Amitabha Mukhopadhyay

An overview of the Tertiary geology and hydrogeology of the northern part of the Arabian Gulf region with special reference to Kuwait

Abstract Tertiary sediments constitute the main source of usable groundwater in Kuwait. Tectonics, depositional environment, lithology and the hydrogeology of these sediments have been reviewed on a regional scale, with special reference to Kuwait. The review showed that Kuwait was situated at the boundary of the stable shelf towards southwest and the unstable shelf towards northeast throughout the Tertiary period. The Tertiary sedimentation started in this area with a marine transgression in the Palaeocene. Shallow marine to sabkha conditions prevailed in the area until the end of the Eocene; a carbonate-evaporite sequence (Umm Er-Radhuma, Rus and Dammam Formation) was deposited during this period. The sea regressed at the end of Eocene, and a widespread unconformity, causing the absence of Oligocene deposits over most of the area, marked the event. The karstification of the Dammam Limestone Formation, that provides localized easier pathways for ground water, took place during this period. The deposition of the clastic sediments of the Kuwait Group and its equivalents on the stable shelf, under mostly continental conditions, started in the early Miocene. The Tertiary aquifers of the area are recharged by occasional rainstorms in the outcrops of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The water flows towards the north and east in the direction of the regional dip and discharges along the present-day coast of the Gulf. The water quality deteriorates in the same direction, being more mineralized as it flows through the aquifers. The aquifers are presently being exploited at a comparatively high rate. Since the aquifers extend beyond the political boundaries, cooperation among the countries of the region is recommended to ensure the optimum utilization of the scarce water resources of this desert environment.

Analysis of freshwater consumption patterns in the private residences of Kuwait

Abstract Weekly water consumption data from 48 households in Kuwait were collected over a period of one year. Based on these data, the average per capita water consumption inside a house in Kuwait was estimated to be in the range 182–2018 l/d/person, with an average of 814 l/d/person. Linear regression and neural network models, fitted to the observed data, suggest dependence of the residential water consumption on the number of bathrooms and rooms in the residence, size of the attached garden, income level of the household, atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, and number of people in the residence.

Hydrogeophysical methods for analyzing aquifer storage and recovery systems

Hydrogeophysical methods are presented that support the siting and monitoring of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems. These methods are presented as numerical simulations in the context of a proposed ASR experiment in Kuwait, although the techniques are applicable to numerous ASR projects. Bulk geophysical properties are calculated directly from ASR flow and solute transport simulations using standard petrophysical relationships and are used to simulate the dynamic geophysical response to ASR. This strategy provides a quantitative framework for determining site-specific geophysical methods and data acquisition geometries that can provide the most useful information about the ASR implementation. An axisymmetric, coupled fluid flow and solute transport model simulates injection, storage, and withdrawal of fresh water (salinity ∼500 ppm) into the Dammam aquifer, a tertiary carbonate formation with native salinity approximately 6000 ppm. Sensitivity of the flow simulations to the correlation length of aquifer heterogeneity, aquifer dispersivity, and hydraulic permeability of the confining layer are investigated. The geophysical response using electrical resistivity, time-domain electromagnetic (TEM), and seismic methods is computed at regular intervals during the ASR simulation to investigate the sensitivity of these different techniques to changes in subsurface properties. For the electrical and electromagnetic methods, fluid electric conductivity is derived from the modeled salinity and is combined with an assumed porosity model to compute a bulk electrical resistivity structure. The seismic response is computed from the porosity model and changes in effective stress due to fluid pressure variations during injection/recovery, while changes in fluid properties are introduced through Gassmann fluid substitution.

Distribution of selected trace constituents in the ground water of Kuwait

Abstract Water samples from a total of 42 wells, producing from the carbonate Dammam Formation (Eocene) and the clastic Kuwait Group (Mio-Pleistocene) aquifers in Kuwait were collected and analyzed for the determination of selected trace elements and compounds. The purpose was to establish preliminary baselines for these constituents in the ground water of Kuwait. The results indicate that the trace constituents of the ground water of Kuwait do not generally pose any health or environmental hazard. The nitrate content of the Kuwait Group aquifer at some sites is, however, somewhat on the high side. More investigations on the reasons for this high nitrate content are called for.

An overview of the surface and near-surface geology, geomorphology and natural resources of Kuwait

Abstract The surface and near-surface geology, geomorphology and natural resources of Kuwait have been reviewed based on the published work. The stratigraphy and structure of the near-surface sediments of Kuwait have been mainly controlled by the Tertiary tectonic activity of the Arabian Shield. The shield started separating from the African mainland by the close of the Eocene and drifted northeastward towards the Asian plate, giving rise to the folding and thrusting of the Zagros Mountains of Iran. The tectonic activity superimposed a northwest–southeast trend over an earlier north–south structural trend, and gave rise to parallel ridges and valleys trending northwest–southeast through differential erosion. It has been possible to identify 15 geomorphic zones and 11 morphostructures from analysis of the surface features of Kuwait. Seven of these morphostructures can be attributed to tectonic processes and two to fluvial processes. It has not been possible, however, to explain satisfactorily the origin of the Jal Az-Zor escarpment or the Ad-Dalmaniyah cliff. The whole of Kuwait can be divided into seven drainage zones. Of these, the internal drainage systems of the Ar-Raudhatain-Umm Al-Aish drainage system and the Ad-Dibdibba drainage system are hydrogeologically most important. The clastic deposits of Kuwait Group sediments, often affected by low-temperature carbonate (calcite and dolomite) and sulfate (gypsum) precipitation, form the surface rock of Kuwait. These are covered by recent aeolian and residual deposits; playa deposits in the enclosed basins; and near the coast, oolitic sediments, beach sands and sabkha deposits. The surface and near-surface deposits of Kuwait contain important reserves of construction sand and gravel as well as the only naturally occurring freshwater reserves of the country. An understanding of the nature of these surface deposits is required for the management of environmental issues like sand encroachment, land-use planning, and soil and groundwater pollution.

Analysis of freshwater consumption pattern in Kuwait and its implications for water management.

The pattern of freshwater consumption in Kuwait has been studied. The increase in population, introduction of piped water to most of the residential areas of Kuwait, and the development of new residential areas appear to be responsible for the rapid rise in consumption over the period 1970-98. The annual consumption of freshwater has increased from a little over 6600 million imperial gallons ( > 30 million m 3 ) in 1970 to near 78 500 million imperial gallons ( ; 357 million m 3 ) in 1998. The average per capita water consumption has increased from 25.3 IG/d (113 l/d) in 1970 to 104.1 IG/d (464 l/d) in 1998. This rather high consumption rate, combined with the scarcity of water in arid Kuwait, brings the issues related to the management of available water resources to the forefront.

Assessment of groundwater resources in Kuwait using a finite difference model

Usable groundwater resources have strategic significance, given the arid climate of Kuwait. Assessment of groundwater resources through modelling is considered of paramount importance for sustained long‐term development of this resource. A conceptual model of the regional hydrogeology of the area has been developed based on the available data. Three aquifers were recognized within the Dammam Formation‐Kuwait Group sequence. VTDN software was used for numerical simulation of the groundwater flow in this aquifer system under steady‐state conditions. Calibration runs made to date suggest that the model is sensitive to the vertical coefficient of permeability of the aquitards and the horizontal transmissi‐vities of the aquifers. The water balance achieved shows that the contribution from the natural recharge from precipitation is insignificant.

Treatment experiments for removal of hydrogen sulfide from saline groundwater in Kuwait

AbstractLaboratory and field experiments have been carried out to find an optimum method for the treatment of hydrogen sulfide-rich groundwater that often occurs at comparatively shallow depths (15–40 m from the surface) in the urban areas of Kuwait City and is pumped to the surface during dewatering of the construction sites. The treatment would be necessary to remove the gas from the pumped groundwater before its disposal, either on the surface or to the stormwater network, to avoid health and environmental hazards created by the release of the hydrogen sulfide gas, which is toxic, to the atmosphere or to the sea. Based on these experiments, it has been recommended that an economic and reliable hydrogen sulfide treatment facility for groundwater pumped at the study area should consist of sand filters, followed by aeration units for the removal of major part (60–70%) of hydrogen sulfide. Chlorination or activated carbon adsorption can be utilized as a polishing process to remove the residual hydrogen sul...

Historical evaluation of hydrological and water quality changes of southern Kuwait groundwater system

Groundwater constitutes an important natural resource in Kuwait and thus requires effective management policies based on a sound knowledge of its flow, recharge, and factors affecting the quality of the water. An assessment of the flow and water quality changes of the southern Kuwait groundwaters over the past decades was made based on the available hydrogeological, hydrochemical, pumping and tracer tests, and environmental isotopes data. The predevelopment potentiometric surface of the Dammam aquifer was higher than that of the Kuwait Group aquifer. The Dammam groundwater is old and no recharge occurred in Kuwait during pre-development times. The Kuwait Group aquifer was recharged mainly by an upward leakage from the Dammam aquifer, with local recharge largely restricted to the Dibdibba depressions. The continuous groundwater pumping has resulted in the reversal of flow direction. The salinity of the Dammam aquifer at Al-Shegaya and Umm-Gudair has been relatively stable since 1960, whereas the Kuwait Group aquifer has a stable to freshening trend.

Pollution of fresh groundwater from damaged oil wells, North Kuwait

Abstract Groundwater in North Kuwait was polluted by hydrocarbons from destroyed oil wells during the 1991 Gulf War, and by salts derived from seawater used for fighting oil fires. The results of eight rounds of monitoring the groundwater chemistry over the years 2012–2015 have been assessed, based mainly on the presence of organic matter derived from petroleum hydrocarbons and on the total dissolved solids content of groundwater. Good correlations between these two parameters suggest that there is simultaneous movement of hydrocarbons and salts that are leached from the surface soil by the infiltration of surface runoff. It has been concluded that although these parameters have shown some periodical fluctuations in their values, there has been no significant change in the overall extent and severity of groundwater contamination over the period of the study. The fluctuations observed are possibly the results of seasonal addition of pollutants that are carried downwards by the infiltration of rainfall; the effects of biogeochemical reactions within the aquifer; and the movement of pollutants with groundwater flow and dilution by mixing with unpolluted groundwater within the aquifer. The removal of the sources of pollution (oil lakes, oil pits and polluted surface soil) from the study area has been recommended before the adoption of any remedial measures to avoid seasonal addition of pollutants to the treated groundwater.