NORM MANAGEMENT IN THE OILFIELD

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NORM MANAGEMENT IN THE OILFIELD
We have solutions for your NORM problems
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We have solutions for your NORM problems
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• Geri Cooley, MS, REM, CSP
• Radiation Safety Officer

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PERMIAN BASIN STEPS NETWORK MAY 11, 2010
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WHY DO COMPANIES DECON EQUIPMENT?

• Avoid Pollution
• Maximize Storage Capability
• Comply With Regulations
• Protect Workers
• Property Transfers
• Continue Operations

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TEXAS AGENCIES

• Railroad Commission of Texas
• Disposal Only of Oil Gas NORM
• Department of State Health Services
• Possession, Handling, Worker Protection,
  Transportation EVERYTHING UP TO DISPOSAL
• Department of Transportation
• Transportation of Radioactive Material

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LICENSEE CATEGORIES

• General Licensee - Producers, operators,
  equipment yards, pipe yards, etc.
• Specific Licensee - A company that applies to and
  is approved by the regulatory authority for a
  license to perform NORM work.
• Is it Routine Maintenance or Decontamination?

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NORM SPECIFIC LICENSEES IN TEXAS

• Aecom Technical Services Inc
• Alamo Environmental Inc
• Almac LLC
• Dunagin Transport Co
• Enercon Services Inc
• Etech Environmental Safety Solutions
• Four Lane Inc
• Lighthouse Environmental Services
• Lotus LLC
• Newpark Environmental Services LLC
• NORM Decon Services LLC
• Nuclear Sources Services Inc
• Protechnics Environmental
• PSC Industrial Outsourcing LP
• Radiation Environmental Mgmt

• SYMB Environmental LLC
• United States Environmental SVCS
• US Ecology Texas LP
• USA Environment LP
• Reciprocity Licensees
• American Pollution Control Corp LA
• Dade Moeller And Associates Inc MD
• Dynamic Industries Inc LA
• Energy Solutions LLC TN
• Grand Isle Shipyard LA
• Major Equipment Remediation Svcs LA
• Rice Operating Company NM
• Trussco Inc LA

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HANDLING NORM

• General Licensee Required to have a NORM
  Worker Protection Plan 25 TAC 289.202
• Worker Protection Worker Training get trained!
• NORM Awareness
• NORM Worker
• NORM Surveyor
• Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
• Secure the location/equipment with notices signs

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RRC MARKING RULE16 TAC RULE 4.605

• All Operators/Producers in Texas MUST mark their
  NORM-Contaminated Equipment with the letters
  NORM
• Clearly visible waterproof tag or marking with a
  legible waterproof paint or ink
• Must be conspicuous to the worker (by the valve,
  man way, etc.)

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SURVEY TECHNIQUES

• Survey within 1 centimeter of the surface
• Check the response of the meter every time you
  conduct a survey
• Meters must be calibrated every 12 months
• Record the results of the survey on a report form
  with a schematic of the site
• Take Pictures

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EQUIPMENT WASTE

• Vessels/Pipe are Contaminated at 50 µR/hr
• Determines if a specific licensee is required to
  decon the vessel
• Waste/Soil is contaminated at 30 pCi/g of Ra226
  Ra228 or 150 pCi/g of the associated daughter
  products (Pb210)
• Waste Characterization
• Disposal

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RADIATION UNITS

• Roentgen Measures Exposure (R/hr)
• Exposure Radiation that is emitted from an
  object
• REM Measures Dose
• Dose Radiation that contacts the body
• RAD Measures Absorbed Dose
• Absorbed Dose Radiation that enters the body
  and can cause damage

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SHIPPING SAMPLES

• DO NOT SHIP SAMPLES VIA THE U.S. POSTAL SYSTEM!
• It is illegal to ship radioactive material USPS
• Use a Private Carrier (FEDEX, UPS, DHL, etc)
• Packages that measure over 50 µR/hr require
• UN2910 must be written on the inside package
• The outer package must not exceed 500 µR/hr

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NORM TRANSPORT

• Determine if the load is considered Radioactive
  per DOT 2 steps
• Rule of Thumb Calculation - Gamma Spectroscopy
• Ra226 Analysis / 2,700 pCi/g
• Ra228 Analysis / 2,700 pCi/g
• Th228 Analysis / 270 pCi/g
• Total gt 100 Radioactive, lt 100
  Non-radioactive
• If Radioactive, survey outer package gt 500 µR/hr
  then placard Radioactive and manifest with
  proper shipping name

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AUTHORIZED DISPOSAL16 TAC RULE 4.614

• Authorized by Rule
• Disposal in plugged abandoned wells
• Burial At the Same Site where the NORM was
  generated
• Land farming At the Same Site where NORM was
  Generated
• Disposal at a licensed facility
• Injection If NOW Waste

• Permit Required
• Non-retrieved Flowlines/Pipelines
• Commercial Surface Waste Management Facilities
• Disposal into plugged abandoned wells
• Injection into Enhanced Oil Recovery Injection
  Wells
• Injection

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NORM COMMERCIAL DISPOSAL FACILITIES

• All Facilities use injection disposal methods
• New Park Resources Winnie TX
• Inject Into Domal Salt
• MB Energy Liberty TX
• Inject Into Domal Salt
• Lotus LLC Andrews TX
• Salt Cavern Disposal Into Bedded Salt

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QUESTIONS?
We have solutions for your NORM problems
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We have solutions for your NORM problems
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L
U
T
I
O
N
S
R

• Geri Cooley, MS, REM, CSP
• Radiation Safety Officer

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Office [phone]Fax (432)
355-4404gcooley_at_normsolutions.comwww.normsolutio
ns.com