OIL & GAS Lead, Mercury and NORM Sampling Natural Gas Refining Facility, UK
Project Summary
Lead, Mercury and NORM Sampling Natural Gas Refining Facility, UK
Project Value: £20,000
Key Project Elements Health and Safety XRF In-Situ survey Radiation protection
Laboratory analysis Interpretation of results Implications to normal operations and decommissioning activities
CRA is providing a range of consultancy services to a gas refining installation in the UK. This work includes surveys to determine whether paints and coatings contain lead, and whether residues in process vessels and pipes contain mercury or naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM). Lead, mercury and NORM have the potential to pose risks to human health during normal operations, maintenance or decommissioning activities and hazardous waste disposal options need to be considered. Lead based paints (LBP) were widely used as an anti-corrosion primer coating over exterior steelwork in industrial settings. Due to the age of the installation, there was a potential for LBP to be present. CRA undertook a LBP survey using a combination of in-situ monitoring and sampling. The in-situ monitoring was undertaken using a handheld XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyser, and confirmatory physical paint samples were removed from the metallic surfaces for laboratory analysis. The results were compared to USEPA thresholds and identified equipment coated by LBP. NORM and mercury are contaminants commonly encountered in the oil and gas processing industry. For EHS management purposes, CRA undertook sampling of residues inside process vessels to define the extent of any contamination by NORM and mercury, and to determine whether there was a correlation between NORM and mercury. Existing in-situ NORM survey data was reviewed and additional sampling of sludges and scale was undertaken. The analytical results were compared to the installation’s waste contractor thresholds for disposing of NORM contaminated by mercury. Task specific H&S method statements and risk assessments were prepared for the survey and sampling works, taking into account the presence of harmful substances and potential for radiation exposure. The data obtained by CRA is being used by the operators to assist in overall EHS management and will be used during future decommissioning and demolition of the installation. The data is held in the installation’s geographic information system to allow it to be queried during maintenance and decommissioning.
Ref: PS0084