The dynamics of the oil industry in shaping land uses: a case study of the Zubair oil field

Abstract

The emergence of oil fields and subsequent changes in adjacent land use are known to affect settlements and communities. Everywhere the industry emerges, there is little understanding about the impact of oil fields on land use in the surrounding areas. The oil industry in Iraq is one of the most important industries and is almost the main industry in the Iraqi economic sector, and it is very clear that this industry is spread over large areas, and at the same time adjoins with population communities linked to it developmentally.

The rapid development and expansion of oil extraction activities in various regions has led to many challenges related to land-use planning and management. Here, the problem of research  arises on the  increase in waste of land use in favor of oil projects, which leads to spatial, environmental, social and economic imbalances that threaten the sustainability of land resources. Based on this problem, the aim of the research was to  analyze the current land uses in the Zubair oil field, and  to highlight the absence of planning principles and evaluation of various impacts.

The research has hypothesized that the application of comprehensive spatial planning principles can effectively manage the spatial,  environmental, economic and social impacts  arising from oilfield activities.

 This hypothesis was tested through a detailed descriptive analytical approach, using remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) software.

 The integration of these tools facilitates the analysis and visualization of spatial data, enabling the classification of satellite imagery and the mapping of different land cover and land-use categories.

The importance of research lies in highlighting  the role of spatial planning and the need to apply it in industrial projects such as the oil industry to ensure coordination between industry returns and impacts.

The results of the research confirmed the lack of a coherent plan in land use within the study area,This led to competition for land occupation between different uses, which generated imbalances and inefficiencies. Furthermore, the expansion of oil-related activities raises significant environmental concerns, necessitating an examination of spatial impacts.

The research concludes with recommendations, the most important of which are the development of clear land use plans, stakeholder cooperation, continuous monitoring through GIS applications, the development of regulations for spatial signatures of projects, and adherence to sustainability standards in land use.