Spatial Analysis of Pipeline Fire Incidents and their Effects on Vegetation Health Across Buffer Zones in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Rivers State, Nigeria

Okatahi; Y. Y.; Onuegbu; W. C; Ogboeli; G. P

doi:10.56201/ijgem.vol.12.no8.2026.pg243.260

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Spatial Analysis of Pipeline Fire Incidents and their Effects on Vegetation Health Across Buffer Zones in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Rivers State, Nigeria

Okatahi, Y. Y., Onuegbu, W. C , Ogboeli, G. P

Abstract

This research focused on analyzing the geographical distribution of pipeline fire occurrences and their impact on the health of vegetation in the buffer zones of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey approach was utilized alongside a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the environmental differences between sites that were affected and those that served as control. Primary data was gathered through soil samples and structured surveys administered to 400 participants, while secondary sources included records of pipeline fire occurrences from 2010 to 2019, Landsat 8 satellite images, MODIS datasets, and organizational reports. The health of vegetation was measured with the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index , and analyses of spatial data such as buffer zones, overlays, and hotspot mapping were executed using GIS methods. Soil and environmental factors were evaluated using established laboratory techniques, with inferential statistical methods such as ANOVA and regression analyses applied. Results illustrated a distinct spatial trend in vegetation health in relation to distance from the pipeline. Average values for vegetation health showed an increase from 0.5087 at a 50 m distance to 0.5619 at 1000 m, suggesting that ecological conditions improve with greater distance from pipeline fire incidents. The ANOVA outcomes indicated that the observed differences were statistically significant (F = 11.69, p = 0.024), validating that the proximity to pipeline fire events has a quantifiable impact on vegetation. Additional post-hoc analysis revealed that the most notable enhancement in vegetation health was found within the 1000 m buffer zone. Regression analysis indicated that distance was responsible for 35.2% of the variation in vegetation health (R2 = 0.352); however, the separate effect of distance was not statistically significant, implying that recovery patterns may not follow a linear trajectory. A comparative assessment between areas that were affected and those that were not indicated slightly diminished vegetation health in the impacted regions (mean = 0.4585) versus the control regions (mean = 0.4652). The research concludes that incidences of pipeline fires considerably harm vegetation health nearby, with evidence of gradual ecological recovery as distance increases. IJGEM IIARD International Journal of Geography & Environmental Management These results highlight the necessity of conducting spatially informed environmental monitoring and the implementation of intervention strategies in regions involved in oil production

Keywords

SpatialAnalysisPipelineFireIncidentsEffectsVegetation& Health

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Spatial Analysis of Pipeline Fire Incidents and their Effects on Vegetation Health Across Buffer Zones in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Rivers State, Nigeria

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