Energy, Vol.81, 575-587, 2015
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission sources in Kuwait from the downstream industry: Critical analysis with a current and futuristic view
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. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.