Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission sources in Kuwait from the downstream industry: Critical analysis with a current and futuristic view

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 81; pp. 575 - 587
• Main Author: Al-Salem, S.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Assessments; Carbon capture and storage; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide CO2; Clean fuels; FCC; Heaters; Heating equipment; Petroleum; Pollution sources; Refineries; Refinery; Heaters; Refinery; Carbon dioxide CO2; Petroleum; FCC
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.12.075

Kuwait is an oil dependent country with a complex structure of petroleum refining network that hosts three petroleum refineries processing around 1000 Mbpd of crude oil. The country is also embarking, on a state level, a clean fuel project and the construction of a new refining complex with a 615 Mbpd processing capacity, considered one of the largest the world over. With increasing focus of low sulfur clean fuels, carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the downstream sector of the country is in need of a thorough assessment and point source analysis. The aim of this work is to present the results of such analysis of the main sources of CO2 in the existing refineries of Kuwait. The emissions from heaters and furnaces (unit energy supply), (FCCfluid catalytic cracking), flaring activities, (HPhydrogen production) units and acid gas removal were calculated. It was noted that energy supply units (fired heaters) constitute the largest source of the CO2 emissions sources (62–75%) depending on the refinery’s configuration. HP units ranked seconded in the final assessment, ranging from 12 to 25% in the studied refineries. In addition, the impact of the NRP (new refinery project) and anticipated changes in total CO2 load are also reported. This work will help policy makers in implementing a carbon mitigation plan in Kuwait. It will also help develop a CCS (carbon capture and storage) strategy in the near future. •Results of analyzing carbon dioxide (CO2) sources in the current petroleum refining industry of Kuwait are reported.•Unit utilities, mainly fired heaters in refineries contribute in the range of 62–74% of the three operating refineries of Kuwait.•The emission rates of current operating refineries were estimated between 2.88 and 3.78 mtpa.•An increase in CO2 emissions is estimated in Kuwait with the commissioning of the CFP (clean fuel project) and the NRP (new refinery project).