Client: Confidential U.S./International Tubular Company

Location: Harvey, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Markets: Industrial | Energy

Challenges

After over 50 years of use, TGE’s Client planned to decommission
this retired oilfield pipe storage and repair yard. The facility had
been leased and properly “licensed” for Naturally Occurring
Radioactive Materials (NORMs) contamination/impact under
Louisiana law. Under strict Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) compliance oversight, and even stricter terms of the lease,
full and complete NORMs removal would be required. During the
work, TGE learned that progressive construction over the term of
the lease had involved the use of impacted materials (scale) to
build up newer building pads.

Widespread accumulations of spent blast material and NORM-containing pipe scale

Excavation of spent blast material and NORM-containing pipe scale

Solution

TGE executed comprehensive due diligence to understand the
facility’s use history; conducted detailed NORM screening
throughout operational areas of the facility, and collected and
analyzed soil samples to comply with the
pre-remediation/DEQ-approved closure plan. Once impacted
material had been confirmed beneath portions of site buildings,
the buildings would require demolition to allow remediation
(access) to the waste. With TGE’s depth of service capability,
expedited asbestos survey and pre-demolition removal was
performed, followed by demolition of the structures and removal
of the building pads. Once the NORM waste was quantified, TGE
managed turn-key excavation, waste profiling, transportation,
disposal, confirmation sampling, and agency approval to retire
the facility’s NORM license. The waste involved in excess of
2,100 cubic yards of NORMs waste from 17 affected areas.

Outcome

Successful execution of a DEQ-approved NORMs remediation
work plan, lease compliance following over 50 years of client use,
and full compliance with Louisiana statute, which resulted in
documented “release for unrestricted use” designation for the
site and closure of the site’s NORM license.

Excavation and permitted disposal of >2,100 cubic yards of NORM-impacted soil

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Excavation of spent blast material and NORM-containing pipe scale

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Delineation of NORM impact beneath site buildings

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Demolition of select buildings to access NORM-impacted soil