Introduction
NORM contaminated equipment requires cleaning to either reduce or remove the NORM residue to a minimum level (ALARP). CO2Blast Ltd. will remove scale build-ups / deposits from downhole and topside process equipment.
What is NORM? (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material)
Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) consist of materials, usually industrial wastes or by-products enriched with radioactive elements found in the environment, such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, and any of their decay products, such as radium and radon.
Natural radioactive elements are present in very low concentrations in Earth’s crust and are brought to the surface through human activities such as oil and gas exploration or mining, and through natural processes like the leakage of radon gas into the atmosphere or dissolution in groundwater. Another example of TENORM is coal ash produced from coal burning in power plants. If radioactivity is much higher than background levels, handling TENORM may cause problems in many industries and transportation.
While the level of individual exposure is usually negligible, some circumstances arise wherein the concentration of primordial radionuclides reaches a level that demands regulation and control.