Journal of Petroleum Research & Studies

The objective of this study is to determine the levels of gaseous pollutants, as indicators of ambient air quality, emitted from the industrial area of Khor Al-Zubayr, Southern Iraq. Several polluting-induced industries, such as petrochemical complex, gas liquefier plant, steel and iron complex, fertilizers factory, and gas-fueled power station, are located on the study area. Gaseous pollutants such as HCs, NOx, SOx, HCHO, O3, and CO2 measured using the portable detection instrument of Drager Chip-Measurement System, Germany, whereas portable instrument of RK1 Gas Monitoring Eagle II, USA, detected the pollutants of CH4, H2S, and CO. Fieldwork carried out during 2012 at six selected stations in the study area. The results have showed that there a spatial variability in gaseous concentrations throughout the selected stations. The measured concentrations of CO, CO2, NOx, SOx, H2S, HCs, CH4, and HCHO ranged from10.11 to 35.63, 100.01 to 400.01, 0.21 to 3.12, 0.92 to 9.59, 1.12 to 5.28, 10.51 to 28.21, 9.21 to 20.52, and 0.11 to 1.25 ppm, respectively; while O3 concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 0.24ppb. By comparison, the recorded levels differ with the previous studies results. These levels lies within the recommended guidelines and in other cases exceed it. Generally, air quality in the study area is safe. Some gaseous pollutants concentrations, however, may represents potentially hazard on the public health. Therefore, the need for more rigorous longitudinal monitoring with repeated measures across seasons and spaces to air pollution is necessary.

The present study aims to analyze the spatial and seasonal variations in levels of petroleum hydrocarbons at the urban environment of Basra City. This is made by determination of their concentrations in water, ambient air, and soils. Several samples were collected from different sampling stations during 2009. The determination of hydrocarbons in water samples was carried out using the procedure of UNESCO, and the hydrocarbons in ambient air were measured by the portable gas detector of Drager CMS, whereas the determination of hydrocarbons in soils was conducted as described in Al-Saad. The findings demonstrated that seasonal variations in hydrocarbon concentrations which were increased during winter for both water and soil samples, while increased during summer for ambient air samples. Moreover, there were spatial variations in hydrocarbon concentrations which were significantly higher at the sampling stations located within the urban center in comparison with those in the suburbs. The recorded values were ranged from 0.11 to 190.5 µg/l in water samples, from ≥ 20 to 29.3 ppm in ambient air samples, and from 0.56 to 41.58 µg/gmdry weight in soil samples. Some concentrations lies within high levels of exposure, which may give rise to adverse health consequences.

This study represents the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of 3D Seismic Acquisition in the Badra oilfield, Wasit province, Iraq. Seismic acquisition is part of works under the contract for the development of the Badra oilfield, with a planned capacity of 2 billion barrels of oil, and its associated linear facilities to be located in Wasit, 160 km southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. The study was prepared for the Company – Gazprom Neft Badrah B.V. (GPN) in 2010.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was prepared to identify and assess the potential environmental effects of seismic operations, and in order to accomplish that goal, a baseline environment study was conducted first to illustrate the climate, geology, topography, natural resources, industrial activities, social and natural environment ( flora and fauna) of the region based on field visit and desktop history.
Based on the baseline study, mitigation measures forming Environmental Management Plan was proposed aiming to minimize environmental and socio-economic adverse effects such as waste water, solid wastes, air pollution and to maximize positive ones.
The study also illustrated all related national and international laws and regulations to force the company to oblige them during work on the Iraqi land. It also detailed the national and international limits of air emission and liquid effluent quality not to be exceeded.

Crude oil spill are a global concern due to the environmental and economic impact as well as harm the beauty of the polluted sites. Date Palm leaves fiber (DPLF) as a natural agricultural fiber, which is environmentally materials, biodegradable, renewable, abundant, and cheap. A hollow cellulosic material like DPLF is a potential sorbent to counter the oil spill pollution. The oil sorption capacity (OSC) of fresh and weathered oils into DPLF as a sorbent was studied. The effects of contact time and temperature on sorption were studied in simulated tap water as well as salty water. The OSC increases with increasing the contact time. The DPLF has given oil sorption capacity of 4.534-7.985 g oil/g sorbent for a contact time of 5-90 min for fresh oil (tap water, at room temperature). This OSC are considered to be good for a sorbent considering it is locally available and not expensive. Fresh oil is having higher OSC at room temperature at all the experimental times (5-120 min). At lower temperature, e.g. 15 °C the adsorption of oil having greater role in increasing OSC, since at low temperature the oil having high viscosity and that will increase the adherence of oil onto the surface of the fibers and within the capillary during drainage. At room temperature and little higher e.g. 25 & 30 °C , the oil will have less viscosity and more diffusion and that will increase the absorption within the internal capillary and lumens of the fibers and that increase the OSC. There is decrease in viscosity at higher temperature e.g. 45 & 60 °C that will increase the diffusion in the oil and increase the segmental mobility of the fibers as well as increasing the penetration of oil into the pores and lumens of the fibers. That will increase the OSC, but much oil will come out during the drainage time (5 min).