Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) is a major by-product of oil and gas operations, generated during drilling, production, processing, and storage activities. When improperly managed, NORM poses serious risks to worker safety, environmental health, and long-term operational sustainability. Traditional decontamination methods, while effective in reducing radiation levels, often create excessive secondary radioactive waste—adding cost, complexity, and environmental burden.
A recent study conducted in Egypt’s Western Desert evaluates alternative NORM decontamination techniques with a focus on waste minimization and environmental sustainability 2025.10.08 PetroleumandCoal Art….
Why NORM Management Needs Improvement
Conventional NORM decontamination methods such as abrasive blasting and high-pressure water jetting (HPWJ) are widely used in the petroleum industry. However, these techniques generate large volumes of contaminated solid and liquid waste. Abrasive blasting produces radioactive grit and debris, while HPWJ creates significant quantities of contaminated wastewater that require complex treatment and disposal.
The study highlights that waste volume—not just radiation reduction—is the most critical challenge in NORM management, as waste handling, transport, storage, and disposal significantly increase operational and environmental risk 2025.10.08 PetroleumandCoal Art….
Evaluating an Alternative: Bristle Blasting
To address these challenges, the study assessed an alternative decontamination technique—bristle blasting—and compared it with traditional methods over a one-year period. The evaluation covered petroleum equipment including:
- Storage tanks
- ESP pumps
- ESP cables
- Sucker rods
Radiation levels were measured before and after decontamination, along with total waste generated.
Key Findings from the Study
The results revealed a clear performance difference:
- All techniques successfully reduced radiation to acceptable levels
- Bristle blasting generated only ~2% of total waste, compared to:
- ~40% from HPWJ
- ~58% from abrasive blasting
Across all equipment types, bristle blasting consistently produced the lowest waste volumes, often reducing radioactive waste from dozens of barrels to just one or two barrels per operation 2025.10.08 PetroleumandCoal Art….
Operational and Safety Advantages
Beyond waste reduction, bristle blasting demonstrated several operational benefits:
- Requires significantly less manpower
- Produces minimal airborne dust
- Reduces the need for extensive waste handling and storage
- Causes less surface damage to equipment
- Lower overall project cost due to reduced disposal requirements
The technique also aligns well with radiation safety principles such as ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), improving worker protection and site safety.
Environmental Sustainability Impact
The study emphasizes that sustainable NORM management is closely tied to circular economy principles. Minimizing waste at the source reduces long-term environmental liabilities, lowers the risk of secondary contamination, and supports regulatory compliance.
By generating minimal radioactive waste, bristle blasting offers a practical path toward environmentally responsible oil and gas operations without compromising safety or effectiveness.
Conclusion
The research confirms that while conventional NORM decontamination techniques remain effective, they are no longer optimal from a sustainability perspective. Bristle blasting emerges as a superior alternative, delivering equivalent radiation reduction with dramatically lower waste generation, reduced manpower, and improved environmental performance.
As regulatory pressure and sustainability expectations continue to rise, adopting low-waste NORM decontamination technologies will be essential for the future of the petroleum industry.