Hi, welcome to this hall on the methods of mining petroleum in Africa, importance and problems facing the mining of petroleum in geography.
Table Of Contents
- Mining of petroleum
- Major mining areas of petroleum
- Methods of mining petroleum
- Transportation and marketing of petroleum
- Importance of petroleum
- Problems of mining petroleum
- Revision questions.
Mining Of Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is an important fuel mineral products in Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and Gabon.
Major Mining Areas
- Port Harcourt and warri in Nigeria.
- Mersha and Bregha in Libya.
- Kahala field near Ouargla in Algeria.
Methods Of Mining Petroleum
The methods used in mining petroleum is the drilling method. In this method, the underground rocks are sampled and tested for traces of oil. When the oil is discovered, a well is sunk to reach it with the aid of drilling rig or derrick. The oil is then pumped out mechanically or naturally if the pressure within the oil zone in the soil is high.
In the soil, three layers within the oil zone exist:
- Natural gas is found on top,
- Petroleum or crude oil in the middle.
- Water at the bottom.
Transportation And Marketing
Crude oil is transported mainly by pipelines either to the refineries for refining or processing, or to the ports for export. Major markets include Britain, America, Japan, Germany and South Africa.
Contribution or Economic Importance Of Petroleum
- Employment: The mining of this mineral provides jobs for many people.
- Revenue generation: Taxes paid by mining companies including exports and imports duties are sources of revenue to the government.
- Foreign exchange earnings: The export of petroleum serves as foreign exchange for the country.
- Provision of useful By-products: Essential goods or products are derived, e.g. petroleum provide kerosene, petrol, grease, engine oil and aviation fuel.
- Raw materials for Industries: Raw materials like petroleum is used by refinery Industries.
- Improvement in standard of living: Money earned from petroleum is used to provide social and basic amenities which improve the standard of living of the people.
- Acquisition of skills: The presence and extraction of petroleum enable people to acquire different skills.
- Infrastructural development: The presence of mineral like petroleum in an area leads to the development of infrastructure like roads, electricity, telephone and pipe-borne water is such area.
- Growth of towns or settlements: Towns like Port Harcourt and warri have grown due to the presence of petroleum respectively.
- Production of geological maps: The exploration of minerals in the country has led to the production of certain geological maps.
- Source of energy: Petroleum is a major source of energy, e.g. from kerosene, fuel and diesel.
- Attraction to foreign investors: The presence and exploitation of gold do attracts foreign investors to areas where petroleum or crude oil is found.
- Transfer of technology: The presence or drilling of petroleum generally leads to transfer of technology from one country to another.
- Development of related Industries: The drilling and refining of petroleum leads to the development of related Industries, e.g. petro-chemicals (LNG).
- Income to workers: Employment of workers in a petroleum industry leads to income generation for individual workers.
Problems Of Mining Petroleum
- Inadequate capital to exploit the minerals.
- Poor transport network.
- Outdated topographical maps are used.
- Lack of, or inadequate trained personnel in mining and exploitation of minerals.
- Difficult terrain increases operational costs.
- Fluctuations in world prices of minerals.
- There is the problem of constant conflict with the local people and the prospecting companies.
- Environmental pollution, e.g. oil spillage.
- High rate of sabotage by unpatriotic people in the mining area.
- Poor management and corruption.
- Destruction of aquatic ecosystem. Since the exploitation of petroleum leads to water pollution, it automatically causes the destruction of aquatic ecosystem.
- High cost of production: There is always high cost of production of petroleum as a result of low level of education, inadequate spare parts and lack of technical KNOW-HOW.
Revision Questions
- Explain the methods of mining petroleum in Africa.
- List and discuss the importance of petroleum.
- State six problems of mining petroleum in Africa.
- List three major petroleum mining areas in Africa.