<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd">
<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article">
 <front>
  <journal-meta>
   <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">
    gep
   </journal-id>
   <journal-title-group>
    <journal-title>
     Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection
    </journal-title>
   </journal-title-group>
   <issn pub-type="epub">
    2327-4336
   </issn>
   <issn publication-format="print">
    2327-4344
   </issn>
   <publisher>
    <publisher-name>
     Scientific Research Publishing
    </publisher-name>
   </publisher>
  </journal-meta>
  <article-meta>
   <article-id pub-id-type="doi">
    10.4236/gep.2024.126012
   </article-id>
   <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">
    gep-134108
   </article-id>
   <article-categories>
    <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
     <subject>
      Articles
     </subject>
    </subj-group>
    <subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2">
     <subject>
      Earth 
     </subject>
     <subject>
       Environmental Sciences
     </subject>
    </subj-group>
   </article-categories>
   <title-group>
    Severity Risk Analysis Matrix Ranking (SRAMR) for Oil-Spill Contingency Planning: Asemoku-Agip Pipeline in Perspective
   </title-group>
   <contrib-group>
    <contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple">
     <name name-style="western">
      <surname>
       Ifuwe Chineme
      </surname>
      <given-names>
       Christabel
      </given-names>
     </name>
    </contrib>
    <contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple">
     <name name-style="western">
      <surname>
       Onosemuode
      </surname>
      <given-names>
       Christopher
      </given-names>
     </name>
    </contrib>
   </contrib-group> 
   <aff id="affnull">
    <addr-line>
     aDepartment of Environmental Management and Toxicology, College of Science, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria
    </addr-line> 
   </aff> 
   <pub-date pub-type="epub">
    <day>
     06
    </day> 
    <month>
     06
    </month>
    <year>
     2024
    </year>
   </pub-date> 
   <volume>
    12
   </volume> 
   <issue>
    06
   </issue>
   <fpage>
    190
   </fpage>
   <lpage>
    206
   </lpage>
   <history>
    <date date-type="received">
     <day>
      31,
     </day>
     <month>
      March
     </month>
     <year>
      2024
     </year>
    </date>
    <date date-type="published">
     <day>
      24,
     </day>
     <month>
      March
     </month>
     <year>
      2024
     </year> 
    </date> 
    <date date-type="accepted">
     <day>
      24,
     </day>
     <month>
      June
     </month>
     <year>
      2024
     </year> 
    </date>
   </history>
   <permissions>
    <copyright-statement>
     © Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 
    </copyright-statement>
    <copyright-year>
     2014
    </copyright-year>
    <license>
     <license-p>
      This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
     </license-p>
    </license>
   </permissions>
   <abstract>
    One of the down sides of crude oil exploration and exploitation in the developing nations is its impacts on the environment. A major manifestation of poor crude oil management is oil-spillages. Mitigation strategies have been too expensive, but a cheaper recent way of managing crude-spills is by developing a severity risk analysis matrix ranking (SRAMR). The spatial data-sets deployed in this study were acquired from the USGS, Google Earth Pro, and NOSDRA. A buffer zone of 100 - 400 meters was created to characterize the LULC characteristics of the area. Also, this was to help develop a risk sensitivity characteristic. The study found that the vegetal cover was the environmental resource at high risk to crude-spills in the area, while other land-uses were at low risk of crude-spill. It is hoped that the finding from this study informs policy development and planning for crude oil spill incidents.
   </abstract>
   <kwd-group> 
    <kwd>
     Land-Use/Land-Cover
    </kwd> 
    <kwd>
      Asemoku
    </kwd> 
    <kwd>
      Crude-Spills
    </kwd> 
    <kwd>
      Severity-Risk-Analysis
    </kwd>
   </kwd-group>
  </article-meta>
 </front>
 <body>
  <sec id="s1">
   <title>1. Introduction</title>
   <p>Crude oil syphoning has since (1960s) replaced the production of agro products as Nigeria’s main export earner <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-4">
     (Akpotor, 2019)
    </xref>. This black gold has brought to the country many advantages that include infrastructural development, provision of funds for economic stability etc. <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-1">
     (Abdulkareem et al., 2021)
    </xref>. In the same sweep, in the process of transporting the syphoned crude, serious harm is done to the environment, through spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-2">
     (Abianji-Menang, 2021)
    </xref>. When these spills happen it is pertinent to deploy strategic means to protect the environment, while mitigating the spill effects <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-16">
     (Grubesic et al., 2019)
    </xref>. Geospatial tech represents one of the contemporary options for managing spills globally <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-46">
     (Yekeen et al., 2020)
    </xref>.</p>
   <p>The use of geospatial has been noted to be very useful and helpful in oil spill assessments and analysis <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-3">
     (Akinwumiju et al., 2020)
    </xref>. This is because of the ability to access, data, analyse them and then see the spatial aspects of the spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-47">
     (Zeng &amp; Wang, 2020)
    </xref>. This tech (geospatial techniques) allows the investigator, to check the spill for same site or multiple sites at the same time and with minimal time <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-39">
     (Ullah et al., 2021)
    </xref>. Geographic information systems (GIS) techs allow an investigator to identify the sensitive aspects of the environment to environmental pollutants such as oil spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-34">
     (Pieri et al., 2018)
    </xref>. This makes spills monitoring and sensitivity mapping easy <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-19">
     (Jafarzadeh et al., 2021)
    </xref>.</p>
   <p>Several environmental challenges result from crude oil pollution <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-15">
     (Godspower et al., 2023;
    </xref> <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-27">
     Okumagba &amp; Ozabor, 2016)
    </xref>. These challenges includes, soil degradation <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-7">
     (Bhattacharyya et al., 2015)
    </xref>, forest fires <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-26">
     (Nwagbara et al., 2017)
    </xref>, water pollution, with the attendant consequences for aquatic animals <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-40">
     (Ushurhe et al., 2024)
    </xref>, and even air pollution <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-33">
     (Ozabor &amp; Obisesan, 2015)
    </xref>. The pollution in the environment has some consequences for man. The infertile lands could impact on the livelihood of the people consequently causing serious migration problem <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-18">
     (Hollos et al., 2009)
    </xref>. Diseases are also bound to spread <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-31">
     (Ozabor &amp; Obaro, 2016)
    </xref>. Hunger and food insecurity is another challenge that can happen if adequate steps are not taken to curb oil spill issues in our environment <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-6">
     (Babatunde, 2023)
    </xref>. Today, it is clear that the global community have taken environmental monitoring seriously, however, the same cannot be said of the developing ones <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-22">
     (Litvinenko et al., 2022;
    </xref> <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-32">
     Ozabor &amp; Nwagbara, 2018)
    </xref>. Deploying Environmental Sensitivity Analysis (ESA) and applying the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI), represents a modern step targeted at reducing environmental consequences resulting from crude spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-43">
     (Wekpe et al., 2024)
    </xref>. Very scan attempt have been made to deploy this technique for crude oil spill management in Nigeria <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-36">
     (Singh et al., 2012)
    </xref>. As a result of that deficiency this study focuses on developing and environmental sensitivity index of the study area, by articulating the risks and sensitivity mapping of the study area with a view to identifying emergency response zones, in the event of oil spill.</p>
  </sec><sec id="s2">
   <title>2. Materials and Methods</title>
   <sec id="s2_1">
    <title>2.1. Study Area</title>
    <p>The area where this study was carried out is the Asemoku area, which is located in the Ndokwa East local government area (LGA) of Delta State <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-29">
      (Otutu, 2011)
     </xref>. The geographic features that surround the area include to the west Isoko North, South by Oshimili South, the north by Aniocha South and to the east the area is bordered by River Niger (see <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">
      Figure 1
     </xref>). Using the coordinates the area lies on latitude 5.55˚ and 5.69˚ North and longitudes 6.40˚ and 6.56˚ East. The extent of crude oil is Lon. X_ 6.5616111, Lat. Y_5.6505833 respectively.</p>
    <fig id="fig1" position="float">
     <label>Figure 1</label>
     <caption>
      <title>Figure 1. Map of Delta State showing Ndokwa East.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId12.jpeg?20240627111518" />
    </fig>
    <p>It is also important to itemize the economic activities of the people in the area. The area is situated on the tropical belts based on the Koppens classification. This means that the area enjoys annual rainfall of up to 1600 mm to 2100 mm. The mean annual temperature ranges between 27˚C to 30˚C. This climate type coupled with favourable edaphic factors, encourages agriculture on the area <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-30">
      (Ozabor, 2014)
     </xref>. This makes most of the locals’ agriculturist. Others are farmers, traders and fishermen <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-41">
      (Ushurhe et al., 2023)
     </xref>. Thus the issues of oil spill do not only affect the vegetation and soils, but also the sources of livelihood of the locals. Hence a study such as this is not only targeting curbing of the spill problems, but also ensuring eco-sustainability and food security <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-35">
      (Pisanò, 2024)
     </xref>.</p>
   </sec>
   <sec id="s2_2">
    <title>2.2. Method</title>
    <p>The primary and secondary sources of data as prescribed by <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-11">
      D’Affonseca et al. (2023)
     </xref> were deployed for this study (see <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">
      Table 1
     </xref>). The data was collected from both the government agencies and the non-governmental agencies. The spatial data-sets deployed in this study was acquired from the United States Geological Surveys (USGS) <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-24">
      (Mays et al., 2012)
     </xref>, Google Earth Pro <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-38">
      (Taylor et al., 2011)
     </xref>, Oil Spill Incident data <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-42">
      (Watts &amp; Zalik, 2020)
     </xref> acquired for the data bank of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-https://oilspillmonitor.ng/">
      https://oilspillmonitor.ng/
     </xref>. This is a government owned agency and captures oil spill events across Nigeria <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-25">
      (NOSDRA, 2006)
     </xref>.</p>
    <table-wrap id="table1">
     <label>
      <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">
       Table 1
      </xref></label>
     <caption>
      <title>
       <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 1. The sources and types of ESI data sets and their uses.</title>
     </caption>
     <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="11.79%"><p style="text-align:center">DATA TYPE</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="17.63%"><p style="text-align:center">Landsat Image</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="33.83%"><p style="text-align:center">Google Earth Pro</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="12.43%"><p style="text-align:center">Literatures</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="24.33%"><p style="text-align:center">Pipeline locations</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="11.79%"><p style="text-align:center">Resolution</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="17.63%"><p style="text-align:center">30 m</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="33.83%"><p style="text-align:center">Eye altitude between 2.61 km to 6.51 km</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="12.43%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="24.33%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="11.79%"><p style="text-align:center">DATE</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="17.63%"><p style="text-align:center">2014</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="33.83%"><p style="text-align:center">2018</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="12.43%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="24.33%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="11.79%"><p style="text-align:center">SOURCE</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="17.63%"><p style="text-align:center">USGS, NIGERSAT</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="33.83%"><p style="text-align:center">(c) 2018 Google, (c)</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="12.43%"><p style="text-align:center">NOSDRA</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="24.33%"><p style="text-align:center">NOSRA and NNPC data banks</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="11.79%"><p style="text-align:center">USES</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="17.63%"><p style="text-align:center">LU/LC classification</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="33.83%"><p style="text-align:center">LU/LC classification and identification of characteristics</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="12.43%"><p style="text-align:center">Inland-habitat classification</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="24.33%"><p style="text-align:center">Location-features coordinates</p></td> 
      </tr> 
     </table>
    </table-wrap>
    <p>Source: Authors compilation (2023).</p>
    <p>The researchers first conducted a buffer operation <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-21">
      (Lee et al., 2010)
     </xref>. This ensures that the researchers are able to tell the land-use/land-cover (LULC) that are susceptible to crude-spills in the event of occurrence <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-23">
      (Lv et al., 2011)
     </xref>. Also, creating a buffer identifies and analyses spatial relationships of features in space. For this study the researchers created a Buffer zone of 100, 200, 300 and 400 meters to carry out this study. This distance has also been deployed by several researchers in the literature <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-20">
      (Jaiswal et al., 2002)
     </xref>. After processing the image, the ecological classification of 100 - 400 m helped establish the LULC that was susceptible and at risk of the event of a spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-7">
      (Berisa &amp; Birhanu, 2015)
     </xref> (See <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">
      Figure 2
     </xref>). At the 200 meter buffer the off-set of the pipe line spill-point was established and marked in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">
      Figure 2
     </xref> in blue, the 300 m buffer zone is marked in purple, while the 400 m buffer zone is marked in light-blue (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">
      Figure 2
     </xref>). The predetermined buffers helped in the assessment of spread of crude-spills and how the spills could affect susceptible LULC <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-37">
      (Smith et al., 1994)
     </xref>.</p>
    <fig id="fig2" position="float">
     <label>Figure 2</label>
     <caption>
      <title>Figure 2. Digitized map of study area.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId14.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
    <p>After the determination of the susceptible assets, the assets were prioritised and ranked based off of the use of the LULC and severity of impact in the event of a spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-5">
      (Al-Aizari et al., 2024)
     </xref>. This was done to point the spill-clean-up team to identifying the area it should concentrate resources first, in the event of a spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-17">
      (Grubesic et al., 2017)
     </xref>.</p>
    <p>The sensitivity index ranking method (SIRM) deployed by <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-28">
      (Onosemuode et al., 2019)
     </xref> (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">
      Table 2
     </xref>) was used to characterize a severity risk matrix (SRM) for the study so as to evaluate spill impacts on LULC <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-14">
      (Frank &amp; Boisa, 2018)
     </xref>.</p>
    <table-wrap id="table2">
     <label>
      <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">
       Table 2
      </xref></label>
     <caption>
      <title>
       <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 2. LULC sensitivity ranking and classification.</title>
     </caption>
     <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="21.70%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI Classes</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="6.86%"><p style="text-align:center">VH</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="14.25%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="8.80%"><p style="text-align:center">MH</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">Low</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">NS</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="21.70%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI Ranks</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="6.86%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="14.25%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="8.80%"><p style="text-align:center">3</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">2</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="12.24%"><p style="text-align:center">0</p></td> 
      </tr> 
     </table>
    </table-wrap>
    <p>NB: ESI = Environmental Sensitivity Index; VH = Very High; H = High; MH = Moderately High; VL = Very Low; L = Low; NS = Not Sensitive. Source: Modified after <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-28">
      Onosemuode et al. (2019)
     </xref>.</p>
    <p>The sensitivity ranking and classification of <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-28">
      Onosemuode et al. (2019)
     </xref> could not conveniently account for the various portions of the LULC in the buffered zones that were affected by oil spill. Rather, the results from such ranking and classification were done on a generalized form <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-12">
      (Essien &amp; John, 2011)
     </xref>. Hence the researcher has to deploy an SRM which could account for the LULC in all the buffer class. This was to allow for comprehensive accountability for oil spill events <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-28">
      (Onosemuode et al., 2019)
     </xref> (See <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">
      Table 3
     </xref>).</p>
    <table-wrap id="table3">
     <label>
      <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">
       Table 3
      </xref></label>
     <caption>
      <title>
       <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 3. Determination of the minimum and maximum ESI class.</title>
     </caption>
     <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASSES</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="50.48%" colspan="4"><p style="text-align:center">BUFFER ZONES</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">TOTAL ESI CLASS</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td tbtextacenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">→</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">100</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">200</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">300</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">400</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">Combination of ESI class from Table 2</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">Combination of ESI class from Table 2</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">16</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">Combination of ESI class from Table 2</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">10</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">Combination of ESI class from Table 2</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">3</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">18</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="27.98%"><p style="text-align:center">Combination of ESI class from Table 2</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.30%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="13.91%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="15.45%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="7.82%"><p style="text-align:center">5</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="21.54%"><p style="text-align:center">20</p></td> 
      </tr> 
     </table>
    </table-wrap>
    <p>Taking the range of 0 to 20 ESI class, a further classification was carried out to arrive at the ESI class in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
      Table 4
     </xref>. Class below 1 is classified as Not Sensitive to oil spill in the study area buffered zone, class of between 1 - 4 the Severity index is classified as Very Low in the buffered zone of the study area, class of 5 - 8 is classified as Low, class of 9 - 12 is considered as Moderately High while 13 - 16 is considered as High and 17 - 20 is Very High severity if impacted by oil spill.</p>
    <table-wrap id="table4">
     <label>
      <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
       Table 4
      </xref></label>
     <caption>
      <title>
       <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 4. Characterization of severity ranking matrix.</title>
     </caption>
     <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">Class</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI Rank</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">Less than or equal to 0.9</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">NS</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">1 - 4</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">5 - 8</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">L</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">9 - 12</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">MH</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="acenter" width="73.70%"><p style="text-align:center">13 - 16</p><p style="text-align:center">17 - 20</p></td> 
       <td class="acenter" width="22.02%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p><p style="text-align:center">VH</p></td> 
      </tr> 
     </table>
    </table-wrap>
    <p>NB: ESI = Environmental Sensitivity Index; VH = Very High; H = High; MH = Moderately High; VL = Very Low; L = Low; NS = Not Sensitive.</p>
    <p>In the determination of land-use/cover the results are always in most cases calculated in areas and percentages. As a result, a further reclassification of the ESI was done in percentages to enable the evaluation of the severity of the oil spill in each buffer zone as shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
      Table 5
     </xref>. The impact of 1% - 20% of land-use land cover in the buffered zone shows Very Low severity, 21% - 40% impact of land-use land-cover indicates Low Severity, 41% - 60% impact of land-use land-cover shows a Moderately High Severity in the event of oil spill and 61% - 80% impact shows High severity to oil spill while 81% - 100% indicate Very High severity on the land-use land-cover should oil spill occur. The researchers were able to use the SRM to enable classification of the overall sensitivity of the various LULC of the area.</p>
    <table-wrap id="table5">
     <label>
      <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
       Table 5
      </xref></label>
     <caption>
      <title>
       <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 5. LULC classification of SRM using percentage.</title>
     </caption>
     <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="29.39%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI Rank</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.42%"><p style="text-align:center">NS</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.49%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">L</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.83%"><p style="text-align:center">MH</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">VH</p></td> 
      </tr> 
      <tr> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="29.39%"><p style="text-align:center">Classification Percentage (%)</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.42%"><p style="text-align:center">≤0.9</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.49%"><p style="text-align:center">1 - 20</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">21 - 40</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.83%"><p style="text-align:center">41 - 60</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">61 - 80</p></td> 
       <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="15.69%"><p style="text-align:center">81 - 100</p></td> 
      </tr> 
     </table>
    </table-wrap>
    <p>NB: ESI = Environmental Sensitivity Index; VH = Very High; H = High; MH = Moderately High; VL = Very Low; L = Low; NS = Not Sensitive.</p>
   </sec>
  </sec><sec id="s3">
   <title>3. Results and Discussion</title>
   <p>Results of all the classification developed from the processed imagery (figure and percentage coding) using the predetermined buffer standards of 100 - 400 meters respectively are presented. A Risk Analysis map (RAM) of the location, that covered 3 km of the pipeline that traverse the Asemoku area (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">
     Figure 2
    </xref>), provided a summary of vulnerable assets in the event of spills in the buffered zones. <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref> revealed classification of the LULC of the study area.</p>
   <p>The vegetation was the LC resource that recorded the largest area of land in the buffer zone. This includes grassland, shrubs, and rain forest. It also is characterized by species like rodent, rabbits, squirrel and grass-cutter, snakes etc. This resource therefore presents the locals with opportunity to hunt and provide meat for their families and sell games for sustenance <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-13">
     (Eyetan &amp; Ozabor, 2021)
    </xref>. Natural vegetation occupies a total land area of 38.641 hectares at 100 meters (71.99%), 90.704 hectares at 200 meters (73.75%), 135.979 hectares at 300 meters (73.96%), and 180.213 hectares at 400 meters (73.76%) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3(a)">
     Figure 3(a)
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3(b)">
     Figure 3(b)
    </xref>). The SRI of the vegetation was classed as High (H) having an ESI number of 4 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>). It is therefore going to be very devastating for the locals and the vegetal resources in the event of an oil-spill <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-44">
     (Weli &amp; Famous, 2018)
    </xref>. This finding agrees with that of <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-8">
     Beyer et al. (2016)
    </xref>.</p>
   <fig-group id="fig3" position="float">
    <fig id="fig3" position="float">
     <label>Figure 3</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 3. (a) Geospatial analysis showing vegetation at risk in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of vegetation at risk within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId15.jpeg?20240627111520" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig3" position="float">
     <label>Figure 3</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 3. (a) Geospatial analysis showing vegetation at risk in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of vegetation at risk within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId16.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <table-wrap id="table6">
    <label>
     <xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
      Table 6
     </xref></label>
    <caption>
     <title>
      <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-"></xref>Table 6. LULC severity ranking matrix.</title>
    </caption>
    <table class="MsoTableGrid custom-table" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 
     <tr> 
      <td rowspan="3" class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Risk factors</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td acenter" width="82.78%" colspan="16"><p style="text-align:center">BUFFER ZONES</p></td> 
      <td rowspan="3" class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">TOTAL</p><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASS</p></td> 
      <td rowspan="3" class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">Total Severity</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="18.82%" colspan="4"><p style="text-align:center">100 M</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="19.12%" colspan="4"><p style="text-align:center">200 M</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="22.06%" colspan="4"><p style="text-align:center">300 M</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="22.78%" colspan="4"><p style="text-align:center">400 M</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">AREA</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">%</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">Severity</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASS</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">AREA</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">%</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">Severity</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASS</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">AREA</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">%</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">Severity</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASS</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">AREA</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">%</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">Severity</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-bottom-td custom-top-td acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">ESI CLASS</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Vegetation</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">38.641</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">71</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">90.704</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">73.752</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">135.97</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">73.96</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">180.213</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">73.766</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">16</p></td> 
      <td class="custom-top-td acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">H</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Farm land</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">2.469</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">4.6</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">6.494</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">5.282</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">13.770</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">7.490</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">23.205</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">9.499</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Water body</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">0.491</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">0.916</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">1.395</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">1.069</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">2.613</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">1.422</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">4.210</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">1.723</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Wet land</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">9.396</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">17.506</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">11.969</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">9.732</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">13.974</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">7.601</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">16.637</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">6.810</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Built up</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">0.00</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">0.00</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">NS</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">0</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">0.186</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">0.15</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">NS</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">0</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">2.163</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">1.76</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">3.909</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">1.600</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">2</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Bare Surface</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center">2.677</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">4.987</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">12.312</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">10.15</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">15.348</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">8.378</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">16.130</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center">6.602</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">1</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">4</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center">VL</p></td> 
     </tr> 
     <tr> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.18%"><p style="text-align:center">Total</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.12%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center">21</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">21</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center">25</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.88%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.36%"><p style="text-align:center">25</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.41%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="4.42%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="7.35%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="6.61%"><p style="text-align:center">24</p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
      <td class="acenter" width="5.52%"><p style="text-align:center"></p></td> 
     </tr> 
    </table>
   </table-wrap>
   <p>The farmlands are areas in which the locals cultivate crops for sustenance and sales <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-45">
     (Whittlesey, 1936)
    </xref>. Crops found in the area of study includes but not limited to plantain, cassava, yam, vegetables, potatoes. These farmlands are cultivated by using crop rotation and shifting cultivation <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-26">
     (Nwagbara et al., 2017)
    </xref>. The farmland area occupies a total land area of 2.469 hectares at 100 meters (4.60%), 6.494 hectares at 200 meters (5.28%), 13.770 hectares at 300 meters (7.490%), and 23.205 hectares at 400 meters (9.499%) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4(a)">
     Figure 4(a)
    </xref> &amp; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4(b)">
     Figure 4(b)
    </xref>). The farmland has Very Low (VL) SIR of 1 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>). Thus the farmlands are at a low risk in the event of a spill accident.</p>
   <p>The water body comprised of rivers, streams, ponds cum creeks <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-40">
     (Ushurhe et al., 2024)
    </xref>. This environmental resource also serves as source of domestic water for the locals. The resource also serves as home for aquatic animals and vegetation such as hyacinths. The water body occupied a land area of 0.491 hectares at</p>
   <fig-group id="fig4" position="float">
    <fig id="fig4" position="float">
     <label>Figure 4</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 4. (a) Geospatial analysis showing farm land at risk in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of farm land within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId17.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig4" position="float">
     <label>Figure 4</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 4. (a) Geospatial analysis showing farm land at risk in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of farm land within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId18.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <p>100 meters (0.91%), 1.395 hectares at 200meters (1.07%), and 2.613 hectares at 300meters (1.42%) and 4.210 hectares at 400 meters (1.72%) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref>, <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5(a)">
     Figure 5(a)
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5(b)">
     Figure 5(b)
    </xref>). Water body was classes very low (VL) SI and ESI ranking of 1 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>) implying that water body belonged to the low risk environmental resources class. This finding agrees with that of <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-40">
     Ushurhe et al. (2024)
    </xref>.</p>
   <fig-group id="fig5" position="float">
    <fig id="fig5" position="float">
     <label>Figure 5</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 5. (a) Geospatial analysis showing water-body in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection Statistics of water-body within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId19.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig5" position="float">
     <label>Figure 5</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 5. (a) Geospatial analysis showing water-body in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection Statistics of water-body within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId20.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <p>The wetland areas comprise of ponds, marshes, forested freshwater, wet grassland and swamps <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-10">
     (Brinson &amp; Malvárez, 2002)
    </xref>. The wetlands occupied a total land area of 9.396 hectares at 100 meters (17.51%), 11.969 hectares at 200 meters (9.73%), 13.974 hectares at 300 meters (7.601%), and 16.637 hectares at 400 meters (6.81%) in the buffer zones (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6(a)">
     Figure 6(a)
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6(b)">
     Figure 6(b)
    </xref>). The Wet Land has “Very Low” (VL) SI and ESI ranking of 1 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>) indicating that the wet land herein is at low risk of oil-spills.</p>
   <fig-group id="fig6" position="float">
    <fig id="fig6" position="float">
     <label>Figure 6</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 6. (a) Geospatial analysis showing wet land in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of wet land within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId21.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig6" position="float">
     <label>Figure 6</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 6. (a) Geospatial analysis showing wet land in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of wet land within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId22.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <p>The built-up areas in the buffer zone is characterised with farm-houses, residential-camps, and processing sheds. This area comprises of diverse floras like orange, mango trees, coconut and palm trees, cocoyam, maize water leaf, bitter leaf, scent leaf plants and shrubs <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-40">
     (Ushurhe et al., 2024)
    </xref>. The faunas consist mainly of domestic animals such as dog, goat, fowls, cats, etc. The built up area occupies a total land-area of 0.186 hectares at 100 meters (0.15%), 2.163 hectares at 200 meters (1.760%), and 3.909 hectares at 300 meters (1.600%) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7(a)">
     Figure 7(a)
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7(b)">
     Figure 7(b)
    </xref>). The Built up area has Very Low (VL) SI and also ESI ranking of 1 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>).</p>
   <fig-group id="fig7" position="float">
    <fig id="fig7" position="float">
     <label>Figure 7</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 7. (a) Geospatial analysis showing built up area in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of built up area within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId23.jpeg?20240627111520" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig7" position="float">
     <label>Figure 7</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 7. (a) Geospatial analysis showing built up area in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of built up area within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId24.jpeg?20240627111519" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <p>The bare surfaces are exposed surfaces which outcomes of anthropogenic actions <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-29">
     (Otutu, 2011)
    </xref>. It hardly supports plants growth due to nutrients unavailability <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-29">
     (Otutu, 2011)
    </xref>. The bare surfaces occupied a total land area of 2.677 hectares at 100 meters (4.98%), 12.317 hectares at 200 meters (10.01%), 15.348 hectares at 300 meters (8.34%), and 16.130 hectares at 400 meters (6.60%) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table6">
     Table 6
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8(a)">
     Figure 8(a)
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8(b)">
     Figure 8(b)
    </xref>). The bare surface has very low (VL) SI and ESI ranking of 1 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">
     Table 4
    </xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table5">
     Table 5
    </xref>).</p>
   <fig-group id="fig8" position="float">
    <fig id="fig8" position="float">
     <label>Figure 8</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 8. (a) Geospatial analysis showing bare surface in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of bare surface within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId25.jpeg?20240627111520" />
    </fig>
    <fig id="fig8" position="float">
     <label>Figure 8</label>
     <caption>
      <title>(a)--(b)--Figure 8. (a) Geospatial analysis showing bare surface in 400 m buffer; (b) Selection statistics of bare surface within 400 m buffer zone.</title>
     </caption>
     <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId26.jpeg?20240627111520" />
    </fig>
   </fig-group>
   <p>As a result of the ESI and RA determined by this study, the establishment of an Emergency Response Zone (ERZ) was proposed. This ERZ should be strategically positioned location which should be easily accessible to all stakeholders. The ERZ are usually located in the environment where the risk of impact is higher and in places where resources (humans and equipment) can easily be deployed in the shortest of time after a pill-incident <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.134108-43">
     (Wekpe et al., 2024)
    </xref>. In this study, the ERZ was proposed to be situated within the Asemoku community at around 50 m buffer zone (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">
     Figure 9
    </xref>). This proposal results from its proximity to the pipeline and other features that can be affected in the event of a pipeline-spill.</p>
   <fig id="fig9" position="float">
    <label>Figure 9</label>
    <caption>
     <title>Figure 9. The proposed Emergency Response Zone (ERZ) along the pipeline.</title>
    </caption>
    <graphic mimetype="image" position="float" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="https://html.scirp.org/file/2172900-rId27.jpeg?20240627111519" />
   </fig>
  </sec><sec id="s4">
   <title>4. Conclusion</title>
   <p>This study assessed the risk inherent of crude oil spill on the different LULC in the Asemoku area. The study found that vegetal cover was most susceptible to crude-spill impacts and was the most sensitive LULC in the created buffer zones. Although other LULC will be affected in the event of a spill, the vegetation belt will be the most affected in the area. Environmental sensitivity Index (ESI) and Risk Analysis (RA) performed herein, explicates early warning and response for potential spill event. The study showed the extent of potential adverse effects in-case of a spill occurrence. It is hoped that this informs policy development and planning. This research mapped out LULC as quantitative factors which give clearer understanding of ecosystem and their sensitivity to spill by developing ESI maps of the study area. Sensitivity mapping (SM) and Risk analysis developed herein can deploy for support of strategic oil spill contingency plans. By mapping the area, the sensitive resources have been identified and the most sensitive LULC determined. It is hoped that policy makers pay attention to these resources while planning a clean-up response in the event of a crude spill. Furthermore, the study has been able to establish ERZ for the area, however, there is need to as a matter of urgency provide palliatives for survival for the locals on the short term, while servicing the pipe lines, creating a smart warning spill detection signal and pipeline overhaul be applied for the long term oil spill management contingency.</p>
  </sec>
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