Natural Radioactive Scales in Oil and Gas Fields of Jamahiria: a Challenge to Radiation Safety of Workers

This paper throws light on first time detection and appearance of natural radioactive scales with low specific activity in a form of hard scales on internal sides of above ground production components, which include pipes, separators, and skim tank, and platform. Monitoring of such components using portable Gamma survey meters predicted a presence of some radioactive hot spots. Alpha spectrometry, however; pointed out that some scales contained some radioactive elements (Alpha emitters), such as Radium-226, Radium-224, Polonium-212, and Polonium-214 that were originated as a result of decay of their parents U-238 and Th-232. Additionally the results predicted that, radon gas might also be present even though it was not measured. Recorded gamma activities levels (secondary gamma) did not cause any potential hazard to workers in the oil and gas fields at the moment. However; considerations for operators safety need to be taken in the near future, as these readings may be used as alarming signals for forecasting the expected radiation exposure risk for workers when levels of radiation increased, and to help in taking appropriate remedial safety measures. External exposure to gamma radiation during general operation and maintenance was estimated within the monitored fields, (n =186) and found to range between ( 18 μ Sv/h) and ( 256 μ Sv/h), when the averaged Background in all monitored fields was (0.15 ± 0.04 μ Sv/h). Aspects of radiological risk and protection of workers within all steps of oil and gas production will be discussed. Instruction however, were given to all Radiation Safety Officers (RSO), working in the monitored oil fields to assure implementations and enforcement of basic safety code of practice, and all necessary safety measures to prevent un necessary occupational exposure during maintenance and regular operation. (authors)