Tahir Husain

Weibull parameters for wind speed distribution in Saudi Arabia

The shape and scale parameters of a Weibull density distribution function are calculated for 10 locations in Saudi Arabia. The daily mean wind speed data from 1970 to mid-1990 are used for this purpose. It is found that the numerical values of the shape parameter vary between 1.7 and 2.7, whereas the value of the scale parameter is found to vary between 3 and 6. It is also concluded from this study that wind data are very well represented by the Weibull distribution function.

Kuwaiti oil fires — Source estimates and plume characterization

Just before the conclusion of the Gulf War, more than 800 wells detonated with explosives were ignited by the Iraqi forces, out of which more than 650 wells burned with flames for several months and the remainder gushed oil forming lakes and pools. It is estimated that more than one billion barrels of crude oil was lost which amounts to about 1.5 2, of the oil reserve in Kuwait. The burning wells in Kuwait produced large amounts of gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and the oxides of nitrogen (NO3) as well as particulates containing partially burned hydrocarbons and metals, all of which were potential for affecting human health and vegetation. In this paper, information on the statistics of the Kuwaiti oil wells fires, the data on Kuwaiti crude oil properties and the estimates on flow rates, emission of gaseous pollutants and particulates are presented. The remote sensing technique used at an early stage at the Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM RI) in identifying the distribution of burning wells in different fields is also highlighted in the paper. The paper also summarizes the smoke plume information and characterization.

Impact of sanitary landfill on groundwater quality

This paper presents the results of monitoring the shallow groundwater quality around two municipal landfill sites in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Boreholes were installed at Dhahran and Juaymah sites upstream and downstream of the landfill. Twenty water samples were collected from each borehole and analyzed for various parameters mainly for BOD, COD, TOC, NH3-N, TKN, sulphate, chloride, hardness and metals. The result of the analysis of water samples from Dhahran boreholes shows an increase in the concentration of pollutants in downstream groundwater over that observed in upstream boreholes. The average concentration of BOD5, COD and TOC in the samples obtained from the downstream borehole was found to be 6.5, 23.5, and 34.3 mg L−1, respectively. On the other hand, the mean concentration of the same parameters in upstream monitoring wells was found to be less than 2.4, 11.5, and 10.0 mg L−1, respectively. The ammonia-N and organic-N in the downstream wells were 0.37 and 0.29 mg L−1, respectively, whereas, in upstream wells they were 0.11 and 0.15 mg L−1, respectively. At Juaymah, the average concentration of BOD and TOC in groundwater samples obtained from upstream boreholes were less than 3.0 and 7.2 mg L−1, respectively, while the concentration of the same parameters in downstream well samples were above 5.0 and 35.0 mg L−1, respectively. A similar trend of increment of ammonia-N, organic-N, phosphate, sulfate and metals in downstream samples was observed. Since the water from these shallow aquifers at both places is not being used for human consumptions or for any other commercial purpose, therefore, the minor increase in pollutants concentration at downstream level is not of a great concern.

Comparative Evaluation Of Surface Water Availability, Wastewater Reuse And Desalination In Saudi Arabia

ABSRTACT There is a growing concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to exploit water resources of acceptable quality to meet demands in domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors. The agricultural water need, which constitutes approximately 84% of the total demand, was estimated to be 7430 million cubic meters in 1985. The annual domestic and other demands amounted to 1400 million cubic meters for 1985. Various alternative supplies to meet these demands are surface water, renewable groundwater resources, reclaimed wastewater, desalinated water, and non-renewable groundwater. Due to excessive withdrawal of water from deep aquifers, considerable drawdown has recently been noticed. This paper reviews the existing and future trends in developing surface water resources, reclamation of waste-water from various towns and cities and its use, and the role of desalination plants in the coastal regions of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. These alternatives are evaluated and compared in economic terms. Cost-capacity...

Extinguishing of Kuwaiti oil fires — Challenges, technology, and success

Abstract In this paper, the challenges faced by the fire fighting companies in extinguishing fire in Kuwaiti oilfields are summarized. Various techniques adopted in extinguishing the fires and capping the wells are also discussed. The paper also summarizes the preparations made to extinguish the oil wells in a much shorter period than was initially anticipated. Statistics on the resources and manpower required and the economic losses are also compiled in this paper. Due to uncontrolled flow of the mixture of oil, gas, and water from high pressured oilfield, the damage caused to the reservoirs is also summarized.

Kuwaiti oil fires : air quality monitoring

Abstract Just before the Gulf War was concluded in early March 1991, more than 700 wells in Kuwaiti oil fields were set on fire. About 6 million barrels per day of oil were lost in flames and a large number of pools and lakes were formed. Burning wells in Kuwait emitted several thousand tons of gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and the oxides of nitrogen, as well as particulate matter, on a daily basis containing partially burned hydrocarbons and metals, all of which were potential for affecting human health and vegetation growth. This paper summarizes the real-time measurements of various gaseous pollutants in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia in Dhahran, Abqaiq, Rahimah, Jubail and Tanajib. The statistics on monthly variation of gaseous pollutants showed that pollution concentration in general was high in May 1991. The levels of typical pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in the ambient air were much lower than the permissible limits defined in the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) standards. The pollutants measured during the Kuwaiti Oil Fires were compared with the corresponding values measured in the previous year. The comparison shows that although the concentration of gaseous pollutants were within the MEPA limits, during the period of oil well fires, the concentration level increased persistently which might have been harmful for human health. The harmful effects of the major pollutants on human health and vegetation are also briefly discussed in the paper.

Kuwaiti oil fires—Particulate monitoring

Abstract The total suspended particulate (TSP) matters using a high-volume sampler and inhalable particulate matters using PM-10 samplers were collected at various locations in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia during and after the Kuwaiti oil fires. The collected samples were analysed for toxic metals and oil hydrocarbon concentrations including some carcinogenic organic compounds in addition to gravimetric analysis. The concentration values of particulate matters were determined on a daily basis at Dhahran. Abqaiq, Rahima, Tanajib and Jubail locations. The analyses of the filters show a high concentration of the inhalable particulate at various locations, especially when north or northwest winds were blowing. It was found that the inhalable particulate concentration exceeded the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA) permissible limit of 340 μg m− 3 at most of these locations during May–October 1991. A trend between the total suspended particulate and inhalable particulate measured concurrently at the same locations was observed and a regression equation was developed to correlate PM-10 data with the total suspended particulate data.

Environmental and economic aspects of wastewater reuse in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT The annual rainfall in Saudi Arabia is less than 100 mm/year and there are no rivers or lakes. Therefore, the renewable surface and groundwater resources are not sufficient to meet increasing demand in the domestic, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors. To supplement the deficit in water balance there is a growing interest in reuse of reclaimed wastewater. This article discusses wastewater reuse in Saudi Arabia, considering its environmental, economic, and social implications. Potential uses of reclaimed wastewater include irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. Highly purified wastewater can also be used for domestic purposes including religious rituals according to the Islamic Sharia Law, provided that it has no adverse health effects. The unit cost of a tertiary treated effluent from a treatment plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was estimated to be 1.1 SR (Saudi Riyals)/m3.

State‐of‐the‐art review of bioremediation studies

Abstract The state of the art bioremediation has been rapidly expanding during the last decade. Numerous articles are being published in a remarkable number of journals. Biodegradability of all possible organic pollutants is being tested in field and lab. New technologies are being discovered to biodegrade even the most recalcitrant organic chemicals. Many new books on bioremediation studies arc also being written and edited. Information is scattered in books, journals, conferences and many other sources. The objective of this paper is to summarize the available existing literature on bioremediation studies. Issues covered are bioremediation in context with other remediation technologies, biodegradability of different organic compounds under different condition as reported in lab and fields studies, factors affecting bioremediation, and review of existing literature on modeling and case studies.

Groundwater contamination studies - The state-of-the-art

Abstract With the increasing sense of awareness about our environment and the recognition of the need for its protection, the study of solute transport related to groundwater contamination has become the focus of numerous researchers. Different investigators approached the problem from many view points, and the resulting achievements are so extensive and scattered that it seems essential to inventory the completed works. This paper presents a systematic study of the available theoretical and experimental works. A complete picture of the present status of the problem is also provided. Issues that remain obscure or unaddressed by the current day investigators are pointed out to facilitate future research directions and/or alternatives to advance technology for a greater understanding and more comprehensive analyses of the solute transport phenomena related to groundwater contamination.