Naturally occurring radio active materials.ppt

Norm

1. Overview & Management of NORM in
Saudi Aramco
Khalid Mously, Michael Cowie
Saudi Aramco
Environmental Protection Department

2. Outlines
Brief history of NORM
Origins & Where NORM accumulates
NORM exposure scenarios
NORM levels
Workers’ Protection
NORM Management Program

3. NORM Definition
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) –
any nuclide that is radioactive in its natural state ( i.e.
not man-made), but not including source, by-product,
or special nuclear material.

4. Brief History
Early accounts of NORM
Canadian oil field (1904)
Radium in Russian fields (1930)
Uranium in gas formations (1953)
NORM in north sea(1985)
Guidelines (API, IAEA, etc.)
Regulations

5. Origins of NORM
NORM in earth crust
NORM in reservoir rock formations
Uranium
ppm
Thorium
ppm
Limestone 0.03-27 0 -11
Sandstone 0.1-62 0.7 -227
NORM in Formation water
NORM in Natural gas
NORM in Sea water

6. Which NORM !
NORM nuclides of interest to oil industry
Radium-226 & Radium-228
Uranium
Radon-222
Lead-210
Polonium-210

7. Uranium-238
4.5 By
Radon-222
3.8 d
Radium-226
1620 Y
Th-234
Pa-234
U-234
Th-230.
Principal decay Scheme of
Uranium
Radon –
Daughters

8. Relative Penetrating Power

9. Radiation Emitted by NORM
Gamma rays
Ra-226 and Pb-210
Beta particles
Ra-228, Pb-210, Bi-210
Alpha particles
Ra-226,U-238,Po-210 and Pb-210

10. Where NORM accumulates
Scale
Scrapings
Sludge
Thin films (radon progeny)
NORM may accumulate in the following
media:

11. NORM in Scale
Types of scales
Sulfate: SrSO4 and BaSO4 (RaSO4)
Carbonate: CaCO3 (RaCO3)
Effect of water mixing
Change in pressure/temperature
Scale accumulates in: production tubing, well head,
valves, and pumps
Scale inhibitors

12. NORM in Scale

13. NORM in Pipelines Scrapings
Crude pipelines
(Radium & Pb-210)
Seawater pipelines
(Uranium)

14. Radon progeny
Pb-210(22 years)
Po-210(138 days)
Bi-210(5 days)
Form thin films on:compressors, reflux pumps,
control valves, product lines/vessels.
NORM in Gas Processing Facilities
Radon path Boiling Point
(K, 1 Atm)
Ethane 185
Radon 211
Propane 231

15. NORM Exposure Scenarios
Contamination
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Irradiation
External Exposure

16. NORM Health Impact
No short-term acute effects
Chronic exposure
(unprotected)
Higher possibility of cancer

17. NORM Regulations
Specifies contamination limits:
Equipment, waste and soil
Nuclide dependent
Country dependent
EURATOM 96/29
“May 2000”
Country
Limit of
226
Ra
(pCi/g)
Canada 8
UK 10
USA 5 to 30

18. NORM LevelsSpecific Activity (pCi/g)
Nuclide Scale Sludge Scrapings
Ra-226 2.7 – 405000 1.4 – 21600 0.3 – 2000
Pb-210 0.5 – 2025 2.7 – 35100 1.4 – 1350
Po-210 0.5 – 41 0.1 – 4320 2.7 – 108


World wide reported levels of NORM

19. Medium
Specific activity
pCi/liter
Natural gas 0.14 –5400
NGL 0.27 –40500
Propane 0.27 –113400
Radon gas (Rn-222)
EPA limit for Radon in air is 4 pCi/ liter
NORM in Natural Gas

20. Workers’ Radiation Dose
A worker’s dose depends on:
Type of work
Cleaningvessels/tanks
Maintenance
NORM activity
Time
Protective measures

21. Workers Protection
Awareness/training
Protective clothes
Respirators’ use
Practice good hygiene
Limited work scenarios

22. Summary
NORM is a global issue for the oil & gas industry
NORM health hazards are controllable
Implementing NORM procedure will not obstruct
operations
NORM limit varies

23. Management of NORM
in Saudi Aramco
Michael Cowie

24. Management of NORM in Saudi
Aramco
International Radiation Protection Standards
International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)
National Radiation Protection Regulations
King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Saudi Aramco Standard
Management of Technologically Enhanced Naturally
Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
Saudi Aramco Guidance
NORM Guidance Manual
NORM Workers protection and contamination control
guidance

25. Development of NORM management
guidelines
Responsibilities
NORM Surveys
Workers’ Protection
Contamination Control
Confined Space Entry
NORM contamination
limits
Transport of NORM
Contaminated Materials
NORM Contaminated
Equipment
Decontamination
Disposal of NORM Waste
Saudi Aramco Standard, Management of
Technologically Enhanced Radioactive Material (NORM)

26. Management of NORM in Saudi Aramco
NORM Strategy
NORM monitoring
Safe management of NORM contaminated equipment
Control of NORM waste
Workers protection and training
Development of NORM management guidelines

27. Control of
NORM Waste
NORM
Monitoring
Control of
Contaminated
Equipment
Workers
Protection &
Training
NORM Program Strategy
Baseline
Surveys
Pre T&I
Surveys
Routine
Assessments
Legacy Cont.
Surveys
Equipment
Screening
NORM Equip.
Storage
NORM Equip.
Decontam.
NORM Waste
Storage
Minimization
at Source
Waste
Reduction
Permanent
Disposal
Enhance
Awareness
Workers’
Training
NORM
Surveyor
Training

28. NORM Monitoring
NORM
Detected?
Normal
Operation
NORM Free
Equipment
Identify NORM
Contaminated
equipment/waste
Decontaminate
NORM
equipment
Workers
Protection &
Contam. Control
Assess
Radiological
Risks
Interim Storage of
NORM equipment
NORM Waste
Permanent
Disposal
NORM waste
Interim Storage
Yes
No
NORM Contaminated
Equipment
NORM Waste
NORM
Waste
NORM Management Process Cycle
Release for
general use

29. Management of NORM in Saudi Aramco
Emphasis on partnering
Understanding of the operational process is important
Work with proponents to adapt control measures to
operations
Cooperation rather than imposition
Awareness and training

30. Recommendations
Identify the problem
Develop a strategy
Plan actions
Establish controls
Awareness and training
Cooperation and inclusion
Continued re-evaluation