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Overview & Management of NORM in Saudi Aramco

Overview & Management of NORM in Saudi Aramco. Khalid Mously, Michael Cowie Saudi Aramco Environmental Protection Department. Outlines. Brief history of NORM Origins & Where NORM accumulates NORM exposure scenarios NORM levels Workers’ Protection NORM Management Program.

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Overview & Management of NORM in Saudi Aramco

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

  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. NORM in Gas Processing Facilities • Radon path • 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.

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

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

  17. NORM Regulations • Specifies contamination limits: • Equipment, waste and soil • Nuclide dependent • Country dependent • EURATOM 96/29 “May 2000”

  18. NORM Levels World wide reported levels of NORM

  19. NORM in Natural Gas • Radon gas (Rn-222) • EPA limit for Radon in air is 4 pCi/ liter

  20. Workers’ Radiation Dose A worker’s dose depends on: • Type of work • Cleaning vessels/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. 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 Development of NORM management guidelines • 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 Workers Protection & Training Control of Contaminated Equipment NORM Monitoring Equipment Screening Enhance Awareness NORM Equip. Storage Workers’ Training NORM Equip. Decontam. NORM Surveyor Training NORM Program Strategy Baseline Surveys NORM Waste Storage Pre T&I Surveys Minimization at Source Routine Assessments Waste Reduction Legacy Cont. Surveys Permanent Disposal

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

  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

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