Influence of Drill Cuttings Management on Morbidity in Rivers State

Drill cuttings management in this study comprises transportation of drill cuttings from the rig (onshore or offshore) to the treatment facility, for further recovery and possible disposal. This study evaluates the influence of drill cuttings management on morbidity in Rivers State. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining a qualitative approach using reports and policy documents from the internet with a quantitative approach using research questionnaires to survey the Ikwerre, Eleme, Obio-Akpor, and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State with a significant history of drilling activities. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select a sample of 400 respondents from locations where drilling management activities were conducted. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed statistically significant differences in the group means for health (p = 0.02) and waste management activities within the communities, both below the critical value of 0.05. This implied that drilling management activities had significantly impacted the health of the dwellers in the investigated communities. The study concludes that drill cuttings management has a significant effect on health and that there is a causal link between disposal practices in Rivers State and health outcomes in communities, requiring immediate policy intervention, compliance tracking, and community engagement. The study recommends a value-driven, reward-based system to engage third-party contractors to foster green production of construction materials, while diverting drill cuttings from disposal sites. This will enable the Nigerian oil and gas industries to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Targets 3.9, 6.3, 12.4, and 12.6, which aim to reduce illnesses from hazardous waste components; improve the quality of waste treatment; manage hazardous waste; and promote corporate sustainability reporting, respectively. Thus, being accountable for ensuring that drill cuttings waste is converted into valuable materials for beneficial reuse in each region.