Cleaning Of Process And Utility Systems
Authors: Bartlett T.W. 
Published: October 2008

The cleaning of the process and utility equipment and systems forms part of the underlying strategy of planning and implementation. You will have observed from the thrust of these papers that planning is the first essential element to a successful project. A prerequisite to good planning is establishing the goals and objectives at the very outset of the Abandonment Planning. These goals and objectives must be measurable against pm-established criteria so that the project can be evaluated to establish the level of success.

Good planning can be viewed as a series of hurdles that one must clear to achieve the pre-set goals and objectives. Understanding of the legal, safety, environmental and legislative requirements allows the perimeters and constraints to be established before the for the final implementation of the, "CLEANING OF PROCESS AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS " activities.

The very subject of "CLEANING OF PROCESS AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS" that may be considered straight forward, because some of these activities often form part of the normal platform operations performed from time to time on these systems. Before implementation of these activities, there must be an understanding of the ground rules and terminology used together with the resultant implications.

A question that demonstrates the inherent problems, what does the term "Clean" mean? A limited list has been compiled to give some examples of what the dictionary defines the term clean to be ;NOT DIRTY - UN-POLLUTEDDECONTAMINATED - STAINLESSUNCONTAMINATED - SPOTLESSVIRGIN - UNSTAINEDUNADULATERATED - STERILE

Liaison with Government departments during recent planning activities established a consensus for understanding the term "Clean"so that unreasonable expectation with regards to the level of cleanliness would not be greater than that which is practicable.

THE DEFINITION OF "CLEAN"

Clean shall mean in this context free from hydrocarbon oils and gasses, sediments and reservoir contaminants, achieved by power washing with detergents and mechanical cleaning devices.

LEGISLATION GOVERNING HAZARBOUS WASTES

The International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) aim is to, "prevent the detrimental no stochastic effects and to limit the probability of stochastic effects to such a level as deemed acceptable ". This is based on the recommendation of the ICRP published in 1977.No practice shall be adopted unless its introduction produces net benefit.All exposures shall be kept as low as reasonably achievable, economic and social factors being fully taken into account.The dose equivalent to individuals shall not exceed the limits recommended for the appropriate circumstances by the commission.

These recommendations were revised in 1990 and will appear as British Legislation in 1995.

IONISING RADIATION REGULATION 1985

Under the Ionising Radiation Regulation the operator must notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and provide such information on the proposed abandonment of an offshore production platform. Information will include but not be limited to the following;Working methodology statement.Restriction to exposure.Dose limits.Designated control areas.Designation of classified personnel.Appointment of radiation protection advisorsSupervisors and procedures.Contractors and/or sub-contractors.