<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">JEP</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Environmental Protection</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2152-2197</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/jep.2018.96046</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">JEP-85066</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Comparative Analysis of Produced Water Collected from Different Oil Gathering Centers in Kuwait
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Khaled</surname><given-names>AlAnezi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Meshal</surname><given-names>Al-Samhan</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Mohamed</surname><given-names>Belkharchouche</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Waleed</surname><given-names>Abuhaimed</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Sabah</surname><given-names>Alali</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Khalaf</surname><given-names>Alenizi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Abdulqader</surname><given-names>Alfuraij</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Petroleum Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, Kuwait</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Chemical Engineering Technology Department, College of Technological Studies (CTS), Kuwait City, Kuwait</addr-line></aff><author-notes><corresp id="cor1">* E-mail:<email>km.alanezi@paaet.edu.kw(KA)</email>;</corresp></author-notes><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>31</day><month>05</month><year>2018</year></pub-date><volume>09</volume><issue>06</issue><fpage>736</fpage><lpage>750</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>14,</day>	<month>March</month>	<year>2018</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>28,</day>	<month>May</month>	<year>2018</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>31,</day>	<month>May</month>	<year>2018</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Kuwait is one of the major oil-producing countries, with an estimated oil production of around three million barrels/day. Increased oil production has resulted in the production of large amounts of produced water, which is a major problem for Kuwait Oil Company. Kuwait Oil Company generates large amounts of produced water daily and thus deserves special attention. A study of the characteristics of the produced water will determine how it can be treated and later used for irrigation or disposed without harming the environment. In this paper, samples of produced water from different oilfields in Kuwait were collected, and physiochemical analyses were carried out. The salt content, TDS and other physical characteristics of the Kuwait produced water samples were compared with those of other produced water samples from different oil-producing countries.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Produced Water Characterization</kwd><kwd> Oil Production</kwd><kwd> Environment and Water Management</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) handles the production and export of oil and gas from the various oilfields in the state of Kuwait. The Kuwaiti oilfields can be sectioned into four main areas―North Field, West Field, South and East Field―which are locally administered at the site headquarters. Operating KOC oilfields originally housed 26 Gathering Centers (GCs) before the invasion of the country by Iraq in 1990. Currently, twenty-two GCs are operational, and each receives crude oil from approximately 30 wells located in the producing oilfields [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref1">1</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref2">2</xref>] . The GCs oversee an essential process used for crude oil production, i.e., stabilization of the oil by a multi-stage stabilization process. In the stabilization process, gas and water are separated from the crude so that the crude oil meets the quality required for downstream operations.</p><p>Kuwait is facing the same two-headed problem that is facing the whole world of dealing with the increased amount of produced water, as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>. The steadily increasing water production in Kuwait oilfields is related to maturing oilfields. On average, Kuwait oil fields are approximately 40% water, and thus, KOC produces close to 2 million bbl/day of water compared to 3 million bbl/day of oil [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref3">3</xref>] .</p><p>Additionally, the executive chairman of Kuwait Oil Company has predicted that water production will reach 7 million bbl/day by 2025 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref4">4</xref>] . The produced water should be handled carefully to meet environmental regulations and standards for disposal and handling. The disposal of produced water may one day restrict oil production, which is why KOC is working to complete a study to evaluate all produced water management options, so that handling produced water will not have any effects on oil production.</p><p>Normally, oil, gas and water exist at equilibrium in hydrocarbon reservoirs; a small proportion of hydrocarbons will dissolve in the water as a result of their inherent solubility. Therefore, it is very difficult to produce hydrocarbons from the reservoir without producing water, which is naturally present in these hydrocarbon reservoirs. Natural water present in oil and gas formations can be a source of produced water [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref5">5</xref>] .</p><p>Water injection, water flooding or steam flooding operations are other sources of produced water, and these operations are frequently used to increase oil production from hydrocarbon formations. Additionally, water may infiltrate from</p><p>non-hydrocarbon layers into adjacent hydrocarbon reservoirs, which can then be drawn to the surface as produced water [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref6">6</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref7">7</xref>] . Additionally, it is worth mentioning that a small amount of light aromatic hydrocarbons and suspended oil droplets will be dissolved in the produced water drawn to the surface. The first stages of processing are an essential part of oil processing and include the stage in which water is separated from hydrocarbons [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref9">9</xref>] .</p><p>It is well documented that many factors, such as the geographic location of the field, the geologic formation from which the water was produced, and the type of hydrocarbon product being produced, influence the physical and chemical properties of the produced water. In some hydrocarbon reservoirs where water flooding and steam flooding is used to increase hydrocarbon production, it was noticed the properties and volume of the produced water may change drastically as a result of water injection into the hydrocarbon formation [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref3">3</xref>] .</p><p>As the main constituents in produced water are already known, the following characteristics should be analyzed and measured: salt, oil and grease content; toxic inorganic and organic compounds; and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).</p><p>The salt content in produced water is an important matter of concern in the oil production sector because the salinity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of the produced water can be higher than the salinity and TDS of seawater, as shown in a previous study [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref10">10</xref>] . The authors found that the TDS concentration of produced water in the western United States is between 1000 mg/L and 400,000 mg/L, but the average TDS concentration of produced water from most formations was less than 100,000 mg/L. Additionally, in the same study [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref10">10</xref>] covering produced water in the western United States, the produced water, oil and grease content was found to be in the range of 40 mg/L to 2,000 mg/L.</p><p>The properties and composition of contaminants in produced water vary considerably in different geological formations; therefore, in this study, produced water samples from various oilfields in Kuwait were analyzed to determine their physical properties and dissolved substances, which are useful in determining the environmental and economic risks from discharging such water.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Experimental</title>Sampling<p>Effluent water, which is a mixture of wet tank water and desalter water, is representative of the disposal water. Effluent water was sampled from various GCs in July 2016 (from the North, South and Southwest oilfields). Five hundred milliliter glass bottles were used for this purpose, and the produced water samples were preserved with 3% nitric acid and analyzed in the laboratory within 24 h after collection by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) to determine the composure of dissolved solids, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, strontium, barium, lithium and boron. Additionally, ICP-AES was used to determine the hardness. The samples were subjected to approximate dilution for effective analysis, and 4-point calibration was carried out as per ASTM D-1976-12 with all standards for analysis.</p><p>Determination of the bicarbonates, pH, carbonates, and total alkalinity was carried out using a Metron fully integrated analyzer according to ASTM D-1067-11. The density/specific gravity was analyzed by an Anton Paar density meter (DMA-4500) at 25˚C according to ASTM D-1125-91. A chloride analyzer (Hach Potentiometer) was used to determine the chlorine content according to ASTM D-4327-11. The sulfate content was analyzed using a spectrophotometer (Hach) as per ASTM D4130-8.</p></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results and Discussion</title><p>Produced water samples were obtained from GCs at different oilfields in Kuwait. The characterization results are listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>, and the comparison is illustrated in Figures 2-6.</p><p>The overall characteristics of produced water obtained from the different Kuwait oilfields (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>) show that there is a clear contrast between the North/South Kuwait samples and the West Kuwait samples. Additionally, the</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Characteristics of produced water collected from Kuwait Oil Gathering Centers</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Tested Properties</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Water-WK UG</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Water-WK MN</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Water-SKGC-4</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Water-NKGC-25</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Chloride MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >139750</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >140210</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >89428</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >115890</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sulfate MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >360</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >420</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >800</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Density@25˚C g/cm<sup>3</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.13</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TDS (Calculated) MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >228906.89</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >230878.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >144481.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >195128.28</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Conductivity ms/cm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >201</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >201</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >154.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >187</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.81</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.27</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.73</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Hardness MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >61156.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >63045.94</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >30581.13</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43910.31</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total Alkalinity MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >221.88</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >206.65</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >370.38</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15.97</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>results of the analysis of produced water in Kuwait were compared with those of different water types obtained previously, as shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref> [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref11">11</xref>] . Produced water from the North Kuwait GCs had the lowest pH and conductivity, while those from the South Kuwait GCs had the lowest readings for the rest of the physical characteristics. The produced water samples collected from the West Kuwait GCs had the highest readings for all physical characteristics, except alkalinity.</p><p>The obtained experimental results showed that the characteristics of the produced water were not the same and that these characteristics reflect the different oilfields.</p><p>SKGC-4 had the highest alkalinity of 370.38 mg/L. WK-UG had the highest pH of 6.8, and NKGC-25 had the lowest pH of 4.73.</p><p>The average physical characteristics of Kuwait produced water obtained in this study were compared with published produced water data from various countries, as shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>.</p><p>Generally, the data obtained in this study are within the overall range of the published data.</p><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. TDS and Chloride Content</title><p>The TDS and chloride content values in this study are very close to those of published data, as can be seen in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig7">Figure 7</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref>. The TDS and chloride content values obtained in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref15">15</xref>] are the lowest in this comparison. However, the TDS values obtained in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref10">10</xref>] are slightly higher than the values obtained in this study, whereas the values reported in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref4">4</xref>] for TDS and chlorides are in the middle of the range.</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Sulfate Content</title><p>The sulfate content obtained in this study is very close to that reported in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref13">13</xref>] , and both are on the higher side of the comparison, as shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref>. The</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison of produced water samples collected from Kuwait Oil Gathering Centers with different types of water</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Analysis Results</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Effluent Water</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Wash Water</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Sea Water</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Water Aquifer</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Description</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Unit</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sodium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >57717</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >453.52</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13203</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >64561</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Calcium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13056.10</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >78.98</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >504.75</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14296.90</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Magnesium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2563.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >132.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1535.24</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2865.90</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Potassium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2397.91</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >110.48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >595.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3157.15</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Strontium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >371.11</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.50</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >371.44</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Barium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.06</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.01</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.48</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Iron</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.20</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Lithium</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.83</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.54</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Silicon</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.59</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.20</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.47</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Boron</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29.48</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.80</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.09</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Bicarbonate Alkalinity</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >217.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >133.96</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >175.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Chloride</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >129057.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >883.37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23438</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >146097.84</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sulfate</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >400</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1500</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3800</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >330</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Density@25˚C</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >g/cm<sup>3</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.14</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.00</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.03</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.15</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TDS</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >205826</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3314</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43766</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >231932</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Conductivity</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >ms/cm</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >206</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.56</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >58.60</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >216</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >-</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.12</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.09</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.17</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.63</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Hardness</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >43151</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >739</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7,306</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >47492</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total Alkalinity</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >mg/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >217.16</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >133.96</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >175.46</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >201.79</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Comparison of Kuwait produced water results with published produced water data from other countries</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >KW-16</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >KW-13</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >IRQ-Z</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >IRQ-R</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >US-WT</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >GULF</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >QTR</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kuwait Produced Water (tested)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Kuwait Produced Water [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref12">12</xref>]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Iraq Zubair Oilfields PW [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref13">13</xref>]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Iraq Rumaila Oilfields PW [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref14">14</xref>]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >US-Wattenberg Oilfield PW [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref15">15</xref>]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Arabian Gulf Oilfield PW [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref16">16</xref>]</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Qatar Oilfields PW [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref17">17</xref>]</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Chloride MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >121319.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >113172.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >124782.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >64220</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >10799</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >141965</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >147892.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sulfate MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >407.5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >214.25</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >449.295</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >122</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >200</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >TDS (Calculated) MG/L</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >199848.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >190878.8</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >181750</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >109200</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18285</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >230365</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >210500</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.15</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.88</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.05</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.36</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.90</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.35</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >6.02</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>values reported in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref14">14</xref>] and [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref15">15</xref>] are in the lower end of the range, and the value obtained in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref16">16</xref>] lies in the middle.</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. pH</title><p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>0 shows a comparison of the pH obtained in this study with previously published data. The average pH was found to be very close to 6, except for that</p><p>reported in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref14">14</xref>] , which was 8.36.</p><p>In this study, the produced water was characterized as having high contents of</p><p>total dissolved solids, bicarbonate ions and heavy metals, which could precipitate to form scale, which is very problematic and can clog oil flow lines [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref18">18</xref>] . Aquifer contamination in Kuwait oilfields was noticed in previous studies [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref19">19</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref20">20</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref21">21</xref>] , and this problem was caused by dumping produced water in water pits, which made groundwater in that field unusable for agricultural and human consumption. Additionally, it is well documented that polluted produced water can be very harmful to the environment if not treated properly, which could lead to salinization of the soil or the destruction of flora when it is dumped on the ground. Therefore, Kuwait Oil Company should adopt and use the latest water treatment technologies and processes to prevent environmental problems associated with produced water.</p></sec><sec id="s3_4"><title>3.4. Produced Water Treatment and Reuse Options</title><p>In Kuwait, the poor management of industrial wastewater, including effluent produced water, has become an environmental problem [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref22">22</xref>] , 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 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref23">23</xref>] . 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 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref23">23</xref>] . 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 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref24">24</xref>] .</p><p>The large quantities of produced water by KOC can be an asset to the country if managed properly, especially in a country where water resources are limited. Efficient treatment of produced water can be of great benefit to the country’s water resources and to protecting the environment.</p><p>Current water management practices used in the oil industry are shown in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref25">25</xref>] .</p><p>Produced water can have different properties depending on its origin, and usually, produced water contains various polluting components. Therefore,</p><p>produced water must be treated efficiently to remove all pollutants so it can be reused or otherwise managed [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref26">26</xref>] . <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>1 shows current produced water management practices used by oil production companies, which include disposal to surface water, re-injection into the reservoir (through an injection well) and discharge to an evaporation pond. Produced water is subjected to different types of treatment depending on the purpose. For example, produced water that is injected for enhanced oil recovery or for disposal should receive different treatments than produced water that is discharged [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref27">27</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref28">28</xref>] .</p><p>Components such as free oil, solids, and bacteria should be treated and removed from produced water prior to injection. Additionally, chemicals can be used to protect underground formations, preserve equipment and improve treatment processes. However, the case is different for discharging, where produced water that has high contents of oil, grease and toxic chemicals must be treated to remove these components. Treatment technologies that result in reusable effluents and meet economic requirements are preferred for handling all types of effluents.</p><p>Additionally, produced water that has a high salt content should receive further treatment to reduce the salt content before discharge.</p><p>Water types characterized by the dissolved solids content are shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>.</p><p>Before carrying out any treatment, it is useful to know the salt content and physical properties of the produced water so that the most appropriate treatment method can be chosen. The treatment and effective utilization of treated produced water effluents are required and essential for environmental protection. Additionally, the treated produced water could be used to complement Kuwait’s water management plan.</p><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Water classification according to the Water Quality Association [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref29">29</xref>] </title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Water Type</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Total Dissolved Substances, TDS mg/L</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fresh water</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >less than 1000 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Brackish water</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >between 1000 and 5000 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Highly brackish water</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5000 and 15,000 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Saline water</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >15,000 and 30,000 mg/L TDS</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Seawater</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >between 30,000 and 40,000 mg/L TDS</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Brines</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >between 40,000 and over 300,000 mg/L TDS</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>In our previous work [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref30">30</xref>] , we examined studies [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref1">1</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref21">21</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref31">31</xref>] that explored different disposal options to find the most appropriate produced water disposal and treatment methods. The authors in [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref21">21</xref>] explored different proposed produced water management options in Kuwait and determined that produced water injection is the most expensive but also the most efficient method and the best for meeting environmental requirements. However, because of stricter environmental regulations, local water shortages, and bans on disposal via deep well injection, the future will require much of the produced water to be treated and eventually recycled and reused for beneficial uses.</p><p>The experimental results obtained in this study showed that our produced water samples contain very high salts contents (~200,000 mg/L TDS), classifying them as brines according to the Water Quality Association, as shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>. Therefore, this produced water requires intensive desalination treatment to remove the high salt content, and there are several available desalination processes that can be considered as treatment options [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref32">32</xref>] .</p><p>These treatments are usually done in stages and can include physical, biological and chemical treatment processes. Dispersed oil and grease are removed by de-oiling, and desalination is used to remove suspended particles and sand. Additionally, soluble organics, dissolved gases, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) should be treated and removed. Excess water hardness is removed using processes such as disinfection and softening [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref33">33</xref>] .</p><p>For Kuwait produced water, which is characterized by a very high TDS of ~200,000 mg/L, thermal desalination processes, such as MSF, MED or membrane desalination, could be used to remove impurities and contaminants. The high TDS content of our analyzed produced water is a cause for concern because most desalination processes may not be very effective at treating very high salinity brines or treating this type of water may be expensive. Many studies [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref9">9</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref34">34</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref35">35</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref36">36</xref>] have been carried out to evaluate produced water technologies and present a comprehensive evaluation of the available produced water treatment technologies that could be considered by oil companies.</p><p>The Kuwait produced water results are shown in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> and <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>. These tables show that the produced water contains a high TDS content, which is a major cause of scale formation and pipe clogging. Kuwait Oil Company should consider using Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) and Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes, as concluded in a previous study [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref12">12</xref>] . GRP and GRE pipes have shown high resistance to scale formation and corrosion when tested with brine water or similar produced water specifications under simulated environmental conditions similar to a Kuwait oilfield [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.85066-ref37">37</xref>] . Therefore, the produced water analysis results (TDS, salinity) in the present study fall within the limits of GRE and GRP pipes for the selected oilfields. This supports the decision for replacing metallic pipes with Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe (RTRP) to benefit from the advantages of chemical and scaling resistance.</p><p>Accurate characterization of the produced water quality can be used to optimize the design and siting of water handling and treatment facilities in Kuwait oil and gas fields. This information can also be used for planning long-term produced water recycling strategies for augmenting regional surface water supplies and to model the availability of water resources.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusions</title><p>Kuwait Oil Company generates large volumes of produced water, which poses the single largest waste stream, and faces the same treatment challenge facing oil companies worldwide. Managing oilfield produced water is a major challenge, and the large amount of produced water generated during oil and gas exploration and production require economical, effective and environmentally friendly methods of treatment. However, produced water characterization is an important factor in deciding treatment, reuse and disposal approaches and should be carried out during the early, plateau and decline phases of the oil well. The results obtained in this study show that Kuwait produced water has a very high TDS and salinity and can thus be classified as brine. Brines are very difficult to handle because of their very high salinity, and desalination processes can be used to alleviate the problem. Therefore, characterizing the produced water is an important step in selecting the optimal treatment option for produced water in the oil industry.</p><p>More research should be carried out to improve existing desalination methods and to develop new, effective, and economical desalination methods for successful brine treatment to produce fresh water, which will be of great benefit to countries with no fresh water resources, such as Kuwait.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>This work was supported and funded by The Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (Research project No. TS-13-004, Research Title: Experimental Investigation of Produced Water from Kuwait Oilfields).</p><p>The authors also express their gratitude to the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for their support and collaboration through the research project PC 020C.</p><p>The authors also express their gratitude to Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for their collaboration and support. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the contributors to the study for their help and review of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>AlAnezi, K., Al-Samhan, M., Belkharchouche, M., Abuhaimed, W., Alali, S., Alenizi, K. and Alfuraij, A. (2018) Paper Comparative Analysis of Produced Water Collected from Different Oil Gathering Centers in Kuwait. Journal of Environmental Protection, 9, 736-750. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2018.96046</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.85066-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Alfarhan, A.A. and Duane, M.J. (2011) Geochemistry and Modification of Oilfield Brines in Surface Pits in Northern Kuwait. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 5, 1055-1068.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Kandari, A.H. and Rochford, D.B. (1997) Enhancing Produced Water Quality in Kuwait Oil Company. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, 5-8 October 1997. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2118/38797-MS</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref3"><label>3</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Nabzar, L. (2011) Panorama 2011: Water in Fuel Production Oil Production and Refining. INIS, 42, 20.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref4"><label>4</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hashim (2014) Kuwait Oil Company Will Have 7 Million bbl/Day of Produced Water in 2025. Alrai Newspaper, Alrai Media, Kuwait.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref5"><label>5</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Veil, J.A., et al. (2004) A White Paper Describing Produced Water from Production of Crude Oil Natural Gas and Coal Bed Methane. Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, 87.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref6"><label>6</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Bahar, M.A., et al. (2004) Evaluation of IOR Potential within Kuwait. Abu Dhabi International Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, 10-13 October 2014. 
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2118/88716-MS</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref7"><label>7</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Khatib, Z. and Verbeek, P. (2002) Water to Value-Produced Water Management for Sustainable Field Development of Mature and Green Fields. SPE International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Kuala Lumpur, 20-22 March 2002.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref8"><label>8</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ahmaduna, F.L.-R., et al. (2009) Review of Technologies for Oil and Gas Produced Water Treatment. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 170, 530-551.  
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.05.044</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref9"><label>9</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Colorado School of Mines, et al. (2009) An Integrated Framework for Treatment and Management of Produced Water. Technical Assessment of Produced Water Treatment Technologies. RPSEA Project 07122-12.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref10"><label>10</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Khatib, Z. and Walsh, J.M. (2014) Extending the Life of Mature Assets: How Integrating Subsurface &amp; Surface Knowledge and Best Practices Can Increase Production and Maintain Integrity. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, 27-29 October 2014. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2118/170804-MS</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref11"><label>11</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Alsamhan, M., et al. (2015) Effect of Crude Oil and Well Stream Chemical on Glass Fiber Epoxy Composite Pipes. Science and Engineering of Composite Materials, 24.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref12"><label>12</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Shamari, A.R., et al. (2013) Some Empirical Observations about Bacteria Proliferation and Corrosion Damage Morphology in Kuwait Oilfield Waters. CORROSION 2013, Orlando, 17-21 March 2013.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref13"><label>13</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">AL-Shamkhani, M.T.A.-Z. (2013) Managing, Controlling and Improving the Treatment of Produced Water Using the Six Sigma Methodology for the Iraqi Oil Fields. Industrial Engineering and Management Systems. University of Central Florida, Orlando, 196.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref14"><label>14</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Haleem, A.A., Abdulah, H.H. and Saeed, E.A.-J. (2010) Components and Treatments of Oilfield Produced Water. Alkhwarizmi Engineering Journal, 6, 24-30.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref15"><label>15</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Li, H. (2013) Produced Water Quality Characterization and Prediction for Wattenberg Field. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref16"><label>16</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Emam, E.A., Moawad, T.M. and Aboul-Gheit, N.A.K. (2014) Evaluating the Characteristics of Offshore Oilfield Produced Water. Petroleum &amp; Coal, 56, 363-372.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref17"><label>17</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ahan, J.A. (2014) Characterization of Produced Water from Two Offshore Oil Fields in Qatar. Environmental Engineering College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref18"><label>18</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Salman, M., Al-Hashem, A. and Carew, J. (2003) Control of Scaling Tendencies in an Effluent Water Injection Plant in West Kuwait Oil Fields: Laboratory Study. Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, 9-12 June. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2118/81573-MS</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref19"><label>19</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Rashed, M., et al. (2010) Contamination of Groundwater from Oil Field Water Disposal Pits in Kuwait. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 35, 105-123.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref20"><label>20</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Senafy, M., et al. (2012) Impact of Effluent Disposal Pit on Groundwater Quality at Sabriya Oil Field. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 164, 241-248.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref21"><label>21</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Hubail, J. and El-dash, K. (2006) Managing Disposal of Water Produced with Petroleum in Kuwait. Journal of Environmental Management, 79, 43-50.  
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.05.012</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref22"><label>22</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Abusam, A. and Shahalam, A.B. (2013) Wastewater Reuse in Kuwait: Opportunities and Constraints. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 179, 745-754. 
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2495/SC130632</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref23"><label>23</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al Qallaf, Y., et al. (2016) Analysis and Improvement Possibilities of Waste Management at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC). WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 202, 73-84.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref24"><label>24</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Health, Environment Team (2005) Kuwait Oil Company Waste Management System-2003.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref25"><label>25</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arnold, R., et al. (2004) Managing Water—From Waste to Resource. Oilfield Review.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref26"><label>26</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">(2014) World Petroleum Council Guide Water Management. Proceedings of the 21st World Petroleum Congress, Moscow, 15-19 June 2014.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref27"><label>27</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Patel, C. (2004) Management of Produced Water in Oil and Gas Operations. Texas A&amp;M University, Texas.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref28"><label>28</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Evans, P. and Robinson, K. (1999) Produced Water Management-Reservoir and Facilities Engineering Aspects. Paper SPE 53254, SPE Middle East Oil Show, Manama, 17-20 March 2001.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref29"><label>29</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Whitworth, T.M. and Lee, R. (2003) Desalting of Saline Waters—Applications to New Mexico. New Mexico Geology, 25, 16-20.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref30"><label>30</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">AlAnezi, K., et al. (2013) Produced Water Characterization in Kuwait and Its Impact on Environment. Desalination and Water Treatment, 51, 302-306.  
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.714524</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref31"><label>31</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Qabazard H., Salman, M. and Moshfegian, M. (2004) Field and Laboratory Analyses of Effluent Water. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, 26-29 September 2004. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.2118/89763-MS</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref32"><label>32</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wangnick, K. (1998) IDA Worldwide Desalting Plants Inventory. Report No. 15, Wangnick Consulting.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref33"><label>33</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Arthur J, D., et al. (2005) Technical Summary of Oil &amp; Gas Produced Water Trement Technologies. National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref34"><label>34</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Igunnu, E.T. and Chen, G.Z. (2014) Produced Water Treatment Technologies. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, 9, 157-177.  
&lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/cts049</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref35"><label>35</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Igwe, C.O., Saadi, A.A.L. and Ngene, S.E. (2013) Optimal Options for Treatment of Produced Water in Offshore Petroleum Platforms. Journal of Pollution Effects &amp; Control, 1, 1-5.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref36"><label>36</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">&amp;#199;akmakce, M., Kayaalpb, N. and Koyuncub, I. (2008) Desalination of Produced Water from Oil Production Fields by Membrane Processes. Desalination, 222, 176-186. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.147</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.85066-ref37"><label>37</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Al-Samhan, M. and Al-Enezi, S. (2014) Ageing Studies of Glass-Reinforced Epoxy Pipes in Oil Well Streams under the Harsh Environments. International Journal of Plastics Technology, 18, 113-124. &lt;br /&gt;https://doi.org/10.1007/s12588-014-9074-z</mixed-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>