Kuwait Environmental Remediation Program (KERP): Remediation Demonstration Strategy

Dhari Al-Gharabally, Aisha-Al-Barood

Abstract: Kuwait had 114 square kilometers of its desert severely damaged by 798 detonated oil wells at the hands of Iraqi Troops. Crude oil gushed from the damaged oil wells, forming lakes that contaminated over 40 km2 of the land. Consequently, wet and dry oil lakes were created in low-lying areas of the desert and contaminated soil piles were generated during the recovery phase to stop the spread of oil. Contaminated land desert altered soil properties, which caused the deaths of plants (e.g. biota) and animals; and penetrated deeper into the soil layers and threatening pollution of precious groundwater resources. The United Nation Compensation Commission (UNCC), Kuwait National Focal Point (KNFP), and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) cooperated in a joint project to undertake comprehensive efforts to remediate the approximate 26 million cubic meters of heavily oil contaminated soils. Demonstration remediation technologies are sought as viable solutions to develop suitable action plans for remediating the heavily oil contamination soil. The objective of this field demonstration study is to determine the viability, applicability and effectiveness of proven remediation technologies in treating oil contaminated soil. This project will be implemented within selected sites in the KOC’s operational oil fields in South-East Kuwait (SEK) to remediate of three features (i.e. wet, dry oil lakes and oil contaminated piles). A successful remediation technologies demonstration project will be a key indicator for developing soil remediation strategy plans for full-scale implementation in SEK and other eligible areas.

Keywords: Demonstration strategy, oil lakes, oil contaminated soil, remediation technologies, total petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH).

Pages: 289 – 296 | Full PDF Paper