Concentration of heavy metals of produced water in Owaza and agbada oil fields in Niger delta

Wasted water from production is a major problem in both Africa and the United States. This study focused on the concentration of heavy metals in produced water of two Oil Fields (Owaza and Agbada) in the Niger Delta. In interval of one month each sample of produced water was collected from Agbada and Owaza oil fields for a total of four months respectively. Standard method was used to determine the heavy metals contents in collected produced water samples of the two oil fields with the use of atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (AAS) to analyze the concentration of heavy metals of Iron (Fe), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cupper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). The heavy metals parameters in Owaza Oilfields in Niger Delta with highest mean concentration is Iron (Fe) (1.011), Zinc (Zn) (0.124), Cupper (Cu) (0.073), Manganese (Mn) (0.060), Barium (Ba) (0.035), Nickel (Ni) (0.034), Cadmium (Cd) (0.015), Lead (pb) (0.010) respectively. The heavy metals parameters in Agbada oilfield in Niger Delta with highest mean concentration is Iron(fe), (1.011), Zinc (Zn) (0.125), Cupper (Cu) (0.074), Manganese (Mn) (0.060), Barium (Ba) (0.035), Nickel (Ni) (0.034) and Cadmium (Cd) (0.015), lead (Pb) (0.011) respectively. Heavy metal concentrations of the both oil fields except for Iron (Fe) were within standard limits of Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO). However, produced water should be adequately treated before being discharged into the environment to protect the health of oil and gas workers and residence of the study area.