Abstract

This research assessed the influence of gas flaring on some physical properties of soils of the immediate environment to gas flare site in Delta state, Nigeria. The study entailed collection of nine soil samples from a gas flare site at Kwale. The samples were collected between distances of 200m to 2.250km away from the flare site and a control sample at varying depths of 5cm, 10cm and 15cm respectively. The essence of employing this methodology is to establish possible link between soil physical properties and the impact from the heat and gases produced from the gas flare in the study area. The results revealed influence from the gas flare especially in the pH, temperature and moisture content of the soil. The pH showed the least value (most acidic) of 5.12 at depth of 5cm and 200m away from the flare. The soil temperature at 200m and 5cm depth recorded the highest value (39.7 oC) and the least value (27 oC) was observed at 35km (control) away from the flare site. The least value for moisture (5.83%) was recorded at 200m and the highest (15.38%) for the control site. The values obtained from both insitu and laboratory tests, showed that the flare has negatively impact the soil pH, moisture content and temperature.