SPE 46565

Norm Survey and Control System in the Oil Production Facilities in Egypt.
Dr. S. El - Ghazaly HSE General Manager, Badr Petroleum company SPE, Dr. G. M. Hassib, Radiation Protection
Expert, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority and Eng. Nagwa H. Huseen, Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation.

Copyright 1998. Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

⇒ The PSP includes a quick survey for the radiation dose
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1998 SPE International Conference on
Health, Safety, & Environment in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production held in Caracas,
rate on the surfaces of tanks, separators, de-salters,
Venezuela, 7-10 June 1998. piping, disposal areas, etc.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Continents of the paper, as
presented have-not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
⇒ Each site will be classified according to the following
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessary reflect any categories :-
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented
at SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of
Petroleum Engineers. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 A. Controlled areas where the radiation levels
words. illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Liberian, SPE,
exceed 7.5 uSv/h.
P.O. Box 833836, Richarson, TX 75083-3836. U S A, Fax 01-972-952-9435. B. Supervised areas where the radiation levels lay
__________________________________________________________________________
between 2.5 - 7.5 uSv/h.
C. Screened areas where the radiation levels are
Abstract
less than 2,5 uSv/h.

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) have been ⇒ Category A, requires :-

known to exist in the petroleum industry for many years
through the well logging operations. NORM was first Detailed radiation survey every 3 months, radiation
recognized as a potential health problem as long ago as 1904 measuring instruments, assignment of restricted areas,
in the oil fields of Canada. It became an issue in the North radiation personal dosimetry, supervising any de-
Sea Oil and Gas Production Facilities in the early 1980 and sludging activities, training and NORM waste disposal
became more widely recognized in the United States in 1986 programme.
in the States of Mississippi and Louisiana. Since then, ⇒ Category B, requires :-
NORM have been considered as a potential radiation source
in the petroleum industry which needs to be controlled to Detailed radiation survey every 6 months, radiation
maintain safe working conditions and clean environment. measuring instruments, supervising any de-sludging
activities, training and NORM waste disposal
In Egypt, the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) and the programme.
Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) have
initiated an extensive programmes since 1992. This ⇒ Category C, requires :-
programme includes radiation survey of the oil production Radiation screening every 2 years and, training
facilities. The results of this survey show a wide range of (Optional).
NORM deposits starting from background level up to some
hundreds uSv/h. The present paper includes the results of the radiation
survey, the radiation protection measures taken and the
Accordingly, a NORM control system has been established NORM disposal programme.
which can be summarized as follow :
⇒ It is proposed to run a preliminary screening Introduction :-
programme (ýPSP) for all oil fields to identify the
level of NORM enhancement on each site. It is well known that Naturally Occurring Radioactive
Material (NORM) include the elements Uranium, Thorium,
Potassium, radium, and Radon.
 2 Dr. S. El - Ghazaly SPE, Dr. G. Hassib, Nagwa H. Hussen SPE 46565

state of Mississippi. NORM contamination of production

NORM waste falls under the category of Technologically equipment in Oil and Gas Industry has since been identified
Enhanced Natural Radioactive Material (TENORM). world wide. The United States, including Alaska and the
TENORM is the acronym used to describe the NORM waste Gulf of Mexico region, the North Sea region, Canada,
resulting from various industrial activities that alter and Australia and several Middle Eastern countries have all
concentrate the physical state of NORM. reported NORM contamination. 7

For example, scale may build up on the inside of oil well Louisiana was the first state to pass regulations
production tubing and may concentrate considerable concerning NORM on September 20. 1989. Since then, the
quantities of radioactive material that has potential to expose states of Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, South
humans to relatively high doses of radioactivity. Carolina and Texas have also passed NORM regulations.
Michigan has promulgated NORM guidelines. Several other
NORM is often precipitated as sludges, scales and states are also currently addressing the problem of NORM
residues in waste streams. Radon and radium occur in oil contamination and are in various stages of promulgating
and gas reservoirs with associated brine. regulations. 7

In 1991, for example, a Louisiana biologist reported that NORM Equipment Limits :-
waste water from an oil field near Bayou Terrebonne was
discharging radioactive NORM waste at level 20 times Most regulatory agencies do not allow the unrestricted
higher than allowed discharge levels at the Waterford release of NORM contaminated equipment with reading
nuclear power plant near Taft, Louisiana. This plant greater than 0.5 uSv/hr (50 uR/hr) including background
discharges waste into the Mississippi river. 1,2 radiation levels as measured within one centimeter of
accessible surfaces. Equipment with reading greater than 0.5
Since then, it has been known that as a result of the uSv/hr (50 uR/hr) including background radiation levels are
operation of oil and gas industry, radioactive material can considered to be NORM contaminated. Proper worker
sometimes appear as inclusions in scale formations in protection standards must be followed when performing
tubulars and process vessels as well as in the sludge that maintenance on this equipment. 6
settles out in crude storage tanks.
NORM Limits for Media other than Land :-
This TENORM is drown from the formations from which
oil and gas are extracted and is typically associated with the Early NORM regulations regulated the amount of
water phase. As such, in operations which involve pulling radium-226 and radium-228 in waste and soils as a function
and cleaning of tubulars and working with sludge there are of the radon emanation rate from the waste or soil. Radon
potential occupational hazards to be considered which result gas is a radioactive daughter product of radium-226 and
from the alpha-active TENORM. radium-228. Inhalation of radon gas in homes is currently
considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in
Scaled tubulars have been known to have included Ra- the United States. Smoking is the leading cause. Thus the
226 and Ra-228 in concentrations as high as 100 KBq/Kg .3,4 inhalation of radon gas from radium-226 and radium-228
was considered to be more hazardous to health than the
In addition, the environmental impact of disposal of radium itself.
TENORM must also be considered. The American
Petroleum Institute (API) has proposed different disposal As mentioned above, initial NORM regulations gave
options for NORM wastes which produced in the petroleum the limits for radium in waste as a function of the radon
industries. 5 emanation rate. Currently, the limits of radium-226 and
radium-228 in waste often read as follows 7 :-

A Review of NORM Regulations :- 1. 1.11 Bq/gm (30 picocuries per gram) radium-226 or
radium-228 in media other than soil, provided the
General :- radon emanation is less than 740 mBq/m2/sec (20
picocuries per meter squared per second), or
NORM was first recognized as a problem as long ago as
1904 in the oil fields of Canada, then it became an issue in
the North Sea oil and gas production facilities in the early 2. 185 mBq/gm (5 picocuries per gram) radium-226 or
1980’s. In the United States it became more widely radium 228 in media other than soil, in which the
recognized in 1986 during a routine well workover in the
SPE 46565 Norm Survey and control System in the Oil Production Facilities in Egypt 3

radon emanation rate exceeds 740 mBq/m2/sec (20 measure natural background levels with reasonable
picocuries per meter squared per second). accuracy. All sites will be classified according to the
following categories :-
NORM Land Limits :-
Category A :-
Land is normally exempt from the requirements of
NORM regulations if the radium-226 or radium-228 Where the radiation levels exceed 7.5 uSv/h. These site
concentration is less than 185 mBq/gm (5pCi/gm) in the first will be considered as controlled areas or restricted areas and
15 centimeters of soil depth, and less than 555 mBq/gm (15 will be subjected to the following measures .
pCi/gm) in any subsequent 15 centimeters of soil depth
thereafter . 2. Training of personnel on Radiation Protection.

In Louisiana state, land is exempt from the 3. Detailed radiation survey every 3 months to follow up
requirements of the NORM regulations if the land contains the presence and accumulation of NORM deposits
concentrations less than the limits specified below, in within the production facilities.
samples averaged over any 100 square meters with no single 4. Providing the site with suitable radiation measuring
non-composted to exceed 2.22 Bq/gm (60 pCi/gm) of soil. 7 instruments.

1. 1.11 mBq/gm (5pCi/gm) or less of radium-226 or 5. Physical assignment of restricted areas.

radium-228 above background, averaged over the first
15 centimeters, and 555 mBq/gm (15 pCi/gm) above 6. Radiation Personnel Dosimetry either by active or
background averaged over each subsequent 150 passive techniques.
centimeter thick layer of soil; or
7. NORM waste disposal programme.
2. 185 Bq/gm (30pCi/gm) or less of radium-226 or
radium-228, averaged over 15 centimeter depth Category B :-
increments, provided the total effective dose
equivalent (from the contaminated land) to individual Where the radiation levels lay between 2.5 - 7.5 uSv/h.
members of the public (continuously present) does not
exceed 1 mSv (0.1 rem) in a year. These sites will be considered as supervised areas and will be
subjected to the following measures :-
Norm Regulations in Egypt :-
∗ Training of the personnel on Radiation Protection.
General Requirements :-
∗ Detailed radiation survey every 6 months to follow up the
Extensive activities have been done in Egypt by the presence and accumulation of NORM deposits within the
Atomic energy Authority and the Petroleum Authority to production facilities.
regulate the issue of NORM in the Oil and Gas Industries.
These activities were based on the IAEA Basic Safety ∗ Providing the site with suitable radiation measuring
Standards for Radiation Protection and the International instruments.
Experience in this field. 8
∗ NORM waste disposal programme.
A control system has been established on 1995. This
control system include the following protocol :- Category C :-
1. A preliminary screening programme has to be made Where the radiation levels are less that 2.5 uSv/h.
for all oil and gas fields in the country. This
programme is based on initial radiation survey along These sites will be subjected to the following measures :-
the exterior of the on-line intact equipment such as
Vessels, Separators, Piping, Tanks and all other
∗ Detailed radiation survey every two years.
production equipment.
∗ Training on some knowledge of Radiation Protection.
This survey will be done for the gamma radiation dose
rate by a survey meter with enough sensitivity to
∗ NORM waste disposal programme.
 4 Dr. S. El - Ghazaly SPE, Dr. G. Hassib, Nagwa H. Hussen SPE 46565

Vessel Entery Procedures :-

In case that NORM exist inside the vessel, NORM Contaminated Equipment:-

∗ Ventilate the vessel. In addition to eliminating most Decontamination has to be done before any release or
hydrocarbon vapors, this will also remove any radon scraping of NORM contaminated item. If the NORM scales
that NORM deposits may have generated. consist of carbonate, it is sufficient to wash the contaminated
component by hydrochloric acid. If it consists of sulphate a
∗ De-sludging should be done to remove the NORM
wet mechanical treatment must be done, The resulting waste
deposits in the vessel through drain openings directly in
after the decontamination process should be treated as above.
suitable containers.
In case of contaminated piping it is recommended to be
∗ The cleaning of the vessel should be done by person disposed into plugged well in case that de-contamination is
equipped with breathing air supply system and radiation not feasible, other wise the pipes should be plugged from
personal dosimeters. both ends and stored in the NORM store yard.

∗ The NORM waste should be identified and stored in a Training :-

NORM store yard.
The aspect of training is of primary importance in the
∗ The clothings and equipment used during the cleaning-up present NORM control system. Persons who are to be
operations should be decontaminated or kept in the involved in the management and implementations of
NORM store yard as radioactive wastes. radiation protection programmes should have an adequate
level of understanding of the radiation protection concepts.
∗ Water flushing should be done after de-sludging in a Accordingly, a training programme has been prepared to
closed drain line directed the waste water facilities to provide an integrated set of lectures including principles of
avoid any spills outside the vessel. radiation protection, origin of NORM, NORM regulations,
on site control, survey and sampling, NORM waste
∗ Any inspection activities or maintenance work inside the management and disposal options, etc.
vessel should be done either by :-
This course was prepared to be given twice a year for
⇒ Breathing air supply system , or managers engineers, specialist, and technicians in the oil and
gas industries.
⇒ Continuos air blowing with suitable dust masks.

NORM Waste Disposal :- Typical Field Data :-

Produced Water :- Radiation Survey:-

It is highly recommended in Egypt to re-inject the Radiation survey has been made at different oil
produced waste water back into the formations through production facilities in Egypt.
plugged or abundant wells. In off-shore facilities discharge
can be done directly into the sea after satisfying all The results varied markedly from sits to site and fron
environmental requirements. In case that discharge into the each piece of equipment to another. The present data show
sea is not available in some on-shore facilities, discharge can the maximum reading found so far on the surface of each
be done into lined evaporation ponds. Direct discharge into type of equipment.
the soil is not accepted.
Crude Oil Tank 40 uSv/h
Solid NORM Waste :- Heat Exchangers 35 uSv/h
Similar to produced water, it is also recommended to De - salters 60 uSv/h
slurry and inject NORM waste into a voided formation. Separators 70 uSv/h
The final disposal can be done only by the Atomic Energy On - Land contamination 35 uSv/h
Authority. An intern storage of NORM waste can be done on Drained Sludge in drums 35 uSv/h
the site in a designated store yard.
SPE 46565 Norm Survey and control System in the Oil Production Facilities in Egypt 5

Personal Dosimetry:-

On some sites where the radiation levels were relatively

high, a personal radiation dosimetry was applied by using
TLD system. The TLD dosimeters were given to those who
are in-charge of activities in maintenance, production,
inspection and safety, in the controlled areas.

A typical annal dose were found to be 900 uSv/year as an

average with a standard deviation of ± 30% which is
within the dose limit for the general public ( 1 mSv per
year). 8

Reference

1. Ziff Communications Co., “ Mississippi Suits

Could Decide Oil Companies Liabilities for clean
up of Radioactive Wastes ” Nuclear Waste News,
Jan. 10, 1991.

2. Rick Von Flatern, NORM Contamination,

Regulations Threaten Industry Economy,
Petroleum Engineer Internationals, May 1993.

3. Kolb W.A. and Wojcik, “ Enhanced radioactivity

due to natural oil and gas production and related
radiological problems ”, The Science of the Total
Environment, (1985) 45,77-84.

4. Heaton and Lambley, “ TENORM in oil, gas and

mineral mining ”, Appl. Rodiat. Isot. (1995)
46,577-581.

5. American Petroleum Institute (API), Bulletin on

the management of NORM in oil and gas
production. API, Washington D.C. (1992).

6. Bassignani A., Di Luise G., and Fenzi A., “

Radioactive scales in oil and gas production
centers ” SPE 23380, (1991) 527-537.

7. Wilson, W.F., A Guide to Naturally Occurring

Radioactive Material (NORM), Penn Well Books
Publishing Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1994.

8. IAEA - Int. Basic Safety Standards for protection

against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of
Radiation Sources, Safety Series No. 115, IAEA
Vienna, 1996.