Challenges:

Downstream and upstream facilities in Kuwait face increasing integrity and sustainability challenges. Corrosion, crack propagation, water management and treatment, high levels of emissions are all common challenges in the Kuwait oil and gas industry. These challenges are driven by the age of the facilities, increased water cuts, reservoir souring and the changing quality of the crude feedstock. Processing plants in the KNPC refineries face increasing corrosion and plant integrity challenges due to aging facilities and changes in the crude feedstock quality. Other sustainability challenges are arising including water availability, effluent water treatment, CO2 emissions, pipeline leaks and emissions from pipeline flanges. New tools and equipment are required to increase the effectiveness of online measurements of pipes, vessels thickness and surface to detect, and characterize cracks and corrosion. Moreover, technologies and solutions have to be deployed and developed for improved water management and energy efficiency.

Research Objectives:

• To develop advanced approaches for inspection and the monitoring of equipment conditions
• To develop approaches to manage corrosion through treatment or deployment of corrosion-resistant materials
• To develop technologies and procedures for the bulk treatment of effluent water to required standards
• To establish procedures to predict the formation of contaminants, and develop mitigation approaches
• To improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions

Research Programs:

1. Materials, Inspection & Corrosion: Comprises research into prediction and mitigation of corrosion in surface facilities.
2. Flow Assurance: Comprises research into mechanisms of formation, prediction and mitigation of contaminants, notably Black Powder and Asphaltenes.
3. Water Management: Comprises investigation of effective bulk water separation and treatment technologies.
4. Environmental Management: Comprises efforts to reduce the GHG footprint of activities.
5. Energy Efficiency: Comprises research to incorporate solar and other renewable energy into operations / improve energy efficiency.