Niger Delta – Oil Companies

Black Gold

Black Gold
Ed Kashi

Since oil was discovered in the Niger Delta in 1956, over 400 billion dollars worth has been pumped out of these fertile grounds. The Delta, the third largest wetland in the world, has become the main source of foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria yet it remains the least developed area of the country. These images document daily life along the Niger Delta, its inhabitants and the conditions in which they live.

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  • Aerial view of Bonny Island NLNG (Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas) terminal. 

    This terminal is the largest of its kind in the Delta and is owned by a consortium of Shell, Exxon Mobil, Total of France, and Agip of Italy. Displaced to make room for this facility, the local village of Finima lies across the lagoon but none of the inhabitants work in the plant.

  • At a Total gas drilling installation in Rivers State, a Chinese contractor, ZPED, works with Nigerians and the French company to drill for gas. 

    This field is part of the only onshore oil exploitation that Total has in the Niger Delta. Total started here in 1968 and this is the 125th well they have drilled. The Chinese have started to make inroads in the delta and this is an indication of that.

  • At a Total gas drilling installation in Rivers State, a Chinese contractor, ZPED, works with Nigerians and the French company to drill for gas. 

    This field is part of the only onshore oil exploitation that Total has in the Niger Delta. Total started here in 1968 and this is the 125th well they have drilled. The Chinese have started to make inroads in the delta and this is an indication of that.

  • Workers at a gas drilling installation for Total gas company in Rivers State. The lush jungle of the Delta lies untouched in the background.

    Workers at a gas drilling installation for Total gas company in Rivers State. The lush jungle of the Delta lies untouched in the background.

  • Owned by Total of France, the Amenam Kpono oil platform emerges from the Atlantic Ocean off the Niger Delta coast.

    Owned by Total of France, the Amenam Kpono oil platform emerges from the Atlantic Ocean off the Niger Delta coast.

  • Nigerian workers on the oil-drilling platform Baltic, which is about 25 miles offshore from the Niger Delta. It is owned and operated by Total.

    Nigerian workers on the oil-drilling platform Baltic, which is about 25 miles offshore from the Niger Delta. It is owned and operated by Total.

  • Nigerian and expat oil workers monitor conditions from the control center of the Amenam Kpono oil platform off the Niger Delta in the Atlantic Ocean. 

    This platform produces 125,000 barrels of oil a day for Total of France, and although it employs approximately 90% Nigerians, few of them are from the Niger Delta.

  • Total gas workers set up a gas drilling installation in Rivers State.

    Total gas workers set up a gas drilling installation in Rivers State.

  • Employees work together to set up an oil drilling well for Total gas.

    Employees work together to set up an oil drilling well for Total gas.

  • A view of the Total gas-drilling site in Rivers State. A Chinese contractor, ZPED, works with Nigerians and the French company to drill for gas. 

    This field is part of the only onshore oil exploitation that Total has in the Niger Delta.

  • Total gas employees work on site at an oil drilling installation in Rivers State.

    Total gas employees work on site at an oil drilling installation in Rivers State.

  • Felix Ozogbuda, 37, is a Niger Delta man who is a "roustabout" worker, which means he does all kinds of work on the rig.

    Felix Ozogbuda, 37, is a Niger Delta man who is a "roustabout" worker, which means he does all kinds of work on the rig.

  • An overhead view of a Total gas drilling installation site in Rivers State. Employees prepare the drilling pipes.

    An overhead view of a Total gas drilling installation site in Rivers State. Employees prepare the drilling pipes.

  • On board the FSO Unity (Floating Storage and Offloading) vessel, owned by Total of France. 

    This vessel can store up to 2.4 million barrels of oil.  Here the safety video is shown to new arrivals.

  • Aerial view of Total's Amenam Kpono oil platform, which produces 125,000 barrels of oil a day. 

    This platform is 25 miles off the coast of Nigeria in the Atlantic ocean.
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Niger Delta – Oil Companies

The industrial side of oil drilling is depicted in these images. Corporate well drilling and installation from companies like Total of France set up in the Niger Delta.

Niger Delta – Oil Companies
Artist/Author: Ed Kashi

The industrial side of oil drilling is depicted in these images. Corporate well drilling and installation from companies like Total of France set up in the Niger Delta.