Altaf Albaho

The production of large amounts of water by the oil industry presents urgent operational and environmental problems, especially in water-limited areas like the Arabian Gulf. Conventional water treatment techniques are frequently energy-intensive and economically. Produced water (PW) is the main waste stream in the oil and gas sector. 

The coexistence of intensive oil production with Kuwait’s arid climate and high salinity levels presents significant sustainability challenges. This study investigates the viability of using bio-electrochemical systems (BES) as a sustainable, low-energy substitute for generated water management in Kuwait's oil industry. A BES is a technology that combines microbial activity with electrochemical processes to treat wastewater and generate electricity simultaneously. Due to the complicated composition and high salinity of the water produced by Kuwait's oil and gas operations, this study suggests a hybrid treatment strategy that combines granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption with degradation based on the BES. By pre-treating and lowering the organic and hydrocarbon load, the adsorption process improves the effectiveness and permanence of thetreatment process. This integrated approach offers a novel and promising approach to sustainable produced water management in dry, energy-constrained oilfield situations by utilizing the advantages of both physical pollution removal through GAC and the energy-efficient, electroactive biodegradation capabilities of BES. Results are expected to demonstrate the potential of BES in addressing high-salinity water challenges while reducing the environmental footprint of oil operations. In addition to offering comparative benchmarks against traditional treatment technologies, the results can provide practical suggestions for scaled BES approach deployment in Kuwait.