Analysis and improvement possibilities of waste management at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC)

Abstract

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), is involved in exploration, drilling and the production of oil and gas. The issue of waste management in KOC represents a more in-depth account of the field and covers conceptual analyses of different types of waste streams (solid, liquid, and sludge), the activity upon waste, and a holistic view of the goals of waste management. The increasing amount of waste generated, which is exacerbated by a lack of proper waste management, is of growing concern worldwide and in the main cities in developing countries due to its social, economic and environmental implications. Waste management practices are founded on the expectation that waste management is to prevent waste causing harm to human health and the environment. KOC always ensures that the generated waste be managed effectively in compliance with applicable regulations of Kuwait Environment Public Authority and KOC HSE management system (HSEMS) procedures implemented for KOC facilities. Also, KOC plays an active role in facing the adverse effects of waste through the implementation of many of the services and development new projects in the areas of collection and recycling, waste treatment and by focusing on the development of long-term waste management strategy for all over the company areas. This study was conducted to analysis and improvement possibilities on waste management at KOC. In addition, in this paper we will discuss various processes used in KOC areas indicating how waste is being managed.

Comparative Analysis of Produced Water Collected from Different Oil Gathering Centers in Kuwait

“…In Kuwait, the poor management of industrial wastewater, including effluent produced water, has become an environmental problem [22], which is why Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA) and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) have developed guidelines for waste disposal in safe and protected locations in compliance with all regulations [23]. Kuwait Oil Company has adopted a waste minimization initiative in which the main goal is to eliminate or reduce waste at the source and avoid waste creation, rather than managing waste after it has been generated [23]. Effluent produced water is the main waste problem facing the oil company, and it can be alleviated by following the waste minimization guidelines put forward by KOC [24].…”

A review of the valorization and management of industrial spent catalyst waste in the context of sustainable practice: The case of the State of Kuwait in parallel to European industry

“…expired chemicals (Alhumoud and Al-Kandari, 2008;Al-Qallaf et al, 2016). Petroleum refining is considered to be the most significant pillar of the economy, due to Kuwait's oil-based and gas-based industry.…”

“…In WM, one of the main classifications is identifying the waste regarding to its harshness to fall either under the hazardous or non-hazardous categories. On an annual basis, HW formulates 18.86% of the total production of IW generated in Kuwait (≈ 8,895 metric tonnes), including heavy oil sludge, asbestos and expired chemicals (Alhumoud and Al-Kandari, 2008; Al-Qallaf et al, 2016).…”