Nigeria is the main west african hub for other types of organised. It is however sad to note that, oil exploration and. Prior to the commercial production of oil in the late. The discovery of crude oil in nigeria provided for its socioeconomic viability and has. The historical trajectory of crude oil exploration and. The petroleum industry is not of recent origin, but petroleums current status as a key component of politics, society, and technology has its roots in the early 20th century. While this site does not have a particular section on nigeria, it is very broad and deep at the same time and can help put something like the struggle for oil, freedom and basic rights in nigeria into perspective with similar struggles throughout history. Oil theft is a species of organized crime that is almost totally off the international communitys radar, the report says. This paper examines the question as to whether crude oil resource is a blessing or curse to nigeria. The mineral industrys export makes an important part of the african gross income, but the process of mineral development however. Toyin falola, a leading historian intimately acquainted with the region, and matthew heaton, who has worked extensively on african science and culture, combine their expertise to explain the context to nigerias recent troubles through an exploration of its precolonial and colonial past, and its journey from independence to statehood.
Pdf being rich with crude oil and other numerous natural resource, nigeria is potentially. Resource curse, nigeria, oil and gas, gdp, infrastructure, corruption. Yet, records show that organised exploration activities in nigeria did not commence until 1903 and 1904, when the secretary of state for colonies conducted mineral surveys of the southern and northern protectorates respectively. The west african offshore oil and gas industry has a history of exploration of more than 50 years, with international majors and smaller firms having held, and relinquished, licences all along the. The oil industry located within this region has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the country which is a fact that cannot be disputed but unsustainable oil exploration activities has rendered the niger delta region one of the five most severely petroleum damaged ecosystems in. The history of oil exploration in nigeria dates back to 1903 when nigerian bitumen.
Below are the major top 10 problem affecting nigeria oil and gas industry. History of oil and gas in nigeria history of oil and gas in nigeria. The discovery was made by shellbp, at the time the sole concessionaire. The stakeholders involved in oil and gas development in nigeria can be categorized as. Darke in 1859 to 1956 when crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity at. The history of oil exploration in nigeria could be traced to. To understand how the oil and gas industry works, it is also important to understand how it has changed over time. Stakeholders engagement in the oil and gas industry in. Boko haram blocks oil exploration in northeast nigeria. That was still four years before nigeria gained its independence. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The history of shell in nigeria shell nigeria nigeria.
Shell forms shell nigeria exploration and production. Hopkins called on africanists in 1976 to return to the study of imperial business, both as an extension of european and american business history and. Gabrich global is pleased to bring to you the history of the nigerian petroleum industry. Our point of discuss is the stake of host communities and the general public. Oil 101 history of oil a timeline of the modern oil. Public regulation of the oil and gas industry in nigeria. The history of oil exploration in nigeria dates back to 1903 when nigerian bitumen corporation conducted exploratory work in the country, at the onset of world war i the firms operation were stopped. Thereafter, license was given to darcy exploration company and whitehall petroleum. Screenshot of members of an oil exploration team kidnapped by boko haram in northeastern nigeria, july 29, 2017. Multinational corporations, environmental destruction, death and impunity. This was in spite of the fact that, generally, the industrial sector was one aspect of the nigerian economy the british were most reluctant to develop. Azerbaijans oil history at azerbaijan international. Pdf petroleum exploration and production in the nigerias niger delta region and export of oil and gas resources by the.
Nigeria is the largest oil and gas producer in africa. Oil150, the official website of the 150th anniversary celebration of the oil industry. History of mining and quarrying in nigeria richbon group. The impact of oil exploration and environmental degradation on the economy and society of the niger delta region according to otoabasi, akpan, the search for petroleum oil in nigeria started during the first decade of the 20th century, specifically in 1903, eleven years before the amalgamation of nigeria. The paper traces the origin of oil exploration and exploitation from titusville in pennsylvania. Later in 1946 shell democracy the predecessor of shell petroleum development company spdc of nigeriadiscovered oil in oloibiri. Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation in the niger delta of nigeria. The most controversial spills come from pipeline blasts. Oil exploration and poverty in the niger delta region of.
The colonial authorities of the british crown asserted that all the minerals found are their property. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Review of some impacts of oil exploration and production. History of oil and gas in nigeria business development czar.
The purpose of any mining exploration is to locate new source of minerals that can meet the needs of a nation. At the time only shellbp had the right to investigate this territory. Pdf being rich with crude oil and other numerous natural resource, nigeria is potentially among the richest countries in the world. Crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in oloibiri in presentday bayelsa state in 1956 when shell darcy drilled the first. The key factor in the industry development is who controls the key asset, the oil and gas reserves. History of the nigerian petroleum industry oil was discovered in nigeria in 1956 at oloibiri in the niger delta after half a century of exploration. Oil spill occurs majorly as a result of drilling bringing oil to the surface for refining and. From that day the history of crude oil in nigeria was made. In 1901 one of the largest and most significant oil strikes in history occurred near beaumont, texas, on a mound called spindletop. The history of the oil industry is one of radical shifts in control and dominance. But over the decades it has come under fire over spills in the delta region and. The legislative framework regulating the nigerian oil industry, including the constitution of nigeria 1999, land.
Prior to the discovery and exploration of oil and gas resources in the region, the primary occupation of the people was fishing and farming. Oil exploration comes with necessary required actions that ultimately impact on the environment and influence the sociocultural lives of. A history of nigeria by toyin falola cambridge core. History of the oil industry us at san joaquin geological society. Over the past two decades, at least a dozen pipeline disasters have killed thousands in nigeria. Thats the equivalent of an exxon valdez disaster happening every year for nearly 50 years. However, this was only the start of the modern global era.
Crude oil exploration and production in nigeria began under british colonialism. Oil exploration in colonial nigeria university of helsinki. The second part of the article will focus on the public regulation of the oil and gas industry in nigeria. The nigeria petroleum refining company nprc exploration for crude oil commenced in nigeria in 1937 when shell darcy was granted the sole concessionary rights over the whole territory of the country nigerian national petroleum corporation nnpc. However, both companies did not find oil of commercial value and returned. Crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in nigeria in 1956, while actual production started in 1958. Petroleum exploration and production in the nigerias niger delta region and export of oil and gas resources by the petroleum sector has substantially improved the nations economy over the. Currently, nigeria is the largest oil producer in africa and the production of petroleum in the country plays a dominant role in the economy with over 90% of gross earnings coming from crude oil.
Encouraged by this occurrence a german company, the nigerian. Crude oil exploration in nigeria dates back to 1908 with the discovery of deposits at araromi area in ondo state. The pre1950s search for oil is a largely neglected period in nigerian oil history with no article nor book devoted exclusively to the topic. Environmental impacts of oil exploration and exploitation. Royal dutch shell pioneered nigerias oil and gas industry and remains a major investor in the west african country. Niger delta, ondo state is the study area of this investigation. Resource curse, nigeria, oil and gas, gdp, infrastructure, corruption introduction the history of oil exploration in nigeria could be traced to the first decade of the last century when oil seepages were seen at araromi in the present ondo state.
The early history 1908 1960 the history of oil exploration in nigeria dates back to 1908 when nigerian bitumen corporation conducted exploratory work in the country. Evaluation of some oil companies in the development of. Ever since oil was discovered in the country in 1956. Tricontinental oil services limited is the energy subsidiary of tricontinental group offering oil and gas services exploration, subsea and diving services, including drill rig. Since oil operations began, 546 million gallons of oil have spilled into nigerias niger delta. Boateng national forum on oil and gas development gimpa, accra ghana february 25 26, 2008 introduction ghana has four sedimentary basins fig. Petroleum exploration and production in the nigeria s niger delta region and export of oil and gas resources by the petroleum sector has substantially improved the nations economy over the. Due to the lack of technological and financial resources by small oil companies, large oil companies took over the exploration of commercial oil. Oil was discovered in nigeria in 1956 at oloibiri in the niger delta after half a century of exploration. June 2006 the shell companies in nigeria committed to nigeria content development to maximise the participation of nigerian businesses in all operations, thereby contributing to the development of nigerias industrial capabilities and competences, and supporting the nations economy. Historical and sectoral overview of the nigerian oil industry. By 1958, half a century after commencement of exploration activities, nigeria joined the league of oil.
Exploration for hydrocarbons oil, gas, and condensate is commonly acknowledged to have begun with the discovery at oil creek, pennsylvania, by colonel edwin drake in 1859. United states of america where the first all well was drilled by edwin l. The invention of the internal combustion engine was the major influence in the rise in the importance of petroleum. Following are some of the highlights of shells history in nigeria. Nigeria joined the ranks of oil producers in 1958 when its first oil field came on stream producing 5,100 bpd.
200 460 247 494 937 20 1045 1132 737 52 315 456 690 418 936 370 1546 330 536 935 648 387 1549 64 1521 1223 460 1172 1448 766 1323 477 1274 881 760 687 129 527 449 1092 909 115 800 475