The potential health exposures to radiological waste as a result of oil and gas production in Iraq

• Main Authors: Al-Rubaiey, N. A., Kadhim, F. S., Al-Bidry, M. A.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aromatic hydrocarbons; Drilling fluids; Environmental impact; Heavy metals; Oil exploration; Petroleum industry; Radioactive materials; Wastes
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0143838

It has been recognized that Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) would be gathered at many sites along with the processes of oil/gas exploration and production. Apparatuses, for instance, separation gears, pumps, and other treating equipment may be contaminated with the NORM, and it can accrue as waste sludge, produced water, scrapings, scale, and other produced waste. This may generate a possible radiation risk to oil industry workers, the public and the environment if convinced regulations are not taken. Current guidelines and procedures for handling polluted waste are motivated by constituents attained from drilling fluid, heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons. This paper considers to emphasizes the threats accompanying NORM and its likely influence on the workers in the oil industry and its environmental impact. Further information about NORM would aid to update the requirement for upgrading approaches by both controllers and operators for active management and handling procedures for oil production wastes. Additionally, the support here is that oil produced wastes would no longer be picked up, moved from one location to another and released to the environment without performing suitable NORM assessments.