Evaluation and management of radiological activity in oil field industry

Natural Waste Radioactive Material (NORM) is one of the problems faced by many countries, including Iraq. Since it is an oil producing country, the amount of waste produced annually is high. Moreover, the lack of regulatory systems to address this problem has made it worse. In this study, the NORM waste problem was analyzed scientifically with the help of previous studies. Additionally, field operations will help identify the root cause of this problem and reduce its risks. During the study, 22 different soil and mud samples were collected from oil fields in Iraq and prepared according to laboratory conditions in IRSRA laboratories. Each sample was measured using a Falcon 5000 system containing an HPGe detector. The average active concentration values of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K isotopes for soil samples found as 43.21, 20.07, 17.43 and 86.72 Bq/kg, respectively. For mud samples, these values found as 12.46, 14.47, 12.82 and 20.75 Bq/kg, respectively. Although the activity concentration of 238U in some soil samples is slightly higher than the recommended limits due to the geological structure of the soil, the results obtained are generally below the limits recommended in UNSCEAR 2000. However, the calculated values of radiation hazard indicators are also below the recommended limits. In addition, the results of the RESRAD-ONSITE program regarding the total annual dose to workers were less than their permissible limits according to GSR Part3. At the end of the study, it was suggested that radiological measurements should be carried out continuously in oil fields and it was concluded that a detailed guide is needed for the management of these wastes in all relevant sectors.