Why the Security Features and Pollution Control Use in Oil Companies is Important
There have been many reports from different government agents about the poor security measures employed by the oil and gas companies including their environmental pollution that affects the neighboring communities.
It was believed that the poor security measures made the oil companies prone to attacks by militants, and Avengers. Besides the poor security measures, most environmental pollution occurring in the neighboring communities has been attributed to oil companies’ activities.
Let us take one of the most secured flow stations located in Nigeria as an example as seen in the pictures attached to this post. The security features measures make it very difficult for someone to enter without being thoroughly checked by the security. Though other flow station cases may be different the major security features seen are:
- A FENCED FLOW STATION WAS BUILT WITH THICK STEEL WIRES TO ALLOW VISIBILITY OUTSIDE
A steel WIRE OF about 20mm thick was used to fence the whole part of the flow station living only one exit gate open for anyone entering and leaving the site.
The fence was built such that even the staff quarters where the workers live are also protected by the fence in such a case any intruder must have to come in through the major gate which is highly secured by a team of military personnel with sophisticated fighting ammunitions.
So, in such a way, it deserves an applaud for such steps taken ahead of anyone who might be planning to attack the flow station.
- A VERY TALL TOWER IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
The security is not restricted to the wire fence alone but rather extended to the building of very high-security towers about 40 feet tall from the ground in different locations of the flow station and the installation of security cameras in these towers.
Different military arms are mounted on those towers such that they can be operated automatically when there is no one in the tower to operate them to shoot in the event of an attack.
The amazing thing about these towers is the fact that the number covered the whole area of the station giving it a very high-security coverage, the tower also serves as another military mounting point where most of the military securing the flow station is permanently stationed.
- SECURITY POSTS MOUNTED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE STATION INCLUDING THE TOWERS
Besides the gate and towers I observe that there is other military posts mounted in different places such as the staff quarters gate, the plant entrance gate, and at the entrance of the station just before a visitor reaches the gate, this again made me applaud the oil company in terms of security.
- THOROUGH CHECKING OF EVERY VISITOR ENTERING INSIDE
The flow station was built in such a way that it would be impossible for anyone to come close without being noticed afar off by the security such made it impossible for any individual to move around the vicinity anyhow.
The military at the gate conducts a thorough check on anyone entering the flow station.
- PROHIBITION OF VISITORS THAT ARE NOT INVITED BY ANYONE
Another unique security feature is that visitors without invitation or certain permission are not allowed to gain access to the flow station.
In the aspect of environmental pollution, it was discovered that the water in the community is not affected by any physical means by the activities of the flow station.
It was found that the majority of the community drink from the stream water that is flowing in a slow but steady current.
In the quest to know how this is achievable it was discovered that the company employed the following features to cube any practice that could lead to environmental pollution:
- A DISCHARGE PIT IS CREATED BENEATH EVERY VESSEL IN THE FLOW STATION
The vessels installed in the station have their foundation built such that beneath it is a pit that gathers all the oil spill in one place and the pump is connected such that when the liquid reaches a particular level the pump will automatically start pumping the oil spill to a permanent discharge pit through its hose buried underground.
- AN AUTOMATED ELECTRIC PUMPS ARE CONNECTED IN THE VARIOUS PITS
A pump that is automated and completely controlled by the level of the oil spill or water beneath the vessel is automated to start pumping the fluid in the pit at a particular level and to stop pumping at a particular level, hence reducing the stress and duty of going to off or on the pumps in the station.
- A LOCATION IS CREATED TO DISCHARGE ANY OIL SPILLAGE VERY FAR FROM THE WATER AREA
A location away from the main plant of the station is being used as a discharge point for the spilled oil, the location is simply a large pit without any concrete wall so as to support the easy drying of the spilled fluids gathered into it from the automated pumps in different vessels of the flow station.
