BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA · 2006–2018

Where have oil spills been reported repeatedly?

Oil spills can threaten land and waterways. We examined documented spill reports across Bayelsa to see where events were recorded more than once, and what that history might tell investigators.

Explore the interactive map

01 · WHAT WE STUDIED

3,109 documented events from 2006–2018, organized into small map cells to examine recorded history.

02 · WHY WE STUDIED IT

Repeated reports may help identify places where further investigation and record-checking are worthwhile.

03 · WHAT WE FOUND

14 of 31 documented 2018 events occurred in cells with reports during 2015–2017.

04 · WHAT IT HELPS US DO

Explore historical patterns and guide follow-up checks, not predict future spills or prove contamination.

Why does the study end in 2018? This atlas uses an archived, checked set of historical spill reports—not live reporting. We kept 2018 separate to evaluate patterns found in earlier records. More recent incidents are outside this study and would need a new data review before inclusion. Read why we chose these years.

GEOSPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT · 2006–2018

Choose a historical group, then select a coloured dot to see how many reports were recorded in that location. The 2018 evaluation records remain separate.

DOCUMENTED SPILL EVENTS · 2006–2018

3,109 records

PLACES WITH RECENT RECORDED HISTORY

312

Map cells with reports in 2015–17

NEWLY RECORDED IN 2018

11 cells

12 reported events · held apart for evaluation

EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE

Show on map

777 historically recorded cellsRecorded before 2018; excludes first-recorded 2018 locations.

Select a class, then click a coloured symbol for its recorded event history.

WHAT THE DOT COLOURS MEAN

Each colour describes the recorded spill history of a small study area, not the amount of pollution there.

Older records only Before 2015; none recorded in 2015–17465

One recorded event 2015–17181

Two or three recorded events 2015–1783

Four or more recorded events 2015–1748

First recorded in 2018 Separate evaluation records, not ranked11

KEY RETROSPECTIVE FINDING

45.2%

14 of the 31 documented events in 2018 occurred in small areas where spills had also been recorded during 2015–2017.

This describes past records. It cannot reliably predict where a new spill will happen.

Important: Dots are made larger so you can see them. They represent roughly 300-metre study cells, not the size of any spill or contaminated area. Unreported spills remain unknown; nearby population and buildings do not indicate measured harm.

MAP VIEW

Historical reports before 2018Areas with documented history · symbols enlarged for visibility

Each coloured circle marks a small study area
Its colour represents recorded history, not spill size or contamination. Zoom in to view the actual 300 m cells.

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