MSE CONTROLLED DOCUMENT Radiological HS&E Precautions for Dismantling Equipment Document No: Supersedes Revision no: 1 1/10/2004 Custodian: MSE/32 Revision no: 1 1/10/2006 Filename: NORMMGT. DOC Administered by: Verified: Verified: Approved: Approved: MSE/32 RPA OND/OSD UWD/GD 1/10/2004 Reason for revision: This document contains proprietary information and is intended for use by PDO and Contractor staff only. The contents of this controlled document shall not be changed without formal approval of the document custodian.
Contents 1. Introduction... 2 1.1 Objective... 2 1.2 Scope... 2 2. Responsibilities... 2 2.1 Permit Applicant... 2 2.2 Permit Holder (Work Supervisor)... 2 2.3 Responsible Supervisor... 2 2.4 Area Authority... 2 2.5 Contractor... 3 3. Performance... 3 3.1 PPE and auxiliaries... 3 3.2 Safety measures and work instruction... 3 3.2.1 General... 3 3.2.2 Dismantling Operations... 3 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Glossary of Abbreviations... 5 Page 1
1. Introduction Plant such as valves, pumps, flanges, piping etc may require dismantling for maintenance purposes. The equipment may be NORM contaminated and therefore radiological controls are required during such an operation under the Permit to Work System. 1.1 Objective To define the radiological precautions for dismantling equipment that has conveyed well fluids such as oil, produced water, natural gas and condensates. 1.2 Scope This procedure shall apply to all PDO and contractor personnel involved in dismantling well fluid/ gas conveying equipment. 2. Responsibilities 2.1 Permit Applicant The Permit Applicant is responsible for requesting a NORM Radiological Survey be conducted during maintenance/repair operations and is attached to the PTW. 2.2 Permit Holder (Work Supervisor) The Permit Holder is (usually the Permit Applicant as defined on the Work Permit) is responsible for the implementation of this procedure. Usually the Permit Holder will be the Work Supervisor and will be the trained RPT who undertakes the NORM Radiological Survey and outlines the system of work. 2.3 Responsible Supervisor The Responsible Supervisor is responsible for verifying that the Permit Applicant has requested a NORM Radiological Survey for all of the above maintenance activities. The Responsible Supervisor shall ensure that Contractor has the approved meter(s) to conduct the NORM Radiological Survey, the appropriate personal protective equipment and sealable drums for collecting NORM contaminated scale or soil. 2.4 Area Authority The Area Authority is responsible for verifying that the Contractor has an approved RPT or has arranged for a PDO RPT to undertake the NORM Radiological Survey. The Area Authority shall verify that the RPT attaches the NORM Radiological Survey to the PTW and the Contractor complies with the controls outlined in the Survey and these NORM Guidelines. Page 2
2.5 Contractor The maintenance contractor is responsible for ensuring that an appropriately trained RPT forms part of the maintenance crew or and is able to undertake radiation and contamination measurements and can advise on radiological controls. The controls shall be included in the NORM Radiological Survey attached to the PTW. The contractor is responsible for ensuring the correct monitors are available to undertake the NORM Radiological Survey. The Contractor is responsible for compliance with this procedure. 3. Performance 3.1 PPE and auxiliaries Prior to commencing work, the Permit Holder (Work Supervisor) shall ensure the availability of PPE and auxiliaries. 3.2 Safety measures and work instruction 3.2.1 General All reservoir fluid/gas conveying equipment shall be treated as NORM contaminated until RPT measurements prove otherwise. All personnel shall attend a NORM awareness course and be familiar with the hazards and safeguards involved with NORM jobs. A tool box meeting shall be conducted prior to commencement of the work. 3.2.2 Dismantling Operations Supervision by the Permit Holder (Work Supervisor) (see Paragraph 2.4) or his nominated deputy is mandatory. Consider covering the surface below the item of plant with heavy duty (1000 gauge 250 micron) polyethylene plastic. RPT to specify to what extent a Supervised Area as per MSE.05 is required, as necessary. RPT shall monitor for Gamma radiation with the Mini 900 with 44A probe at and adjacent to the equipment prior to work commencing. The presence of Gamma radiation externally suggests higher levels inside and almost certainly Alpha and Beta radiation. Note: Equipment from gas only equipment may have high levels of lead-210 and both a Mini 900 with 444A probe and Mini 900 with EP15 probe are required. Neither of the Mini 900 series meters are intrinsically safe and continuous gas detection is necessary to prevent the risk of fire/explosion. (Add to PTW) If the external readings do not exceed 5 cps above background, there may still be low activity NORM inside and internal readings with the same meter must be performed. If the internal readings do not exceed 5 cps above background, there is no NORM contamination Page 3
If the external readings exceed 5 cps above background, this indicates the presence of NORM inside the equipment and the task becomes a NORM risk job. If the equipment is to be opened, a cordoned off Supervised Area must be determined by the RPT and PPE must be worn by workers once work begins. Plastic sheeting can be placed under the equipment to catch loose scale, however it may be easier to monitor the area under the equipment once the task is completed and contaminated soil can be collected and placed into dedicated NORM drums for disposal. RPT to check the equipment and immediate area for radiation and contamination, and record measurements and any specify NORM precautions on a NORM Radiological Survey Report Appendix A SP1170 Special NORM precautions are required if any measurements above the levels specified are found. All persons shall be checked for contamination on exit from the Supervised Area. If contamination is found it shall be registered and MSE.09 followed. Equipment used inside the Supervised Area shall be checked for contamination prior to removal. Any equipment which can not be cleaned shall be bagged, sealed and marked externally as NORM contaminated with activity levels and logged as per MSE.06. Any waste generated shall be checked for NORM contamination and if activity is found, placed in drums and logged prior to transportation to the Bahja NORM Yard. NORM Contaminated waste shall be transported to the nearest NORM yard attached with the transport Forms in SP1170 Appendix B and C. Page 4
Glossary of Abbreviations Appendix 1 PPE RPT Personal Protective Equipment Radiation Protection Technician Page 5