what do workers in the field need to know about norm/tenorm alan fellman, ph.d., c.h.p. dade moeller...
TRANSCRIPT
What do Workers in the Field Need to Know About NORM/TENORM
Alan Fellman, Ph.D., C.H.P.Dade Moeller & Associates, Inc.
Outline
• Definitions• Sources and types of
NORM/TENORM• NORM Regulations• Oil and Gas Industry NORM
Wastes• NORM/TENORM Radiation Safety
December 2-3, 2014
NORM as a Public Health Issue and a Public Perception Issue
• Basic interactions of people and their environment
• Must understand, assess, and control– Impacts of people on their environment– Impacts of the environment on people
• Oil and Hydraulic Fracturing waste may contain radioactive materialsWhat are these materials?When is this a concern?When/how is it regulated?
December 2-3, 2014
Definitions
NORM: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material – U, Th, Ra, Rn, etc.
or if you prefer:
Cheers regular; loves beer
Some oil and gas drilling waste (shale) Fertilizer (from phosphate ores – uranium) Rare earth mine tailings (uranium, thorium) Ceramic products (uranium in clay) Welding rods (thorium sands in coatings)
December 2-3, 2014
Definitions (Cont’d)
• TENORM: Technologically Enhanced NORM – natural material whose radioactive concentrations have been enhanced by human activities including: Oil & gas pipe scale Oil & gas sludges Selected mining wastes Coal ash (concentrated uranium &
thorium)
December 2-3, 2014
Ionizing Radiation – Why Worry?
• Ionizing radiation health risks: Acute effects – high levels of radiation produce
effects such as blood chemistry changes, nausea, fatigue, various skin effects, cataracts, and death
Delayed effects – at some lower level of radiation, can increase risk of some cancers
• What about at typical environmental and occupational dose levels? No risk? Hormesis? What are the implications?
• Radiation is a weak carcinogen compared to other materials (beryllium, asbestos, tobacco smoke…)
December 2-3, 2014
Background Radiation
People around the world are continually exposed to radiation from natural sources• These sources include:
Cosmic radiation from outer space Terrestrial radiation (materials in the
earth)
• Internal radiation from materials taken into the body through breathing air, drinking water, and eating foods
December 2-3, 2014
Sources and Types of NORM/TENORM
• Oil field pipe scale (radium)• Oil field/refinery sludge (radium)• Geothermal waste (radium) • Drinking water purification
waste (uranium/radium)• Metals and tailings from certain
ores (rare earth elements)• Coal fly/bottom ash
December 2-3, 2014
Oil & Gas Industry
• NORM/TENORM present in all phases • Concentrations depend on geology
Higher concentrations in production phase (scale/sludge)
Drill cuttingsProduced water/flowback waterRadon decay products in gas production equipment
• Gas well drillers often use well logging to determine radiation levels to find gas
December 2-3, 2014
NORM Contamination
• Radon gas, external exposure, internal exposure
• Potential:Worker exposureGeneral public exposure (and associated
litigation risks)Environmental impact
December 2-3, 2014
Who Regulates NORM?
• EPA – sets federal radiation standards for the public
• OSHA – has authority over hazardous materials in the workplace
• StatesNORM-specific regulationsClean Air ActClean Water ActWorkplace dose ratesWaste management
December 2-3, 2014
Waste Characterization
• Generators have the responsibility to know about their waste and appropriate management – DOT HAZMAT issues
• Generators should know waste characterization:Can be done through analytical testing, orThrough generator knowledge of a waste based
on defensible and demonstrated factorsIf uncertain, generators have the responsibility
to perform analytical testing
December 2-3, 2014
Oil Field Waste
• NORM radionuclides may be concentrated in the oil recovery process Radium is more soluble in brine solutions
than uranium or thorium Carbonates and sulfates of calcium,
barium, and strontium may precipitate as pipe scale
Radium will also precipitate in pipe scale Sludge in refineries may also contain
radium
December 2-3, 2014
Oil Field Waste: Example Radionuclide Content
Average Sludge Average ScaleRadionuclide pCi/g
pCi/g210Po 56 360
210Pb 56 360 226Ra 56 360 228Th 19 120 228Ra 19 120 Total: 206 1,320
Note: Typical radium-226 in soil is ~1 pCi/g * EPA Data
December 2-3, 2014
Oilfield NORM/TENORM – Who is Exposed?
• General site workers• Maintenance personnel – cutting, grinding,
welding, scraping, dismantling pipes (scale/sludge)
• Pipe/equipment recyclers• Personnel involved in remediation and
decontamination operations• Waste handlers/transporters
December 2-3, 2014
Oilfield NORM/TENORM – Who Else Could be Exposed?
• Members of the public– Landowners who have leased mineral rights– Transportation of wastes containing radioactive
materials– Water treatment plant workers – they are
members of the public with respect to radiation regulations
• Legal Implications?
Radiation Safety at a NORM Facility
• Written Radiation Safety Program• Training• Survey Activities:
Instrument surveys for dose rate, contamination
Collect airborne dustsRestrict pipe cutting areaPPE – air filter, gloves, other
December 2-3, 2014
Radiation Safety at a NORM Facility (continued)
• Instrumentation• Dose Monitoring• Record-keeping – if there’s no record, then it
wasn’t done– Can you defend your program if challenged?– We live in a very litigious society so this can’t be
stressed enough
What it all means to the operator
• Be familiar with your State’s regulations• Develop a worker protection plan• Manage and dispose of NORM waste
properly• Provide NORM training to workers• Know your NORM environment:
SamplingField Measurements
December 2-3, 2014
Summary
• Not all States Regulate NORM/TENORM• Wide range of State regulations• Several States considering regulation of
TENORM• Increase in oil and gas drilling in northern
states
December 2-3, 2014
Questions/Comments?
Contact Information: Alan Fellman(301) 990-6006 ext. 3302
December 2-3, 2014