Characterization of the TE-NORM waste associated with oil and natural gas production in Abu Rudeis, Egypt

J Environ Radioact. 2005;82(1):7-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2004.11.001.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to characterize the Technically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TE-NORM) waste generated from oil and gas production. The waste was characterized by means of dry screening solid fractionation, X-ray analysis (XRF and XRD) and gamma-ray spectrometry. Sediment of the TE-NORM waste was fractionated into ten fractions with particle sizes varying from less than 100 microm to more than 3 mm. The results showed that the TE-NORM waste contains mainly radionuclides of the 238U, 235U and 232Th series. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra (of U-series), 228Ra (of Th-series) and 40K in the waste samples before fractionation (i.e. 3 mm) were found to amount to 68.9, 24 and 1.3 Bq/g (dry weight), respectively. After dry fractionation, the activity concentrations were widely distributed and enriched in certain fractions. This represented a 1.48 and 1.82-fold enrichment of 226Ra and 228Ra, respectively, in fraction F8 (2.0-2.5 mm) over those in bulk TE-NORM waste samples. The activity ratios of 238U/226Ra, 210Pb/226Ra, 223Ra/226Ra and 228Ra/224Ra were calculated and evaluated. Activity of the most hazardous radionuclide 226Ra was found to be higher than the exemption levels established by IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994. International Basic Safety Standards for the Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources. GOV/2715/94, Vienna]. The radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq), radon (222Rn) emanation coefficient (EC) and absorbed dose rate (Dgammar) were estimated and these are further discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Egypt
  • Extraction and Processing Industry*
  • Humans
  • Metals / analysis
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Particle Size
  • Petroleum*
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radioactive Waste / analysis*
  • Radioisotopes / analysis*
  • Radioisotopes / standards
  • Spectrometry, Gamma
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Metals
  • Petroleum
  • Radioactive Waste
  • Radioisotopes