Environmental Research & Technology Division
Technology Development & Applications Group
Bench- and Pilot-Scale Treatability
Study on
the Use of By-Product Sulfur in Kazakhstan for the
Stabilization of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes
Background
Chevron Oil Corp. together with the Kazakhstan Ministry of Oil and Gas has formed a
partnership (Tengizchevroil) to explore, develop, and market oil and gas reserves in the
Tengiz region of Kazakhstan on the northern shore of the Caspian sea. The growing oil
industry in Kazakhstan is already one of their major industries. However, due to limited
resources and the required infrastructure to manage resulting toxic and hazardous wastes,
there is a growing potential for environmental consequences arising from oil production
and refining operations that will need to be addressed.
Objectives
The objective of this project, sponsored by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Office of International Activities, is the timely development of environmental
solutions to the problems associated with oil and gas production in order to foster both
commercial and environmental sustainable development in Kazakhstan.
Task Summary
Large quantities of by-product sulfur are currently generated by the cleanup of hydrogen
sulfide in the production of petroleum and natural gas at the Tengizchevroil fields in
Kazakhstan. Currently about 1,200 metric tons/day of sulfur are generated from processing
60,000 barrels of oil/day, but oil production is expected to grow rapidly. The by-product
sulfur has little commercial or social benefit and presently, much of it is disposed as waste.
In addition, hazardous oil and gas residuals (e.g., incinerator ash, blowdown solutions), as
well as toxic and hazardous wastes generated by other past, currently operating and emerging
industries throughout Kazakhstan are produced and require treatment prior to disposal.
Using a technique developed by organizations including the U.S. Bureau of Mines, this
by-product sulfur can be successfully converted into a stable, durable alternative to
concrete with numerous environmental and commercial applications including stabilization o
f toxic and hazardous wastes. This project will evaluate the feasibility of using sulfur polymer
to encapsulation hazardous and radioactive wastes generated on site, at other sites in Kazakhstan,
and elsewhere in eastern Europe. Bench-scale treatability studies will be conducted at BNL
using surrogate or actual waste products from Tengiz. Wastes will be characterized, encapsulated
in sulfur polymer and subjected to selected standardized performance tests (e.g., EPA, NRC, DOE, ASTM)
to evaluate mechanical integrity, durability, and leaching properties.
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Last Modified: November 12, 2009
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