Most natural raw materials contain small traces of radionuclides from the uranium and thorium decay series. They are widely known as Natural Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM). Depending on production or processing parameters these materials can be deposited as a scale on the internal surfaces of production or processing installations.

Installation parts contaminated with NORM have to be decontaminated before they can be disposed of, either by "wet" technologies or "dry" technologies. "Dry" technologies offer the advantage of (almost) zero secondary radioactive waste generation. For this reason a range of "dry" technologies is made available at our facility.

For tubing a dedicated tool is used: a self-propelling mechanical grinder. For other installation parts manual mechanical technologies are used which enable full decontamination even in less accessible corners.

This paper will also highlight associated topics like release measurements and health & safety.

Keywords:
grinder, radioactive waste, decontamination cabin, netherlands, ventilation system, specific activity, disadvantage, upstream oil & gas, safe removal, abrasive effect
Subjects:
Environment, Naturally occurring radioactive materials
Copyright 1998, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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