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Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) arises in a number of industries, particularly as a by-product of oil and gas extraction. The exact nature of the NORM is location-dependent and common nuclides are Ra-226, Ra-228, Pb-210 and their progeny. NORM adheres to equipment and pipework, it also contaminates sand and silt. Options available to operators are decontaminating pipework and disposing of the resultant waste; melting the entire pipework or, in the case of contaminated sands & silts, disposing of the waste as VLLW or ILW. NORM wastes generally cannot be disposed of to conventional landfill and its disposal is tightly controlled by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. Melting NORM-contaminated pipework is often a less expensive but time-consuming process than cleaning. Disposal options for NORM wastes are limited and, as a result, many organisations have stockpiled the waste, creating regulatory, safety and financial risks. Since 1993 EnergySolutions’ Bear Creek facility has melted 53,000 tonnes of contaminated metal including NORM contamination, now re-used in the nuclear industry for shield blocks, security barriers and shielded containers. Safeguard International has dealt with many NORM inventories for oil and gas companies. We understand the regulations and have access to recycling facilities or disposal routes and so are ideally placed to help clients to most cost-effectively manage their material. |