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Assessment, Treatment, and Management of NORM in the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry

This article discusses environmental solutions for managing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in the oil and gas industry. It covers the identification and classification of NORM, HSE considerations, waste handling, decommissioning, and final storage solutions. The Norwegian government's decision to establish a concrete-filled repository at Sløvåg is also highlighted.

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Assessment, Treatment, and Management of NORM in the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry

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  1. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y Assessment, Treatment and Management of NORM in the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry Per Varskog, Norse Decom AS, Norway Helge Aamlid, Statoil ASA, Norway

  2. LSA scale types E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  3. LSA scale composition E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  4. LSA scale activity E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  5. Identification of LSA Scale • Identification of LSA Scale can easily be done in the field using hand-held instruments. • It is developed a method for using the same instruments for quantitative determination and classification of LSA Scale. • The method requires that the 226Ra : 228Ra isotope ratio is known, but if performed correctly the method is reliable within 10 - 20 %. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  6. Where to find LSA scale Oil production • Production tubulars • Christmas trees • Risers • Oil-water separators • Topside tubes before oil-water separation • Water discharge system Gas production • Anywhere in the system from the risers to the flares E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  7. HSE Considerations Offshore • Dose rates rarely above 7.5 µSv/h. • Focus on ”open system” situations: • Pulling of production tubulars. • Maintenance e.g. on separators. • Handling for transport to shore. • Handling for reinjection of waste. • Transport to shore. Onshore • Classification. • Cleaning of equipment. • Recovery and Storage of LSA Scale. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  8. HSE Measures • Incorporation of LSA Scale procedures in the corporate HSE systems • The procedures include: • Administrative issues. • Identification and classification. • Use of protective equipment. • Controlled Areas. • Conditioning and Transport. • The typical doses to workers may be considered to be low: 0.05 mSv/year and 0.8 mSv/year for offshore and onshore workers, respectively. • The radiation protection measures are almost entirely connected to avoiding internal exposure through inhalation (or digestion). E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  9. Waste handling LSA Scale is handled according to the same principles as all other waste in the industry i.e. in a ”cradle-to-grave” perspective with focus on highest possible degree of reuse and recycling. Therefore, LSA Scale contaminated equipment is cleaned by high-pressure water jetting facilitating recycling of the component steel and minimisation of the NORM waste. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  10. Decommissioning • LSA Scale contaminated equipment is identified prior to dismantling. • The equipment is thereafter dismantled in a separate waste stream. • After cleaning the equipment is either reused or sent to recycling in a steel smelter. • A decommissioning project is not completed before all waste streams are closed. Currently no proper final storage solution exist for LSA Scale either in Norway or UK. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  11. End solutions for LSA scale • In common terms ”repository” means ”facility for eternal storage (of waste)”. • For a LSA Scale repository eternity is 10 × 1600 years. • A LSA Scale repository should satisfy the following criteria: • The material should be chemically stable. • The repository should withstand weathering. • The repository including the area should have an sustainable owner. • The repository concept must be likely to be accepted by future generations. • 3 examples of final storage for LSA scale in Norway and UK : • Storage of 70 tons of LSA scale in KLDRA Himdalen (Norway). • Storage of material from 44 drums from Brent Spar at Drigg. • Storage of unknown amounts of LSA scale in an ”unconstriceted repository” in UK: the bottom sediments of Aberdeen harbour. • If the radioactive substances in LSA scale is utilised, the material is not waste but a resource. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  12. LSA Scale Repository It has been decided by the Norwegian government that the LSA scale repository is to be located at Sløvåg, Gulen municipality. The repository will be situated in a rock cavern with a capasity of at least 2 000 tons of chemically stabilised material. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  13. Concrete Filled Repository Tunnel Concrete injected rock Surrounding Rock Concrete containers HDPE Drums with LSA scale Fly Ash Repository Repository Tunnel Ground Water Stream Sea Water Fresh Water The Sløvåg Repository Concept E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  14. 238U radioactive decay series E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  15. Radium • 226Ra is a longlived alpha emitter(half life 1600 years) originating from the 238U series. • 228Ra is an beta emitter with a half life of 5.75 years originating from the 232Th series. • Radium is a Group II element. Chemical properties are therefore similar to those of calcium, strontium and barium. • Radium in the oil industry originates as a co-precipitate with Group II elements, usually barium sulphate. E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

  16. Activity and mass • Original definition of radioactivity :1 Curie  activity of 1 gram radium1 Curie = 37 Giga Bequerels (GBq) • Total amount of present LSA scale:300 tons ~ 7 GBq ~ 0.2 gram radium • Relation to half life:Normal LSA scale isotope ratios:226Ra : 228Ra = 3 : 1 (activity)226Ra : 228Ra = 830 : 1 (mass) • Relation to mass:Sulphate scale with 30 Bq/g 226Ra:Mass ratio Ba : Ra = 6  108Radium content : 2 ppb E n v i r o n m e n t a l s o l u t i o n s f o r t h e e n e r g y i n d u s t r y

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