Floater - Esso Angola Xikomba

Esso Angola leased an FPSO (a converted 257,000 dwt tanker) from OPS (SBM Offshore/ Sonangol) for use on the Xikomba Field offshore Angola. During the seven year operating life of the FPSO an unusual amount of scale built up in the piping and pressure vessels, resulting in unacceptable amounts of radiation due to NORM (normally occurring radioactive material) from the reservoir.

The Xikomba FPSO had been contracted by OPS to Eni for redeployment to another location offshore Angola, but had to be taken to Singapore for modifications. Dynamic Angola Limited was hired by OPS to provide NORM removal and cleaning of contaminated piping and equipment before mobilization to the Singapore shipyard.

DII personnel received special training at three levels: 1) Radiation Safety Officer, 2) NORM worker and 3) NORM awareness. Special PPE including radiation badges were utilized by all workers. DII received a NORM license from the newly formed Angola Radiation Environment Authority (AREA) and is the only certified NORM contractor in Angola.

Radiation meters were utilized to determine the radioactivity level of contaminated piping and equipment. The unacceptable piping was cutout and placed in containers for additional cleaning and disposal and the vessels were disassembled and cleaned. The radioactive cleaning liquid was to be re-injected by Esso Angola into a reservoir at another location.