Repackaging over 8,000 kg of cargo oil tank sand, sludge and scale at our Oldmeldrum NORM facility using a Skip to Vacuum Hopper system – delivering continuous, low-exposure waste transfer, full traceability and compliant disposal.
Sector: Offshore oil & gas – production
Location: North Sea (Bleo Holm FPSO)
Client: International operator via project partner
Services: NORM-compliant waste transfer, repackaging, vacuum hopper system, licensed disposal
Overview
During tank cleaning on the Bleo Holm FPSO, more than 8,000 kg of sand, sludge and scale from Cargo Oil Tank 7 (COT7), plus 21 bags of PPE and rags, were shipped to shore for final management.
The waste needed to be safely decanted, repackaged and routed into licensed disposal streams, in full compliance with NORM and environmental regulations.
Sureclean handled the full repackaging and disposal programme at our Oldmeldrum NORM Decontamination Facility, using a unique Skip to Vacuum Hopper transfer system to move waste quickly, safely and with minimal manual handling.
The Challenge
The project brief required:
- Repackaging a large volume of mixed tank residues from skips into approved drums and containers
- Minimising manual contact and exposure for personnel
- Maintaining continuous waste transfer to avoid delays and demurrage
- Ensuring full traceability and documentation for NORM and non-NORM waste
- Delivering within tight schedule and budget constraints
Traditional, stop–start repackaging methods would have meant heavy manual work, variable flow, higher exposure risk and slower turnaround.
Sureclean’s Solution
Sureclean engineered an integrated onshore repackaging setup at Oldmeldrum:
- Skip to Vacuum Hopper transfer system
- Skips from the FPSO were connected to our dedicated Vacuum Hopper.
- Waste was drawn from the skip, controlled through the hopper and discharged directly into drums and containers.
- This configuration allowed continuous, uninterrupted transfer, improving throughput and predictability.
- Precision, low-exposure handling
- The Vacuum Hopper provided fine control of flow, preventing overfilling and reducing spillage risk.
- Manual handling was significantly reduced, lowering personnel exposure to contaminated materials.
- Integrated service lines and compliance
- Multiple service lines (vacuum transfer, water, decontamination and waste handling) were combined into a single, coordinated setup.
- All waste streams were weighed, labelled, recorded and repackaged into compliant containers for onward disposal via licensed routes.
- Documentation packs captured the full chain of custody for each waste type.
This approach reflects Sureclean’s wider philosophy: engineered waste management and NORM decontamination that prioritise safety, traceability and waste reduction.
Results
The campaign delivered clear operational and safety benefits:
- All materials safely repackaged within the agreed schedule and budget
- Continuous waste transfer, minimising delays and increasing overall throughput
- Enhanced safety for personnel compared with traditional manual repackaging methods
- Reduced water consumption, supporting the client’s sustainability goals
- Comprehensive documentation for every container, ensuring full traceability and regulatory compliance
What this shows about Sureclean
This project showcases Sureclean’s ability to bridge offshore cleaning and onshore NORM-compliant waste management:
- Purpose-designed systems like the Skip to Vacuum Hopper turn high-risk, messy transfers into controlled, efficient operations.
- Our Oldmeldrum NORM Decontamination Facility provides the scale, infrastructure and procedures to manage complex, contaminated waste streams responsibly.
For operators managing cargo oil tank residues and NORM-impacted wastes, Sureclean offers a fully engineered, end-to-end route from offshore skip to final, compliant disposal.
