Management of hazardous waste

Several blue metal barrels are stacked in front of an industrial loading facility.

Management of Hazardous Waste

Safe. Compliant. Effective. Waste Management Without Compromise

The extraction, processing, and refining of oil and gas generate a broad spectrum of hazardous wastes, including drill cuttings, drilling fluids, sludges, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Handling and treating these materials is increasingly challenging, as regulatory requirements grow stricter and disposal costs rise. Ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective treatment is crucial for operators worldwide.
With over 65 years of experience in managing hazardous and radioactive waste, NUKEM applies its nuclear-sector expertise to develop fit-for-purpose solutions for the oil & gas industry, tailored to even the most demanding environmental and operational conditions.
From feasibility studies to turnkey treatment centers, NUKEM offers modular and scalable systems designed to reduce waste volume, stabilize hazardous substances, and enable long-term safe storage or disposal.

Comprehensive Treatment Portfolio

Our solutions address the full waste management chain – from initial separation and characterization to conditioning and disposal. Our engineering teams select and combine technologies to meet your specific needs and regulatory framework.

Our treatment capabilities include:

Pre-treatment

Screening
Dewatering
Drying
Descaling (removal of pipeline sludges)

Mechanical Processes

Centrifuging
Shredding
Compaction

Liquid and Sludge Treatment

Wastewater purification
Chemical-physical treatment

Thermal and Chemical Conditioning

Incineration
Thermal desorption
Solidification and encapsulation

Additional Services

Drum handling and cleaning
Handling equipment engineering
Electrical, control and instrumentation (EC&I)
Support for landfill Class I & II infrastructure

Innovation in Environmental Protection: FREMES EcoProbe

As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation, we introduce the FREMES EcoProbe – a cutting-edge, fully automated belt conveyor-based characterization system designed for large-scale industrial site remediation for chemical pollution.
This system expands

on the proven capabilities of the FREMES-BM10, which has already classified several hundred thousand tonnes of radiologically impacted material worldwide. The FREMES EcoProbe takes the next step – enabling real-time, AI-driven detection of hydrocarbon contamination in bulk materials using a high-precision optical sensor system.

Key advantages:

Continuous online analysis with 100% material coverage
High throughput, ideal for large-area remediation
Minimal personnel requirements due to full automation
AI-enhanced accuracy and adaptability
Flexible and mobile: minimal on-site requirements, easy and quick installation
Future-ready: planned extension to detect other hazardous substances

With the FREMES EcoProbe, NUKEM offers a scalable, efficient, and robust tool to help industries meet increasing environmental remediation demands with confidence.

Your Trusted Partner for Hazardous Waste Challenges

Whether you require a single treatment unit, a complete waste management facility, or advanced environmental monitoring systems, NUKEM delivers customised, regulatory-compliant, and cost-effective solutions - drawing on decades of experience across the nuclear, oil & gas, and heavy industrial sectors.

Reference projects - Our expertise in use worldwide

From mobile cementing systems and modern open-air measuring systems to complete waste treatment centers - our solutions are used all over the world. See for yourself:

Discover our reference projects