Characterization, analysis and review of hazardous waste management in oil drilling fields in Turkana, Kenya

Abstract

This research was carried out with the main aim of identifying the major waste streams and respective impacts from the oil drilling and exploration fields in Lokichar basin, Turkana County, Kenya. The area of study, known as Block 10BB and 13T covers Central Lokichar, from Twiga, all the way to Ngamia_1. The study physically examined the types of waste generated by the activities in the study area and characterized them into different streams and classes, where the major focus was on hazardous waste. General waste was also investigated with the interest of the point of contamination and relevant volumes produced. Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority’s (NEMA) Waste Management Regulation (2006), fourth schedule was used to benchmark the existing practices against the requirements to determine the compliance level. Primary data was obtained using questionnaires and schedules as the main tools. These were administered to the environmental department of the oil drilling company, as the key respondent in this study. The approach used in this research is majorly a case study. One questionnaire and direct interviews were administered on the environmental monitor of the oil drilling company. This study discovered that the major class of waste from the oil drilling activities is the produced water, which also carries the highest health risk. This is followed by cuttings that contain higher amounts of hydrocarbons and indeterminate chemical compounds. It was also observed that general waste was being contaminated with certain chemicals, rendering them hazardous. Other waste streams identified were effluent from the kitchen and lavatories. The risk factor, mitigation and improvement initiatives have been recommended after an informed discussion against the available literature from similar studies. This is expected to help in reduction of the impacts related to poor waste management at the rig on the local population and ecosystem.