Doc Title: Limited Scope Site Characterization Report /
Project Management
Consultancy Services for
Kuwait Environmental Remediation Projects (KERP)
Contract 12050669
LIMITED SCOPE SITE CHARACTERIZATION REPORT
Issued for Information / S. Kalimuthu / N. Huyg / M.Lush / E.Fahnline / G. Connor
Rev / Date / Reason for Issue / Prepared by / Checked by / Approved by / Client
AMEC
Notes: / Category / Code / Description
Document Type / RPT / Limited Scope Site Characterization Report
Project No / Area / Disc / Document Type / Sequence No / Revision
Number of Sheets: / 77 / 050669 / 0000 / DA00 / RPT / 0001 / A1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION 7
1.1 Objectives 7
1.2 Scope of Work 8
1.3 Report Structure 8
2 PROJECT BACKGROUND 10
2.1 Site Contamination History 10
2.1.1 Wet Oil Lake Features 10
2.1.2 Dry Oil Lake Features 10
2.1.3 Tarcrete 11
2.1.4 Oil Contaminated Piles 11
2.2 Geology 11
3 Site Characterization Design and Scope 12
3.1 Site Characterization Design 12
3.2 Overview of Scope 12
3.2.1 UXO Support 12
3.2.2 Trial Pit Excavation 13
3.3 Sampling 15
3.4 Equipment Decontamination 17
3.5 Sample Analysis Summary 17
3.6 Quality Assurance 18
3.7 Surveying 19
3.8 Waste Handling 19
4 Health, safety, and environment 20
5 Discussion of findings 22
5.1 Introduction 22
5.2 Overview of Visual Observations 22
5.2.1 Layer 1 23
5.2.2 Layer 2 23
5.2.3 Layer 3 23
5.2.4 Tarcrete 24
5.3 Zoning 24
5.3.1 Zone 1 24
5.3.2 Zone 2 25
5.3.3 Zone 3 25
5.3.4 Zone 4 26
5.3.5 Zone 5 26
5.3.6 Zone 6 27
5.3.7 Zone 7 27
5.4 Review and Assessment of Data 28
5.4.1 Wet Oil Lakes 29
5.4.2 Dry Oil Lakes 38
5.4.3 Background 47
5.5 Comparison of data 50
5.5.1 Layer 1 50
5.5.2 Layer 2 51
5.6 Estimated Volume of Layer 2 material 68
5.7 Summary of Findings 70
6 Conclusions and recommendations 73
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Overview Greater Burgan Oilfield
Figure 2 Overview of Limited Scope by Sample Type
Figure 3a/b Limited Scope Sample by Feature Type
Figure 4a/b Limited Scope Samples: Layer 2 TPH (HEM) results
Figure 5 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 1
Figure 6 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 2
Figure 7 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 3
Figure 8 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 4
Figure 9 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 5
Figure 10 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 6
Figure 11 Limited Scope Samples: Zone 7
Figure 12a/b Limited Scope Samples: Samples Interpretation
APPENDIX
Appendix A: Figures and Drawings
Appendix B: Trial Pit Logs
Appendix C: Laboratory Analytical Data
Appendix D: Horizon UXO report
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
AFW / - / Amec Foster WheelerASARP / - / As Low As Reasonably Practicable
ATG / - / Analytical Test Group
BGL / - / Below Ground Level
BS&W / - / Basic Sediment and Water
CIC / - / Consortium of International Consultants
COC / - / Chain of Custody
Company / - / Kuwait Oil Company
DOL / - / Dry Oil Lake
DRO / - / Diesel Range Organics
EOD / - / Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EQS / - / Environmental Quality Standard
GC / - / Gathering Centre
GRO / - / Gasoline Range Organics
HHMD / - / Hand Held Metal Detector
HSE / - / Health, Safety, and Environment
ID / - / Identification Number
m / - / Meter
KEPA / - / Kuwait Environmental Public Authority
KERP / - / Kuwait Environmental Remediation Project
KOC / - / Kuwait Oil Company
LLMD / - / Large Loop Metal Detector
LOD / - / Limit of Detection
LSSC / - / Limited Scope Site Characterization
MACD / - / Mina Ahmadi Construction Datum
ODC / - / Other Direct Cost
PAH / - / Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon
PMC / - / Project Management Consultant
PPE / - / Personal Protective Equipment
PSD / - / Particle Size Distribution
PTB / - / Pounds per Thousand Barrels
QA / - / Quality Assurance
QAPP / - / Quality Assurance Project Plan
QC / - / Quality Control
RBA / - / Risk Based Approach
RRO / - / Residual Range Organics
SAP / - / Sampling and Analysis Plan
SAR / - / Sodium Absorption Ratio (Measurement of Salinity)
SEK / - / South and East Kuwait Oilfield
SOP / - / Standard Operating Procedures
TKN / - / Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
TPH / - / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
TPH –
CWG / - / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons –
Criteria Working Group
TPH –
HEM / - / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons –
Hexane Extractable Material
TPH –
SARA / - / Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons –
Saturates Aromatics Resins Asphaltines
UTM / - / Universal Transverse Mercator
UXO / - / Un-Exploded Ordnance
VOC / - / Volatile Organic Compound
WOL / - / Wet Oil Lake
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
As a precursor to the main Site Soil Characterization, the Limited Scope Site Characterization (LSSC) was designed to obtain information to assist the Phase I Remediation Project, and to provide more detailed understanding of the contamination profile for the Risk Based Approach to remediation. As such the LSSC looked at the contamination constituents, depth profile and extent of Dry Oil Lakes and transition areas between Wet and Dry Oil Lakes within an area of the South and East Kuwait Greater Burgan Oilfield.
The field work consisted of:
· Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) anomaly avoidance;
· 218 hand dug trial pits; and
· Collection and laboratory analysis of 251 samples from multiple depths per trial pit.
Findings
The LSSC used the same layering classification of the contamination as the Consortium of International Consultants (CIC):
Layer 1: For the Dry Oil Lakes this surface layer comprised a soft to hard and often brittle crust. Within the transition zone with Wet Oil Lakes, this surface layer can be soft and plastic/rubbery in consistency. These properties can change depending on the season, a hard surface in the winter can become softer in the heat of the summer. This means that a feature can be classed as a wet oil lake in the summer but becomes dry in the winter. This need to be considered when classifying the features.
Laboratory results show the Wet and Dry Oil Lake Layer 1 material Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons – hexane extraction (TPH (HEM)) ranges between 7 – 17 % TPH (where 1% equals 10,000mg/kg). The TPH - Saturates Aromatics Resins Asphaltines (SARA) typical range between 10 – 40 % TPH. The TPH - Criteria Working Group (CWG) shows that the majority of the TPH are the higher carbon chain lengths EC35 to EC90.
The discrepancy between the TPH HEM and SARA results is likely due to the two different extraction methods used by the laboratory. The HEM method is not as efficient in extracting the longer carbon chain lengths which the TPH CWG confirm are present.
Layer 2: This layer comprised oil contaminated sand that is visibly stained. Generally it was found that the darker brown/black the colour the higher the TPH concentrations.
Laboratory results show the Wet and Dry Oil Lake Layer 2 material TPH (HEM) ranges between 0.2 – 9 % TPH. The TPH (SARA) typical range between 0.4 – 13 % TPH. The TPH (CWG) shows that the majority of the TPH are the higher carbon chain lengths EC35 to EC90.
Layer 3: This layer comprised sands with no visual evidence of contamination. The trial pits dug for the LSSC show that there is a sharp visual boundary between Layer 2 and 3. There is a high correlation between lack of visual staining and low (<0.5%) hydrocarbon concentrations.
Laboratory results show the Layer 3 material TPH (HEM) ranges between 0.01 – 0.5 % TPH. The TPH (SARA) typical range between 0.01 – 0.33 % TPH. The TPH (CWG) shows that the majority of the TPH are the higher carbon chain lengths EC35 to EC90.
A comparison of the TPH (HEM) analytical results from the CIC and LSSC investigations suggest that the TPH values are comparable, with samples taken in the same vicinity (and layer) being of the same order of magnitude. Differences in the results from the two investigations is likely to be from the inherent variability of contaminated sites. It should also be noted the CIC investigation’s analysis of Layer 2 was just TPH – HEM which, as stated above, under reports the higher carbon chain lengths.
It is important to note that areas designated in the CIC report as Dry Oil Lakes, upon investigation under the LSSC were Tarcrete. This demonstrates the innate variance in ground conditions across the oilfield and supports the requirement for further more detailed characterization.
Zoning
Based on the analytical data and thickness of the Layer 2 materials (identified for remediation under Phase 1) from the LSSC and CIC investigations, 7 zones were defined to assist in identifying areas suitable for different remediation strategies.
Zone / Approximate Area (m²) / Estimated Volume of Wet Oil Lake Layer 2(m³) / Estimated Volume of Dry Oil Lake Layer 2
(m³) / Range of TPH (HEM) Layer 2 (%)
Zone 1 / 950,000 / 67,620 / 290,250 / 0.8 – 7.0
Zone 2 / 312,000 / 0 / 116,760 / 0.9 – 3.2
Zone 3 / 750,000 / 73,500 / 176,940 / 0.3 – 7.4
Zone 4 / 585,000 / 3,920 / 157,950 / 0.1 – 3.8
Zone 5a / 155,000 / 31,850 / 355,570 / 0.2 – 6.7
Zone 5b / 505,000 / 8,820 / 106,900
Zone 6 / 345,000 / 39,890 / 251,100 / 0.2 – 6.7
Zone 7 / 680,000 / 67,620 / 290,250 / 0.3 – 7.9
Zones 2 and 7 were identified as areas suitable for remediation as part of phase 1.
Zone 2 has been identified as suitable for Phase 1 remediation due to the ease of access of Layer 2 materials. Across the vast majority of Zone 2, the Layer 1 (crust) ranges from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in thickness. The crust is a hardened but friable dry oil lake crust. The contamination identified in Layer 2 is typically in the range of 2.0-2.5% TPH of 0.3m thickness. This area is estimated to generate in the region of 100,000m³ of material suitable for remediation.
By contrast, Zone 7 forms a large expanse in a topographic depression of dry oil lake intermingled with occasional small (<1000m2) and medium (>10,000m2) shallow wet oil lake features. The crust can therefore vary between a thin hardened crust through to a moist heavy sludge. However, the underlying Layer 2 contaminated sands range in thickness from 0.2m to greater than 1.2m, providing a substantial volume of material for remediation, in the region of 250,000m3. This Layer 2 material typically has a concentration in the range of 1.5 to 2% TPH.
1 Jun 15 / Page 8 of 78Doc No. 050669-0000-DA00-RPT-0001, Rev. A1
Doc Title: Limited Scope Site Characterization Report /
1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents the activities and findings of the Limited Scope Site Characterization (LSSC) carried out on behalf of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) by Amec Foster Wheeler (AFW or PMC). As part of the Kuwait Environmental Remediation Project (KERP), KOC is undertaking remedial activities on the legacy of oil contamination generated as a result of the Gulf War. The remedial strategy incorporates five main components, including risk based analysis, bioremediation, other treatment technologies, recovery/reuse and landfilling. This work was performed under Other Direct Costs (ODCs) 016 (for UXO support) and 017 (for environmental analytical laboratory services).
The aim of the remedial strategy is to reduce the number of landfills by developing appropriate alternatives to treat, recover or reuse contaminated materials. The purpose of the LSSC was to gather updated oil contaminated soil data to further inform the overarching remedial strategy. A limited scope site characterization (ground investigation) was designed following completion of a data gap analysis. A designated area, at South and East Kuwait Greater Burgan Oilfield (SEK), herein referred to as the Investigation Area, was targeted due to the extent of differing types of oil contamination present. The Investigation Area within the Greater Burgan Oilfield is shown in Figure 1 (Appendix A).
Site characterization was carried out according to the LSSC Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) in the period of 16th November 2014 to 3rd December 2014 by PMC with UXO support provided by Horizon Assignments (India). Laboratory analysis of soil samples was performed by SGS Jubail Environmental.
1.1 Objectives
The objectives for the LSSC were to:
· Update understanding of contamination profile and comparative assessment with historical data;
· Confirmation of presence and boundaries of dry oil lake features;
· Undertake specific testing suitable to inform risk assessment to support the Risk Based Approach (RBA); and
· Characterize soils suitable for remediation treatment and identify areas and indicative volumes within South and East Greater Burgan oilfield suitable for SEK Remediation Phase 1.
1.2 Scope of Work
The scope of work for the LSSC work involved the following:
1. UXO anomaly avoidance survey to ensure safe pedestrian access from oilfield gatch roads to sampling locations;
2. UXO anomaly avoidance support during sampling activities;
3. Excavation of soil sampling trial pits;
4. Logging the ground conditions encountered at all trial pits, including photographic record;
5. Collection of soil samples and where available, sludge samples, from the planned locations, with applicable chain of custody as per the laboratory QA/QC procedures; and