Sealine recovery project
We have successfully removed three redundant pipelines running from the Sellafield site out into the Irish Sea, a significant project in the clean-up programme of the nuclear legacy. Known as the Sealine Recovery Project, we removed two sealines that were installed in 1949 and a temporary sealine installed in the early 1990s.
A Best Practicable Environmental Option study confirmed that the best option to minimise environmental impact is to remove the sealines and safely dispose of them at the Low Level Waste Repository.
To remove the sealines from the seabed, divers cut the sealines into sections underwater and then loaded the sections into purpose-built containers on the seabed. The container was lifted out of the water and placed in a licensed transport container on a barge. Once full, the barge travelled to Workington docks where the licensed transport containers were unloaded and transported to the Low Level Waste Repository by rail, for final disposal.
The sections under the beach were uncovered using excavators. On the beach, a series of rollers were installed below the pipelines and pulling equipment was attached to the pipes. Once completed the beach sections were pulled offshore, along the seabed, via pulling wires attached to a winch system on board an anchored marine vessel. The removed sections were cut up and disposed of using the same methodology as described above. The recovery of the sealines finished with the reinstatement of the beach.
Extra environmental monitoring was carried out throughout the project. Local community representatives were briefed and kept informed of progress on the project.
Our challenge is to safely decommission and recover the 5702 metres of contaminated pipes and supporting concrete and steel.
We have successfully removed three redundant pipelines running from the Sellafield site out into the Irish Sea
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