Bioremediation of Large Scale Batches – A Case Study of Treating Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils from Oil Fields of Kuwait

Vangala K, Aljumah K, AlFaresi F

Project Management Team, Kuwait Oil Company, Ahmadi, Kuwait.

Abstract:

The Kuwait desert was severely damaged by the detonation and destruction of oil wells and associated infrastructure at the hands of Iraqi troops during the 1990-1991 Gulf War (Nada et al, 2020). Most of the damages were from the aftermath of the burning of around 800 oil wells which were exploded. Subsequently, the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), established a program known as the Kuwait Environmental Remediation Program (KERP) to undertake comprehensive and collaborative remediation of the contaminated land that has an estimated volume in the region of 26 million m3 (Nada et al, 2020). This program is entrusted to Kuwait National Focal Point (KNFP) for its oversight and stakeholders for implementation.

This paper represents the complete overview of the process activities undertaken for the fifteen (15) large-scale batches with each batch weighing around 9000 Tons of contaminated soil treated through bioremediation. The deployed bioremediation process encompassed various stages, beginning with the screening and crushing of contaminated soil followed by weighing and placing at the Treatment Area Center (Ex-Situ). Post placing, the activities included baseline sampling, bioaugmentation using indigenous microbes, tilling and irrigation. The periodical progress sampling was undertaken to verify that each batch had undergone degradation of contamination and a final verification sample was taken when the batch was expected to achieve a Remediation Target Criteria (RTC) of less than 1% TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons). All results for each batch including soil quantities, baseline concentrations, verification values, field readings, amendment additions, tilling and irrigation, days to reach RTC info is provided in this paper.

Pages: 53 – 61 | Full PDF Paper