Use of Remote Sensing for Monitoring Pipeline Rights-of-Way in the Niger Delta

Maintaining clear and monitored rights-of-way along oil and gas pipelines is critical for operational safety and environmental protection in the Niger Delta. This study evaluates the use of remote sensing imagery for detecting encroachments and vegetation encroachment within pipeline right-of-way corridors in Rivers State. Sentinel-2 imagery acquired at quarterly intervals over a 24-month period is processed to produce vegetation density and land use maps along a 120-kilometre pipeline segment. Change detection analysis identifies areas where settlement expansion, farming activity, or vegetation regrowth has encroached on the 30-metre safety corridor. The study develops a monitoring protocol that integrates automated NDVI thresholding with manual interpretation to minimise false detection rates. Results reveal 14 encroachment events during the monitoring period, four of which involved direct construction activity within the pipeline safety zone. The protocol is designed to complement drone-based patrol systems currently in use by pipeline operators. Findings are relevant to the Shell Petroleum Development Company, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and the Nigeria Pipeline and Storage Company. Keywords: pipeline monitoring, remote sensing, Niger Delta, right-of-way, change detection