Over the course of the large soil remediation project execution in Kuwait, technical difficulties encountered in treatment of contaminated soils mainly due to presence of fines content in Oil fields of Burgan. This paper investigated the fine particles encountered within the contaminated soils and the potential impacts these had on the remediation process. The key findings from the investigation are :

Particle Size Distribution was not part of the data collection and only drawn up on the published information.

Whilst there was some correlation between the published data and that encountered in the results of sampling taken during the remediation project, it was typically found that the published data indicated higher sand and clay contents from those encountered in the field. Also difference in geology of the soils spotted between contaminated soils present in Burgan field with better sorted soils in another part of the country where published data was taken.

The fine particles impact on the treatment technologies differed depending on the configurations of the plants and the technology. Soil washing was found to be more sensitive than thermal treatments.

The investigations led to the change in future strategy and the need to incorporate detailed data focusing on geophysical nature of the soils and also providing samples enabling greater understanding of materials prior design of remediation.

Primary Author / Conference Presenter:
Krishna Vangala
Sr. Environmental Engineer
Kuwait Oil Company
Ahmadi, Ahmadi, Kuwait

Co-Authors:
Mansour Al-Khareji, Kuwait Oil Company
Khalid Al-Ahmad, Kuwait Oil Company