Offshore Services

The Environmental Division of Grampian Soil Surveys has developed a comprehensive range of services for the Offshore Sector with respect to the remediation of drill cuttings. The following information details these services, which are also presented in the flow diagram.

Raw Drill Fluids

• Analysis of the Drill Fluid components for hazards in line with SEPA guidelines e.g. Ecotoxicity, Irritancy, Carcinogens etc.

Raw Oil Based Mud Cuttings

• Laboratory Chemical Testing for various parameters e.g. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (THP), Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), Metals and Major Ions.

Soil Recover Unit

• Monitoring of all gas emissions e.g. VOCs, SO, SO2, NO, NO2 and including CO2, CH4 etc.
• Additional VOC monitoring from fuel storage, recovered oil storage, settlement tanks and raw cuttings tanks.
• Review Plant Procedures e.g. Waste Minimisation, Contingency Plans etc.
• All technical reporting to SEPA including Material Testing, Plant Performance and Environmental considerations.

Dry End Product

• Chemical testing for TPH, Metals (ICRCL), PAH, ph, SO4, CL, NH4, Electrical Conductivity, Major Ions and Leachate.
• Geotechnical Laboratory Analysis for Particle size distribution (PSD), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Moisture Conditioning Value (MCV), Oedometer and Triaxial Testing.
• Agricultural Studies for possible end uses with the Scottish Agricultural College.

Geotechnical Enhancement of End Product

• Haulage of the End Product to out Quarry where it is mixed in varying proportions with good quality sand and gravel, this improves the geotechnical Qualities of the End Product.
• The mixed product is stockpiled at the quarry ready for transport to engineering sites.

Grampian Soil Surveys can provide a specifically tailored range of services to suit the client's needs including experienced and fully qualified contract personnel.

Liase with SEPA

• Grampian Soil Surveys work very closely with Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) to ensure client satisfaction. All problems are discussed with SEPA to gain mutual beneficial solutions.
• All reports are submitted to SEPA on a monthly basis.
• Grampian Soil Surveys ensure that the integrated Pollution Control is adhered to and that any problem areas are resolved.

End Product Uses

• Grampian Soil Surveys are constantly trying to develop the range of possible end uses. At present the majority of the End Product goes into construction. For each site we specify the mix of product used and the compaction criteria.

  Grampian Soil Surveys  then carry out the In-Situ testing to ensure conformance with good engineering practice, for example, PT, CBR, Plate Bearing Tests.