Soil cover refers to vegetation, including crops, and crop residues on the surface of the soil. Gas flaring is a common practice associated with oil and gas industry in Nigeria and has a cumulative effect on the greenness of vegetation. This study analyzes remotely sensed, imagery to reveal the effects of gas flaring over time on soil cover in Ibeno Local Government Akwa-Ibom State. A 4-date serial Landsat satellite were employed to characterize two absolute conditions in two locations with/ and non-gas flaring sites. Satellite images were properly treated and analysis unveils a significant decrease in green vegetation index through serial images especially on gas flaring site. While the poor green vegetation increased, indicating re-growth of vegetation after disturbance only at gas flaring site. The study therefore suggests that vegetation greenness index is a valid option to perform this kind of characterization in time.

Keywords: Vegetation Cover, Oil and Gas Industry, gas flaring, green vegetation, poor green vegetation, GIS