MANAGEMENT OF NORM IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY Akpojevwa Tega Naomi, october 2016 | Page 39

CHAPTER THREE
NORM WASTE MANAGEMENT
The management of NORM waste can be divided into the following processes:
3.1
NORM monitoring
In order to manage NORM waste effectively, it is necessary to find out where it
is being produced. This requires an assessment of all operations that identifies
potential NORM contamination (OGP 2008).
In order to identify existing NORM in some areas, monitoring is necessary. To
measure NORM a direct analysis can be done onsite with the use of dosimeters,
both in the offshore and onshore oil facilities. Indirect measures are also
possible by taking samples and send them to an analysis to a laboratory.
Measurement surveys can be subdivided by their objective:
3.1.1 Baseline surveys:
The purpose of the baseline surveys is to identify sources of NORM in the
facilities and the radioactive levels in these locations. These surveys give
valuable information to establish the type of protection that is needed in the
specific areas and which control procedures are necessary.
3.1.2 Pre-shutdown surveys:
The main priority is to determine the areas with NORM accumulation and thus
where NORM contamination is suspected. (For example to look for NORM
levels in oil and gas separator previous to a shutdown). If the radiation
instrument shows presence of gamma radiation, it will be necessary then to use
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