Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Dr. Mohammad Said

Occupational Health Conference11th – 13th December 2006, Oman

Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring

Radioactive MaterialsDr. Mohammad Said Al-Masri & Dr. Riad

ShweikaniDepartment of Protection and SafetyAtomic Energy Commission of Syria

Damascus, P. O. Box 6091E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]


•Radiation Sources in Oil & Gas Industry (Overview)

•Origin of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in

Oil and Gas Industry•Where we can see NORM.

Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry


•Sealed Sources Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Gauges Well Loggings

•Open Sources Radioactive Tracers

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials



-rays

(60Co, 137Cs, …)

X-rays

Non-Destructive

Testing



Sealed Sources – Gauges







Open Sources

•Radioactive Tracers

•Naturally Occurring

Radioactive Materials

(NORM)



Origins of (TE)NORM

in the Oil and Gas

Industry






Manual Cleaning


Production Water



Reported Activity Concentration Range

in E&P Waste Streams

Nat. Occ.Radionuc.

(NOR)

ProductionWater

Scale & Sludge

Hard medium soft

Bq/L Bq/g Bq/g Bq/g

238U 0.0003-0.1 0.001-0.5 0.001-0.5 0.005-0.01226Ra 0.002-1,200 0.1-15,000 0.8-400 0.05-800222Rn210Pb 0.05-190 0.02-75 0.05-2,000 0.1-1,300210Po 0.02-1.5 0.004-160232Th 0.0003-0.001 0.001-0.002 0.001-0.01 0.002-0.01228Ra 0.3-180 0.05-2,800 0.05-300 0.5-50224Ra 0.5 - 40


Reported External Radiation Levels at Oil/Gas Production

FacilitiesFacility Radiation level

µSv/hr

Crude Oil Processing/Treating1.down hole tubing, safety valves (internal)2.well heads, production manifolds3.production lines4.separator scale (external/internal)5.water outlets

< 3000.1 - 2.50.3 - 4

< 15/2000.2 - 0.5

NGL Processing1.filters2.NGL pumps3.LPG storage tanks4.NGL/LPG shipping pumps, reflux pumps, elbows, flanges

< 90< 200< 60

0.1 - 2.8

Associated/Natural Gas Processing/Treating1.down hole tubing2.piping, filters, storage tanks, reflux lines3.sludge pits, brine disposal/injection wells, brine storage tanks

0.1 - 2.2< 80< 50


Risks Arising from

Radiation Exposure

And

What can we Do?


Radiation at Workplaces Radiation is invisible, tasteless, and

odorless, and, as a result, is commonly overlooked as a potential hazard at workplaces.

Therefore, workplaces need to determine whether a radiation problem exists and,

If it does, take appropriate safety precautions to prevent or limit workers exposure to radiation.


Ionizing: removes electrons from atoms Particulate (alphas and betas) Waves (gamma and X-rays)

Non-ionizing (electromagnetic): can't remove electrons from atoms

infrared, visible, microwaves, radar, radio waves, lasers

Types of radiation


Background Radiation

We all receive background radiation whether we are occupationally exposed or not


Why is radon a problem?

Radon is an inert gas and is not poisonous. However it is a problem because:

it is radioactive it cannot be seen, heard or felt it is all around us

Radon is the second most significant cause of lung cancer (after smoking).


NORM and Radon

NORM may produce the radioactive gas radon Usually this is only significant problem in

workplaces with poor ventilation.

Radon entering poorly ventilated buildings or underground areas such as caves and mines may reach potentially dangerous concentrations.


Regulation Related to Radiation Exposures at

workplaces


NORM Exposure Criteria

The basic principle is that: The same radiation exposure criteria, applied

to any other radiation activities, should be applied to workers exposed to NORM


International Regulations

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has established fundamental radiation protection

principles and recommendations. (ICRP Publication 60).

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has established The International Basic Safety

Standards for Protection Against Ionising Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation sources (BSS)

Primary ResponsibilityPrimary Responsibility for Radiation for Radiation SafetySafety rests on rests on licensees and licensees and employersemployers of occupationally exposed of occupationally exposed workersworkers


Licensees and employers shall:

establish radiation safety objectives; develop, implement and document a

radiation safety program; ensure compliance with the requirements

set out in the legislation and the regulations.


Principles of radiation Protection


The General Goal of Radiation Protection

1- Justification: positive net benefit.2- Optimization:

be kept as low as reasonably achievable (The ALARA principle)

3- Dose Limitation: dose limits or control of risk


Dose limitation

Dose limits: are aimed at ensuring that no individual is

exposed to radiation risks that are judged to be unacceptable;

differ depending on whether the exposure is to workers or to members of the public;

do not apply to medical exposure where the issue is the intended result in terms of diagnosis or treatment.

Recommended exposure limits are set by ICRP and IAEA to be:

Occupational exposure quidlines are 100 mSv in 5 years (average, 20 mSv per year) with a limit of 50 mSv in any single year.

General public the standard is 1 mSv per year.

(Natural background radiation is approximately 3 mSv/year.)

Regulatory Status


Comparison of Risks of (Working) Life (fatalities per million per year)

Exempt level (10 Sv) 0.5Clothing & Footwear 3.3Timber & Furniture 10Textiles 36Accidents at Work (US) 50Public limit (1 mSv/a) 50Metal Manufacture 59Accidents at Home (US) 100Natural Background (2.7 mSv/a)

135Construction 200Road Accidents (US) 200Coal Mining 250Radiation worker limit (20 mSv/a) 1,000Deep Sea Fishing 2,000Smoker (1 p/d) 5,000


• Radiation is potentially harmful to us and the type and extent of the radiation damage depends on two things:

• where the radiation hits

• the size of the dose and how fast it is delivered.

Radiation Risks From NORM


a large amount of dose is received over a short period of time.

Also referred to as a short-term exposure.

repeated exposure to low doses of radiation.

Radiation Risks From NORM


100 mSv Observable damage to cells

250 mSv Measurable changes to the blood

1 Sv will kill nobody

2 Sv may kill 5% of the people exposed

9 Sv will kill about 95% to 100% of those exposed

10 Sv will kill about 99% to 100% of those exposed

When can an acute injury occur?


Can NORM cause these injuries?


Types of Radiation Exposure and

Radiation protection Techniques


What are the hazards ?

External exposure

Internal exposure Spread of contamination


External Radiation Exposure

From Sealed and unsealed Sources


Internal Radiation Exposure

Radionuclides can enter the body in four ways

inhalation

wounds absorption

ingestion103-5

Open Sources


Reduction of External Dose

Minimize the time spent near the radiation source

Maximize the distance away from the source Make use of available shielding

Minimize the quantity of radioactive material handled


Internal Radiation

Small quantities of radioactive material can give an appreciable dose inside the body

Protection involves preventing radioactive material from entering the body.


Reduction of Internal Dose

Minimize and control contamination

Use proper protective clothing

Do not eat, drink or smoke in contamination areas

Check yourself for contamination prior to leaving a potentially contaminated area


Management and Workers Responsibilities

toward Radiation Protection and Safety


Management responsibilities

Licensees and employers have primary responsibility for the protection of workers and must ensure that:- dose limits are not exceeded and safety is optimised; workers, other than those who are ”occupationally

exposed”, are protected as if they were members of the public;

workers are informed of their obligations and responsibilities for their own protection and that of others;

safety related reports from workers shall be recorded and appropriate remedial action be taken by the licensee or employer.


Extra salary or other benefits are not to be used as substitutes for proper protection and safety.

Female worker are instructed to notify the employer of pregnancy.

Employers shall adapt working conditions as may be necessary for the protection of embryo or foetus.

Pregnancy is not a reason to exclude a female worker from work.

Conditions of Service


The “legal person” (licensee / employer) shall provide:- information to workers on perceived

health risks including information to female workers on radiation and pregnancy;

information, instructions and training on emergency procedures.

Local Rules and Supervision


Personal Protective Equipment and Monitoring

• Adequate and appropriate protective equipment shall be made available where necessary

arrange for the assessment of occupational exposures;

be alert to potential exposures and contamination.


The health surveillance of radiation workers:- is defined as “medical supervision intended to

ensure the initial and continuous fitness of workers for their intended task.” ;

is based on general principles of occupational health;

should be designed to assess the initial and continuing fitness of workers for their intended tasks.

Health Surveillance


Records of worker exposure

Records are to: include the nature of work and the periods of

employment; include doses, intakes received under normal work

conditions; include doses, intakes in emergency intervention or

accidents;


Responsibilities of Workers

Workers shall be directed to: follow applicable rules and procedures for protection

and safety; appropriately use the monitoring devices, protective

equipment and protective clothing provided by the employer / licensee;

co-operate with the employer with respect to protection and safety and the operation of radiological health surveillance and dose assessment programs;


Responsibilities of Workers

Workers shall be directed to: accept information, instruction and training

concerning protection and safety; report to the employer, RPO or licensee any

observed circumstances that could adversely affect compliance with regulations or safety.


SummaryAny exposure to ionizing radiation may be potentially

harmful to health.

Everyone is subjected to a significant background exposure,

Even doses from occupational practices smaller than background are unjustified if there is no associated benefit, or if they can be readily avoided.

Why take risks

if they can be easily avoided?


Documents

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Dr. Mohammad Said