RSK improves waste management at Rumaila oilfield, Iraq

Project summary

In 2015, RSK helped the Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO) in Iraq establish and operate its new waste centre. The project was a major success for RSK, as it displayed the coherency and efficiency of the team and marked an important step forward in improving waste handling in Iraq.

The challenges

RSK teams encountered both climatic and logistical issues. As the oilfield is vast and complex, a tightly coordinated working schedule was instigated to ensure each team was well rested and resourced to carry out the required work. Contact was made at specific times to ensure the workload was manageable and that no one encountered any issues. Security personnel accompanied the teams owing to the volatile and uncertain political and societal situation in Iraq. The intense weather conditions ensured work took place only when it was safe to do so and always with enough water and sufficient protection from the elements.

The solutions

RSK’s on-site team of 80 worked in shifts to recover reusable and recyclable materials from the non-hazardous waste before incinerating the remaining organic material. The team baled plastic bottles and cardboard and recycled them locally and used a wood shredder to process non-reusable wood before incineration. After the wood was incinerated, the resulting ash was stored on-site in a lined pit; the ash quality was sampled and analysed to determine if there were any residual contaminants. Specialists in the team collected hazardous waste, including used laboratory chemicals, asbestos and substances contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive materials, and subsequently stored it in purpose-built storage areas.

The impacts

The project was a major success for RSK and ROO. It displayed the coherency and efficiency of the Iraqi team and marked an important step forward in improving the way waste is handled in Iraq, as the volume of materials sent to landfill was minimised.