Characterization of Radioactive Petroleum Piping Scale With an Evaluation of Subsequent Land Contamination

Abstract

Scale formation in oilfield piping and equipment has been a problem for petroleum companies. In the past, scale waste from cleaning of piping and equipment has been considered nonhazardous. Naturally occurring radioactive material in the form of 226Ra and, to a lesser degree, 228Ra with their associated decay products have recently been discovered in the scale. Due to the lower abundance and short half-life, 228Ra is not addressed in this paper. 226Ra, an alpha emitter, is a potential internal hazard to workers from the inhalation and ingestion of the dust produced during descaling or pipe cleaning operations. Along with this, a higher-than-normal background gamma exposure rate is seen where the pipe cleaning was routinely done. An evaluation of the radiation hazards associated with a retired pipe cleaning field was performed. Gamma exposure rates, 226Ra concentration, and 226Ra leachability were examined using scale containing soil from the field. Radon emanation from the soil was also determined.

Assessment of the Disposal of Radioactive Petroleum Industry Waste in Nonhazardous Landfills Using Risk-Based Modeling

“…In this study, 2000 m 3 of TENORM wastes, having an average Ra-226 concentration of 1.85 Bq/g (50 pCi/g), were disposed of in a MSW landfill. It was assumed that Ra-228 was also present at a ratio of 3:1 Ra-226/Ra-228 (13). Ingrowth of Pb-210 was assumed for 10 yr at the start of the analysis.…”

NORM in Markazia Degasing Station within North Rumaila Oilfield- Southern Iraq

“…In order to pumping the oil towards the surface it is need to increase the pressure inside the oil-bearing formation, so water is injected inside the reservoir through water injection. When the pressure and temperature of oil is reduced at the surface, radium is co-precipitated with barium as Ba/RaSO4 in sludge and scale [14]. This interprets why most radium concentrates in sludge, scale and produced water.…”

MCNP modeling of NORM dosimetry in the oil and gas industry

“…The depth of the radioactive soil was taken to be 5 cm [12], and the diameter of the disk was set to be 35 m according to previous MCNP modeling work [7,13] to optimally simulate an open soil environment. The diagram as shown in Fig.…”