THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025
Consequences of Oil and Natural Gas Drilling
Published on Mar 18, 2025
By EMN
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- Oil and gas drilling contributes to climate change and threatens wildlife and communities —Margaret Williams, Managing Director, World Wildlife Fund-US.
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- Dr. Vikuosa Nienu
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- No nation can thrive without its natural resources; however, how they are procured to benefit society is a moot question. Our Creator has undoubtedly endowed the Naga country with rich and bountiful resources, but these are yet to be adequately researched. The absence of proper investigation and feasibility studies would amount to abusing its resources. Natural resources include oil (petroleum), natural gas, and minerals (plus forests, water, ocean, and sea), and randomly extracting them could jeopardise, if not destroy, the ultimate purpose, including damage to the natural environment and ecosystems. This heritage must be carefully thought out and well-planned to harness current needs and preserve them for future generations because fossil fuels are non-renewable. The situation in Nagaland poses greater risks beyond mere technicalities as the political disputes remain unsettled, including unresolved borders and boundaries. There are too many hurdles to ignore.
- While bringing development to the much-needed undeveloped areas such as Nagaland with proceeds from such projects is admirable, the realities are not as simple as one would assume. The idea might superficially appear tempting, even convincing, but it requires thoroughly examining the various factors involved in complex undertakings such as extracting oil and gas. Core issues include reservoir capacity, project cost, the percentage of the proceeds the society will benefit from, the stakeholders, and all other likely beneficiaries. Various other areas demand caution.
- Is there a consensus among all politically diverse groups (not just the State apparatus), and why not? Other considerations include (a) whether industry-related, well-trained, and experienced indigenous Nagas are involved in the actual operation of the project/s, at least in the upstream phase; (b) whether the Board and Committee Members overseeing the projects possess industry-related backgrounds; (c) whether a competitive bidding process for the project/(s) exists, if not, why not? And many others. Have all these issues been resolved? If so, are official documents readily available for review? We need facts.
- Oil and natural gas drilling is highly complex. Besides financial and technical constraints, permanent damage to the natural environment and ecological legacies is even more critical. The consequences of oil and natural gas extraction damaging ecosystems are not new. Countless stories worldwide of drilling mishaps and failures forewarn of soil, water, and air contamination damage, not to mention wildlife and human casualties.
- Oil/gas drilling requires elaborate infrastructures and extensive human activities, such as building roads, site preparation, equipment handling, and other paraphernalia (including pipelines if needed). The test-drilling portion alone poses grave dangers. Combined with full-scale operations, these jobs often become volatile, damaging pristine lands and wildlife habitats and introducing environmentally detrimental elements.
- Crude oil, liquid hydrocarbons, and combustible gases are transported from the trial sites to various destinations, such as multiple wells, testing facilities, treatment and production facilities, storage facilities, etc., through various transport mechanisms: tankers, fuel trucks, pipelines, etc. This short paper cannot adequately address all the associated drilling disasters, such as oil spills from blowouts, pipeline leaks or failures, or transporting accidents, which devastate wildlife and humans who depend on these ecosystems, including climate crises and instabilities. Severe impacts on humans and wildlife cannot be measured purely based on monetary values. Human or equipment mishaps are unavoidable in such projects, whether supervised or not. It is impossible to predict catastrophic events in such undertakings. Moreover, operating companies prioritise profits over environmental or ecological sustainability. Any hope of compensation for damages from corporate giants and crony capitalism is unrealistic.
- Fossil fuel drilling releases countless harmful pollutants into the air, known as “invisible killers," which cause respiratory, cardiovascular, and other diseases. It also discharges dangerous chemicals into the water, poisoning the water quality that humans and animals depend on for survival. Fossil fuel extraction disrupts tourism. Even without pipelines, busy roads, and drilling paraphernalia, it will hurt the local economy and the tourism industry. Have any vulnerability assessments and negative impacts on the various issues been conducted?
- Because economic growth and development through oil and gas extraction are based on speculation, extensive preliminary studies and preparations are essential, as none of these resources can be visually examined. There are countless negative impacts on the environmental and societal levels. Developmental programmes, including job creation, are too broad for accuracy or accountability; they cannot be guaranteed because of unpredictability. Regarding projected revenues, companies that operate the drilling receive the lion's share, followed by those that get what is anybody’s guess. A trickle-down share for development programmes can be risky. That’s the reality. Never forget the dictum: Politics is dirty.
- Understanding that ecologically and environmentally unsound projects seldom benefit society in the long run is critical. To avoid short-term gains, it is not only appropriate and prudent but mandatory to rigorously examine the potential benefits and damaging impacts of such projects. It is inadvisable to rush to enforce unsound projects. Ideally, we need local native experts who are well-trained in the industry and can oversee every aspect of the projects, from upstream to downstream and everything in between.
- While I am not an industry expert, I have some basic knowledge of the pros and cons of these types of projects. I was fortunate to participate in and observe the ONGC’s test drilling conducted in the 70s, the first in Nagaland when I served as the Investigator of Research posted at the Cultural Research & State Museum, now the Art & Museum. The indescribable mess and the haphazard trails they created indicate that their technicians were neither well-trained nor well-equipped. Reckless projects that will destroy the ecosphere’s intricate tapestry of interwoven life forms (biodiversity) must be seriously examined.
- Nagaland has a unique climate regime: tropical, subtropical, and temperate. Innumerable creepers, birds, especially hornbills whose feathers Nagas pride in reside on these treetops. Once destroyed, it will take not centuries but millennia to restore, if at all. Despite the best safety measures and emergency preparedness or contingencies, massive fire outbreaks from drilling accidents in forested hilly areas are too complicated and dangerous to contain against any eventuality. A lush green mountain that once teemed with wildlife is worthless when it is barren.
- Due to its importance, I want Nagas to know the discussions between the late President Phizo and myself. He suggested I find suitable companies for petroleum drilling and other projects. I responded that it is premature to undertake essential projects without appropriate committees and organisations to deliberate and oversee, but chiefly the political conundrum. We need accountability. I’m confident that Madame President Adinno Phizo still remembers because it was written correspondence between her father and me. My statement remains valid to this day.
- I will not hesitate to discuss the dangers of ecological and environmental aspects; I have the requisite background (education and experience). I have also served as the Napa County (USA) Wildlife Conservation Commissioner for eight years. I don’t need to beat my drum.
- India is capitalising on its messy colonial legacy, exacerbated by the Naga leaders’ shortsightedness, ill-conceived plans, and/or deceptive and misguided trust (or all the above), which led to the formation of the state. Furthermore, this was compounded by a disorganised and disintegrated movement for regaining sovereignty. It’s a total mess all around. Do not blame India alone. It is crucial to think carefully before launching any major projects.
- Nagaland's chaotic political problem (all-inclusive) is the main roadblock to any viable project. A stable political situation conducive to economic potential by adopting viable and progressive measures from natural resources, including carefully planned tourism, could usher in excellent economic growth and opportunities. As I have repeated in my previous articles published in the local newspapers, the first step is uniting all the Nagas. It is premature to talk about any settlements without unity. Unity translates to strength and power.
- It’s wise to define our priorities.
- Have you consulted or sought the advice of superpowers on crucial matters such as this? If so, were they presidents, prime ministers, governors, or your gods or goddesses? Jehovah, our Creator and Giver of all resources is the only authority that gives clear-cut direction if we seek His guidance!
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- Naga Hills is a naturalist’s paradise.
- It is of immeasurable importance that all sentient human beings should achieve a proper understanding of the dangers implicit in our present extravagant exploitation of natural resources — S. Dillon Ripley, Former Secretary Emeritus of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
- The famed ornithologist and wildlife conservationist, the late Dr. Ripley, led a scientific expedition to the then-Naga Hills in 1954 as an Associate Curator of Zoology at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University.
Nagaland Districts
