Development of an Empirical Release Criterion for Oil and Gas Equipment with Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) Surface Contamination

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruan De Witt ◽  
Stephen Rutkowski ◽  
Joseph Young ◽  
Malcolm Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Surface Contamination ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material

NORM Survey in Argentina

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 352-367
Author(s):  
A.C. Canoba
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Geothermal Waters ◽  
Radium Isotope ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Remedial Actions ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material ◽  
Almost All

A survey programme was initiated several years ago with the aim of estimating the incidence of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) exposure for workers in the oil and gas industry, gold mining, spas, and a tourist cavern in Argentina. This work presents the procedures, methods employed, and results to date from the survey, including protection and remedial actions recommended when deemed necessary. Radium isotope concentrations measured in some samples were well above the exemption values established by IAEA Standards. Elevated radon levels (above the action level established for workplaces) were detected in the gas facilities, the gold mine, and the tourist cavern. The pertinent authorities and the facilities were informed of the detected values in order to take actions to reduce concentrations. In terms of the spas, almost all values for geothermal waters were below the corresponding guidance levels. Some regulatory aspects for the management of NORM are suggested.

scholarly journals Oil and gas wastewater as road treatment: radioactive material exposure implications at the residential lot and block scale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Bain ◽  
Tetiana Cantlay ◽  
Brittany Garman ◽  
John Stolz
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Treatment Result ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Facility Siting ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Disposal Options ◽  
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material ◽  
Exposure Risks

Abstract The resurgence of oil and gas extraction in the Appalachian Basin has resulted in an excess of oil and gas brines in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Primarily driven by unconventional development, this expansion has also impacted conventional wells and consequently, created economic pressure to develop effective and cheap disposal options. Using brine as a road treatment, directly or as a processed deicer, however, creates substantial concern that naturally occurring radioactive material in the brines can contaminate roads and road-side areas. Current decision making is based on risk exposure scenarios developed by regulatory agencies based on recreational users in rural areas and exposures to drivers during a typical commute. These scenarios are not appropriate for evaluating exposures to residential deicer users or people living near treated streets. More appropriate exposure scenarios were developed in this work and exposures predicted with these models based on laboratory measurements and literature data. Exposure scenarios currently used for regulatory assessment of brine road treatment result in predicted exposures of 0.4-0.6 mrem/year. Residential exposures predicted by the scenarios developed in this work are 4.6 mrem/year. If the maximum range of near-road soil radium concentrations observed in the region is used in this residential scenario (60 pCi/g 226Ra, 50 pCi/g 228Ra), residents living near these roads would be exposed to an estimated 296 mrems/year, above regulatory exposure thresholds used in nuclear facility siting assessments. These results underline the urgent need to clarify exposure risks from the use of oil and gas brines as a road treatment, particularly given the existing disparities in the distribution of road impacts across socioeconomic status.

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