Day Two - Main ConferenceThursday, 10 October 2024

Decommissioning of facilities and equipment containing NORM presents unique challenges for the oil and gas industry, particularly in offshore environments. This panel discussion will delve into the latest strategies and advancements in NORM decommissioning on offshore Oil & Gas platforms. We will also delve into the practicalities and cost-effective strategies of NORM decommissioning with best practices for safely and efficiently removing NORM from contaminated pipes, equipment, and FPSO units.

NORM disposal is a complex process requiring careful planning and execution. Strict procedures are followed throughout, including characterization, segregation, secure packaging, and transportation with radiation safety protocols at every step. Environmental protection, worker safety and minimizing radiation exposure are crucial. The transportation and disposal of NORM waste are heavily regulated, with specific requirements for packaging, labelling, and transport using specialized vehicles with radiation shielding. The panel offers valuable insights into effective disposal strategies, best practices for worker protection, and ways to minimize environmental impact.

The session will cover the current and future uses of these rare earths and critical minerals across a variety of industries. Included also are the means of regulatory compliance implemented to manage NORM & radioactive elements in rare earth and critical minerals.

Uranium mining operations on Native American lands have an extensive history in the USA, especially in the southwestern areas. Beginning in the early 20^th century, mining was performed by individual families or large corporate entities. The mining areas ranged from a few square kilometers to over 31 thousand square kilometers with the mining overburden and spoils left at the mine sites. As a result, the environmental impact of these activities has been vast. In this panel, we will discuss the extent of these mining impacts, discuss remediation efforts, and the impacts on drinking water sources, agricultural impacts on soil, crops, and livestock, and public health of exposed populations. In summary, we will discuss the efforts of the CDC, regulators and operational issues from operators to compare radiological health issues common to and differing between uranium mining and NORM.