Multi-criteria evaluation technique for SFI site identification of NORMS and oil industry waste disposal - Possibilities in Kuwait

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.08.004 Byline: Saif Ud din (a), R.P. Oskui (a), Maurice B. Dusseault (b), A.N. Al Ghadban (a) Abstract: Waste generation and accumulating quantities of oil field waste are a matter of environmental concern. This study proposes the Slurry Fracture Injection (SFI) technique as an alternative waste disposal method. The slurried solids injection waste disposal method is environmentally secure and permanent, leaving no future liabilities that must be risk-evaluated or priced. An entire waste stream comprising ground solids and waste water can be injected into deep and hydraulically secure target strata with no contamination of potable water-bearing formations or formations outside the target zone that may contain resources (gas and oil). The slurry injection method can be used to clean and reclaim landfills, oil pits and granular waste dumps. This article proposes a two-tier screening method for evaluating the feasibility of this technique and the identification of suitable target zones. A stringent environmental and process control monitoring program should complement the planning and operational period to ensure environmental protection, waste containment, and regulatory HSE compliance. Author Affiliation: (a) Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Environment Sciences Department, P.O. Box. 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait (b) Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, ESC 357C, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada Article History: Received 7 January 2009; Revised 16 July 2009; Accepted 5 August 2009