Physical properties of soils contaminated by oil lakes, Kuwait

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529609376440· OSTI ID:381803

Mohammad, A S ^[1]; Wahba, S A; Al-Khatieb, S O ^[2]

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1. Kuwait Univ., Safat (Kuwait)
2. Arabian Gulf Univ. (Bahrain)

In preparation for a marine assault by the coalition forces, the Iraqi Army heavily mined Kuwait`s coastal zone and the oil fields. Over a million mines were placed on the Kuwait soil. Burning of 732 oil wells in the State of Kuwait due to the Iraqi invasion caused damages which had direct and indirect effect on environment. A total of 20-22 million barrels of spilled crude oil were collected in natural desert depressions and drainage network which formed more than 300 oil lakes. The total area covered with oil reached 49 km{sup 2}. More than 375 trenches revealed the existence of hard, massive caliche (CaCO{sub 3}) subsoil which prevent leached oil from reaching deeper horizons, and limited the maximum depth of penetration to 1.75 m. Total volume of soil contaminated reached 22,652,500 m{sup 3} is still causing environmental problems and needs an urgent cleaning and rehabilitation. Kuwait Oil Company has recovered approximately 21 million barrels from the oil lakes since the liberation of Kuwait. In our examined representative soil profiles the oil penetration was not deeper than 45 cm. Infiltration rate, soil permeability, grain size distribution, aggregates formation and water holding capacity were assessed. 15 refs., 5 figs., 5 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 381803
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 31; ISSN 0360-1226; ISSN JESEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CONTAMINATION
KUWAIT
LAKES
LAND POLLUTION
MATERIALS RECOVERY
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOILS