Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix - Assignment Example

During phase of the KISR/PEC project, the necessary advancement in technologies was chosen for treating the oil slit and the soil affected by the oil spillage. There were three categories for the technologies to be in use for the project, in situ, ex situ and excavation and off-site disposal. For the project to be effective, technologies that were better in working extensively were under highlight from the Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference guide. The guides were under publication through the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (EPA 542-B-93-005; 1993). However, in order to avoid having defective technologies in the project, all necessary information about them were put together and the information was from EPA database. Some of the databases that were under screening include ATTIC (Alternative Treatment Technology Information) It is one of the databases in develop by the EPA, US, in the 1993. The database holds relevant information in relation to the treatment of dangerous waste materials as well as treatment means for the wastes. The information is in file by title, name of the writer, contamination material and the type of advancement technologies in use for the correction of the waste materials. VISITT(Vendor Information System for Innovative Treatment Technologies) The system was under development by the Technology Innovative office of the EPA and was developed in 1993. The database contains 230 files in collection that is for over 140 entries of enterprises. The purpose of the database was to get the best means of technologies for the project and spot the most effective technology for testing the tragedy in Kuwait. Through the development and use of the databases, appropriate conclusions come about in relation to the best means for rectifying the oil slit and soil damage which includes following methods i. Bioremediation (soil) ii. Solvent extraction (oil slit, soil) iii. Thermal treatment (soil, oil slit) iv. Washing (soil) All appropriate technologies to be in use were put under extensive evaluation resulting to the selection of the best and appropriate technologies to be put in use in demonstrating conditions in Kuwait. The considered issues in selecting the technology to be in use included a. Most cost effective technology b. Technology effects on the environment c. Suitability of the technology in the Kuwait’s changes in weather and economic factors d. KISR’s experience from previous project The issues brought about the conclusion of the best technologies to be use which were Use of bioremediation for the oil-contaminated soil Physical treatment for the oil slit and oil recovery OIL LAKE SRVEY Study and comparison of the oil lake survey by Kuwait Oil Company data (KOC) and study from the KISR took place to determine the extensiveness of the remaining contamination to help in developing most appropriate means to eliminate the problem. The KOC had area specifications to cover which includes the Ahmadi, Bahra, Burgan, Magwa, Minagish, Raudhatain, Sabriya, Umm Gudair and Wafra oil fields. KOC had the obligation to determining the volume of contaminated area and materials in each lake. In figure 2 there is the estimation area for all the contaminated regions. The total land estimation to be in contamination that was in the report was 34 square kilometers. In terms of volume, 32 million cubic meters was in contamination out of 5.5 million cubic meters of oily slit as shown in table 3. KOC provides a report on the survey describing the lakes in the oil fields on the following: Northern oil fields The field contains three unique oil regions that are the Bahra, Raudhatain, and the Sabriya oil fields. The geographical location of the Bahra is on a tidal region containing substantial ordinance amount at hand. In the same region of Bahra, there are four oil regions covering a significant area of 74 hectares and the soil contamination covers 606,400 cubic meters with oil slit occupying 148,000 cubic meters. There is only one source of fresh water in Kuwait that is the Raudhatain, however, there is an estimation are of 1363515 cubic meters of contaminated soil and 418348 cubic meters of oil slit in Raudhatain . Sabriya contains no wells but fresh groundwater aquifers exist which is for later development in water projects. There is twenty six oil lakes and 81 pits of contamination soil and oil slit in clearance from the other oil lakes in Sabriya. The estimation of the contaminated soil in Sabriya was 2,910000 cubic meters and 918,000 cubic meters of oil slit. Southern oil fields Six different oil fields in the southern oil region are the Ahmadi, Burgan, Magwa, Minagish, Umm Gudair, and Wafra. The remarkable issue on the first three oil fields is that when in combination, they provide the second biggest oil fields in the world and is the greater Burgan Oil field. The report indicates that the oil lakes in Ahmadi and Magwa add up to 59 lakes covering an area of 225 ha with 1,110,050 cubic meters soil with contamination and 2950,000 cubic meters of oil slit. On the boarder of Saudi Arabia, the Minagish, Umm Gudair and Wafra are in situation. Minagish has 14 oil lakes in report occupying 49 ha, 221000 cubic meters of contaminated soil and 51,000 cubic meters of oil slit. On the other hand, 31 oil lakes are in the report to be in Umm Gudair occupying 58 ha with 242,000 cubic meters of soil contamination and oil slit covers 58,000 cubic meters of oil slit. Considering in Wafra, 30 oil lakes are in report covering 302 ha. 2,043,000 cubic meters of soil contamination and 405,000 cubic meters of oil slit. no. of lakes area(m2) volume(m3) area(m2) volume(m3) volume(m3) total(%) Oil fields Ahmadi & 59 2,244,500 1,110,050 2,212,0000 510,750 1,620,800 7.4 magwa Burgan 204 16,033,000 7950450 15471000 2950350 10900800 49.8 Umm gudar 31 576160 241686 576160 57616 299302 1.4 Minagish 14 489000 221170 489000 50900 272070 1.2 Wafra 30 3017000 2043090 3017000 405200 2448290 11.2 Northern Oil field Raudhtain 63 3977576 1363515 3895176 418348 1781863 8.1 Bahra 4 740000 606400 740000 148000 754400 3.4 sabriya 109 6746500 2909697 6741500 918420 3828117 17.5 total 514 33823736 16446058 33141836 5459584 21905642 100.0 PLATE 1. Burgan Oil Field after the war 1990 showing the oil lakes above figure Prioritization of Oil Lake Bed Remediation Several factors were in consideration for passing the remediation prioritization to enhance an informed decision (Table 4). There were major contributors to the lake oil slit correction that were the Human health and groundwater protection overseeing the best means of rectifying the oil slit. The oil slit rectification requires urgent action for instance in the northern region that would help in protecting the fresh groundwater resources. Analysis indicates that the urgency of oil-slit remedy in the northern region is greater than in Burgan despite Burgan having the largest oil slit. In Burgan, all lake beds particularly near the city of Ahmadi and in working areas such as public sectors poses a threat to the welfare of the people. However, the lakes should have immediate response on oil slit remedy as of any other region in contamination. During the analysis of the affected regions, the map data for the southern oil fields were not available hence, no prioritization of the region but until available data come along. In addition, Bahra lake report is not clear remaining in the same category as the southern fields. Table 5 provides the summary of all lakes that were in prioritization. According to the KISR/PEC project results from the work in accomplishment on Oil Lake #102, 30% of the soil in contamination from oil lakebed was put into moderate contamination category (2-5% TPH), on the other hand, 70% was featured as light soil contamination ( Read More