Scientific and Cleanup Response to the Idoho-Qit Oil Spill, Nigeria

On 12 January, 1998, a 24 inch pipeline from the IDOHO platform to the Mobil Qua Iboe terminal ruptured. This resulted in the release of approximately 40 000 bbl of Qua Iboe light crude oil into the marine environment. In response to the spill, cleanup and containment equipment were immediately deployed. Dispersant application played an important role in the cleanup response because the bulk of the oil remained offshore and was transported westward by prevailing currents, thus providing an extended opportunity for treatment at sea. As a result of dispersant application, natural dispersal and evaporation, over 90% of the oil was dispersed and evaporated offshore. Heavy shoreline oiling was limited and localized, with oiling of sensitive estuarine mangrove habitats limited to a few locations. Remnants of the spill that tracked 5–10 km offshore from the spill source were observed at Lagos harbor, about 900 km west of the spill site. Most of the exposed sand beaches in the spill zone self-cleaned within 2–3 w...