for all employees on items such as reporting emergencies, responding to emergencies and the training needed to properly respond to emergencies.
According to the Managing Director of WAPCo, the Project is near completion and the first gas could be expected in March 2007 although there are hurdles to clear.
According to the Community Relations Manager Emmanuel Anyim, there has been so much education about safety in the communities so much that the people have developed what he termed “engagement fatigue.”
Not satisfied with the safety measures, the MP for Jomoro and Member of the Parliamentary select Committee on Environment, Science and Technology Lee Ocran has this to say, “It is when the work starts that we will know the likely impacts and deal with them accordingly.”