Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Dr

Radiological Protection from Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Dr. Mohammad Said Al-Masri & Dr. Riad Shweikani Department of Protection and Safety Atomic Energy Commission of Syria Damascus, P. O. Box 6091 E-mail: msmasri@aec. org. sy rshweikani@aec. org. sy Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry • Radiation Sources in Oil & Gas Industry (Overview) • Origin of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in Oil and Gas Industry • Where we can see NORM. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry • Sealed Sources Ø Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Ø Gauges Ø Well Loggings • Open Sources Ø Radioactive Tracers Ø Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Non. Destructive Testing Ø -rays (60 Co, 137 Cs, …) Ø X-rays Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry Sealed Sources – Gauges Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Radiation Sources in Oil and Gas Industry Open Sources • Radioactive Tracers • Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Origins of (TE)NORM in the Oil and Gas Industry Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Manual Cleaning Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Production Water Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Reported Activity Concentration Range in E&P Waste Streams Scale & Sludge Production Water Hard medium soft Bq/L Bq/g 238 U 0. 0003 -0. 1 0. 001 -0. 5 0. 005 -0. 01 226 Ra 0. 002 -1, 200 0. 1 -15, 000 0. 8 -400 0. 05 -800 0. 05 -190 0. 02 -75 0. 05 -2, 000 0. 1 -1, 300 Nat. Occ. Radionuc. (NOR) 222 Rn 210 Pb 210 Po 0. 02 -1. 5 232 Th 0. 0003 -0. 001 228 Ra 0. 3 -180 224 Ra 0. 5 - 40 0. 004 -160 0. 001 -0. 002 0. 001 -0. 01 0. 002 -0. 01 0. 05 -2, 800 0. 05 -300 0. 5 -50 Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Reported External Radiation Levels at Oil/Gas Production Facilities Facility Radiation level µSv/hr Crude Oil Processing/Treating 1. down hole tubing, safety valves (internal) 2. well heads, production manifolds 3. production lines 4. separator scale (external/internal) 5. water outlets < 300 0. 1 - 2. 5 0. 3 - 4 < 15/200 0. 2 - 0. 5 NGL Processing 1. filters 2. NGL pumps 3. LPG storage tanks 4. NGL/LPG shipping pumps, reflux pumps, elbows, flanges < 90 < 200 < 60 0. 1 - 2. 8 Associated/Natural Gas Processing/Treating 1. down hole tubing 2. piping, filters, storage tanks, reflux lines Occupational Health Conference 3. sludge pits, brine disposal/injection wells, brine storage 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman tanks 0. 1 - 2. 2 < 80 < 50

Risks Arising from Radiation Exposure And What can we Do? Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Radiation at Workplaces o Radiation is invisible, tasteless, and odorless, and, as a result, is commonly overlooked as a potential hazard at workplaces. o 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. o Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Types of radiation o Ionizing: removes electrons from atoms o o o Particulate (alphas and betas) Waves (gamma and X-rays) Non-ionizing (electromagnetic): can't remove electrons from atoms o infrared, visible, microwaves, radar, radio waves, lasers Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Background Radiation We all receive background radiation whether we are occupationally exposed or not Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Why is radon a problem? o o Radon is an inert gas and is not poisonous. However it is a problem because: n n n o 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). Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

NORM and Radon o o o 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Regulation Related to Radiation Exposures at workplaces Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

NORM Exposure Criteria o o The basic principle is that: The same radiation exposure criteria, applied to any other radiation activities, should be applied to workers exposed to NORM Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

International Regulations The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) n has established fundamental radiation protection principles and recommendations. (ICRP Publication 60). The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) n has established The International Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Ionising Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation sources (BSS) Primary Responsibility for Radiation Safety rests on licensees and employers of occupationally exposed workers Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Licensees and employers shall: o o o 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Principles of radiation Protection Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

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 Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Dose limitation o Dose limits: n are aimed at ensuring that no individual is exposed to radiation risks that are judged to be unacceptable; n n 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Regulatory Status o Recommended exposure limits are set by ICRP and IAEA to be: n Occupational exposure quidlines are 100 m. Sv in 5 years (average, 20 m. Sv per year) with a limit of 50 m. Sv in any single year. n General public the standard is 1 m. Sv per year. (Natural background radiation is approximately 3 m. Sv/year. )

Comparison of Risks of (Working) Life (fatalities per million per year) Exempt level (10 m. Sv) Clothing & Footwear Timber & Furniture Textiles Accidents at Work (US) Public limit (1 m. Sv/a) Metal Manufacture Accidents at Home (US) Natural Background (2. 7 m. Sv/a) Construction Road Accidents (US) Coal Mining Radiation worker limit (20 m. Sv/a) Deep Sea Fishing Smoker (1 p/d) Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman 0. 5 3. 3 10 36 50 50 59 100 135 200 250 1, 000 2, 000 5, 000

Radiation Risks From NORM • 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

When can an acute injury occur? 100 m. Sv Observable damage to cells 250 m. Sv 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 Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Can NORM cause these injuries? Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Types of Radiation Exposure and Radiation protection Techniques Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

What are the hazards ? o External exposure o Internal exposure n Spread of contamination Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

External Radiation Exposure o From Sealed and unsealed Sources Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Internal Radiation Exposure Open Sources Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Reduction of External Dose o o 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 o Small quantities of radioactive material can give an appreciable dose inside the body o Protection involves preventing radioactive material from entering the body. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Reduction of Internal Dose o Minimize and control contamination o Use proper protective clothing o Do not eat, drink or smoke in contamination areas o Check yourself for contamination prior to leaving a potentially contaminated area

Management and Workers Responsibilities toward Radiation Protection and Safety Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Management responsibilities o Licensees and employers have primary responsibility for the protection of workers and must ensure that: n n 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Conditions of Service o o 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Local Rules and Supervision o The “legal person” (licensee employer) shall provide: n n / information to workers on perceived health risks including information to female workers on radiation and pregnancy; information, instructions and training on emergency procedures. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Personal Protective Equipment and Monitoring Adequate and appropriate protective equipment shall be made available where necessary o arrange for the assessment of occupational exposures; o be alert to potential exposures and contamination. • Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Health Surveillance o The health surveillance of radiation workers: n n n 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. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Records of worker exposure Records are to: o o o 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; Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Responsibilities of Workers o Workers shall be directed to: n follow applicable rules and procedures for protection and safety; n appropriately use the monitoring devices, protective n 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; Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Responsibilities of Workers o Workers shall be directed to: n accept information, instruction and training concerning protection and safety; n report to the employer, RPO or licensee any observed circumstances that could adversely affect compliance with regulations or safety. Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Summary Any 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? Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman

Occupational Health Conference 11 th – 13 th December 2006, Oman