Ground-Water Chemistry of Dibdiba Formation, North Kuwait

Chemical studies have been carried out on a number of water wells from the Dibdiba Formation northeast of Kuwait. Water salinity of this formation ranges between 3,300 mg/l to 7,000 mg/l, increasing with depth. The water entrapped in Dibdiba Formation is mainly sodium chloride type which can be differentiated into three different groups according to the ranges of concentration of the main cations and anions. These groups are: (3331113) sodium chloride water type in which Cl > Na, group (3333113) sodium chloride water type in which Na > Cl. In both groups the sequence of dominant cations is Na > Ca > Mg. Group (3333111) sodium chloride water type has Na > Cl and the sequence of dominant cations is Na > Mg > Ca. Chemical ratios of Ca/Mg, Na/Cl, and C1/HCO₃ were worked out for Dibdiba ground water. The ratio of Ca/Mg Dibdiba Formation ranges from 0.4 to 8.58, the ratio of Na/Cl ranges between 0.98 to 1.33, and the ratio of C1/HCO₃ is 232. A plot of chemical analysis on a trilinear diagram shows that Dibdiba Formation ground-water chemical properties are dominated by alkalies (Na > Ca) and strong acid (Cl > SO₄). Water chemistry may reflect the history of the flow path, indicating regional flow as shown by increasing Na⁺, Cl^-, SO^–₄ and where Ca⁺, Mg⁺ achieve equilibrium.