The Effect of Oil and Gas Activities on Pipeline Vandalism: The Perspectives of Professional Operators

This chapter starts by exploring pipeline insecurity and vandalism in more depth. It explores the impact pipeline operation and vandalism have had on Bayelsa and its local communities through the lens of 20 industry professionals such as regulators, operators, security officials, and civil society organisations interviewed as part of this research project. The findings shed light on the underlying socio-economic, political, and environmental issues raised by the professional participants. 10 of the participants were drawn from the oil and gas sector and included company representatives, but also industry regulators. The other 10 participants are senior military and security officials working in the Joint Military Task Force in Bayelsa. More details about each of the participants can be found in Appendix D. Many of the issues raised in the interviews were also identified in the literature in earlier chapters (see Chapters 2 , 3 , and 4 ). As outlined in previous Chapters, participants were also asked about potential solutions. These solutions are explored towards the end of the book. As outlined in the methods chapter, critical discourse analysis continues to be used in this chapter. My interpretation of the conflicting narrative of the social events was informed by the way respondents narrated their experiences to me. A deeper analysis of various interpretations influenced the meanings I ascribed to the events of oil and gas pipeline vandalism and infrastructure insecurity in the Bayelsa-Nembe case study area.