SPE Projects, Facilities & Construction
Volume 6, Number 3, September 2011, pp. 124-131

SPE-136312-PA

Environmental Impacts of NORM Disposal--With Emphasis on Discharges to Sea

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DOI  More information 10.2118/136312-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/136312-PA

Citation

  • Valeur, J.R. 2011. Environmental Impacts of NORM Disposal--With Emphasis on Discharges to Sea. SPE Proj Fac & Const 6 (3): 124-131. SPE-136312-PA. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/136312-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 2.5.5 Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials
  • 2.5.4 Waste Management
  • 2.5.3 Produced Water Use, Discharge and Disposal

Keywords

  • NORM, Radioactive waste, Environmental Impact, Disposal

Summary

Waste of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) poses a challenge to operators and authorities alike.

This paper reviews legislation and practices regarding NORM waste management in the North Sea countries, with emphasis on the potential environmental impacts. The paper gives an overview of mechanisms causing NORM in the oil and gas industry, the various disposal methods, the legal regime, and the fate and effects in the external environment.

NORM in produced water mainly consists of two forms of radium (RA), Ra-226 and Ra-228, which have been dissolved from the geological materials of the reservoir. Parts of the dissolved Ra precipitate as RaSO4 in the process equipment onboard the installation (mainly in the separation systems), associated with precipitation of BaSO4 and SrSO4. If discharged to the sea, the vast majority of the dissolved Ra precipitates as RaSO4 or adsorbs to fine-grained particles and particulate organic matter. When assessing the fate and effects of NORM in the external environment, it is therefore essential to analyze both the fine-grained-sediment-transport pathways and the uptake mechanisms of marine life.

The strong particle association of Ra must be taken into account when evaluating the possible environmental impacts of solid-NORM waste disposal (e.g., from maintenance of equipment, decommissioning of installations). Reinjection of NORM into the geological reservoir can be seen as an optimal way of disposing of NORM waste, but the approach taken by different countries varies, depending on how the London Convention and the OSPAR Radioactive Substances Strategy are interpreted and implemented.

It is concluded that the NORM waste issue is not handled optimally in all cases with respect to health, safety, and environmental (HSE) impacts, partly because of the constellation of international conventions and national practices that is applied with significant variation from country to country.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 8 June 2010
  • Meeting paper published: 5 October 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 1 November 2010
  • Manuscript approved: 9 November 2010
  • Published online: 25 July 2011
  • Version of record: 1 September 2011