Page 1 of 3Sustainability / Date: 04/16 / KERP

© Amec Foster Wheeler 2016

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BackgroundUnder the Kuwait Environmental Remediation Programme, Kuwait Oil Company is responsible for the implementation of a number of projects for the remediation of oil-contaminated soil within KOC oilfields damaged by Iraqi invasion against Kuwait and 1991 Gulf War. The programme involves a large-scale environmental remediation and restoration undertaking, funded by the United Nations, and carries high visibility and importance both locally and internationally. A budget of approximately US$1.9 billion is reserved for the remediation of approximately 26 million m3 of highly/visually oil contaminated soil in an area encompassing approximately 114 km2. The destruction of almost 700 oil wells, which took over a year to bring under control, resulted in a complex variety of oil contamination including wet oil lakes, dry oil lakes, contaminated piles, coastal deposits, oil-filled trenches and well-head pits.

KOC awarded the first five-year KERP project management consultancy contract to Amec Foster Wheeler in 2012. Our role includes the formulation of remediation and contracting strategies, assessment of remedial technologies, tender preparation, and management of the awarded remediation contracts. The PMC team functions include project management, coordination, planning, design, engineering, contracting, procurement, project controls, and field oversight of contractors including

health and safety. Additionally, Amec Foster Wheeler provides specialised technical skills, knowledge, and experience in the environmental remediation field combined with the experience of Kuwait-based PMC operations and responsibilities. To meet these varied requirements, a project team was formed from across the globe including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Philippines, India, Jordan, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Egypt, and Armenia.

Kuwait environmental remediation programmme (KERP)

Since 2012 Amec Foster Wheeler has been undertaking project management consultancy (PMC) services on the Kuwait Environmental Remediation Programme for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

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Amec Foster Wheeler PMC team – 3rd year anniversary

Above: Typical wet-oil lake (mixture of oil, water, highly contaminated soil, and potentially UXO)

Page 2 of 3Sustainability / Date: 04/16 / KERP

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Environmental remediationThe original remediation programme was based around the excavation of oil-contaminated material with long-term storage at specially constructed landfills facilities. A revised strategy under the PMC contract was developed to conduct the remediation through more sustainable means and therefore reduce the amount of landfills. The revised strategy aims to minimise the need to construct 17 landfills with an ambitious target of reducing the overall landfill capacity from 26 million m3 to 5.3 million m3. This will be achieved using a combination of alternative remedial solutions that form the ‘Total Remedial Solution’ (TRS). In principle the TRS relies on treating certain ranges of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination with the most appropriate technique and comprises the following five key elements:

1. RBA programme – marginal TPH contamination will be sampled and be re-assessed for TPH concentration and distribution. By utilising internationally recognised risk assessment models, acceptable TPH concentrations for human health and environmental receptors shall be determined. RBA is critical to assess the contamination and remediate the land in a way most sustainable and beneficial to human health and the ecology.

2. Active/enhanced bioremediation – soil contaminated with ‘low end’ TPH concentrations shall be addressed with enhanced active bioremediation. This remedial solution is a robust, well proven and cost effective approach to address high volumes of oil-contaminated soil, demonstrated in the past to be effective in desert environments.

3. Remediation treatment technologies – used to treat more challenging TPH concentrations, to address potentially 20% of the total volume of contaminated soils. Sustainability is one criteria for selection of treatment methods.

4. Sludge disposal through beneficial recycling or re-use – oil sludge is the most challenging source contaminant to be addressed and it represents potentially 20% of the total volume. Treatment is highly energy intensive and comes at high cost and low through-put. The approach for sludge includes identifying a disposal outlet through a re-use/recycle option. This will rely on separation from wet-oil lakes and temporary storage without mixing. Market assessment and construction of temporary storage forms part of this solution.

5. Containment in engineered landfills – this is the default position that matches existing strategy but for the most challenging TPH contamination concentrations only. Any material that requires consignment to landfill will have measures put in place to minimise volumes requiring disposal.

The RBA programme has the potential to address the greatest volumes of oil-contaminated soil when considering potential impact to the local environment and human health. Understanding contamination concentrations, toxicology, potential migration and exposure pathways and modelling this for relevant receptor groups are the key aspects required to minimise unnecessary remediation. This is an internationally tested, proven method that considers all aspects of the source material. The risk modelling will identify acceptable TPH concentrations, allow prioritisation of high risk areas, provide remediation clean-up standards, and provide a mechanism for assessing treated material re-use.

Kuwait environmental remediation programme (KERP)

Case study

Page 3 of 3Sustainability / Date: 04/16 / KERP

© Amec Foster Wheeler 2016

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Health and safety considerationsTraffic managementPart of the KERP scope is to excavate and transport over 2 million m3 of heavily oil-contaminated soil to purpose built landfills in the North and South East areas of Kuwait. This work scope presents significant risks, since large quantities of earth moving equipment and heavy vehicles are required to facilitate the execution. To ensure the safe delivery of this work scope Amec Foster Wheeler, in conjunction with our main contractors, has developed and implemented robust traffic management plans. These plans have been established to provide a well-structured and systematic approach to the excavation, loading and unloading operations, whilst ensuring pedestrian and heavy equipment segregation to eliminate the risks from people/vehicle interaction.

The traffic management plans include specific requirements related to the following:

• Purpose built routes for the transportation of contaminated soil from the features to the landfills, taking into account existing KOC facilities, such as well heads or flowlines.

• Protection requirements for existing facilities which are within close proximity to project traffic routes.

• Speed limits for routes and compliance monitoring requirements.

• Speed monitoring devices which are fitted to all vehicles.

• Mirror checking stations are used regularly by all heavy vehicles to ensure correct mirror setup in order to eliminate blind spots.

• Operator/driver competency standards.

• Defensive driving programmes.

• Dust control measures.

• Equipment inspection and maintenance programs.

• Assurance requirements including audits and inspections.

Working in high temperaturesA significant issue the KERP Programme faces is associated with the climate. Kuwait is one of the hottest countries in the world with temperatures regularly exceeding 50°C during the summer months. To mitigate the risks to our people we implement the following:

• Heat stress and dehydration campaigns to educate people on the risks, the warning signs and what to do in an emergency.

• Job safety analysis by task, reviewing the impacts of the heat on the planned activities.

• Site audits and inspections of welfare facilities are conducted to ensure availability of sufficient welfare facilities for all personnel, including cold drinking water and shade.

• Working in direct sun is prohibited between the hours of 11am and 4pm during the months of June, July and August.

Kuwait environmental remediation programme (KERP)

Case study