Crude oil and its products and wastes are among the significant sources of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). These materials may be enhanced to high levels due to technological and human activities, which are called technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials (TENORMs). Thus, the average radioactivity of these radionuclides sometimes exceeds the exemption level of 10 000 Bq kg−1, which is recommended by the IAEA's safety standards. TENORMs in the oil and gas industry may generate greater radioactivity levels, which eventually represents potential environmental and health risks. This will require continuous attention by monitoring and surveillance during routine processes in the petroleum industry. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the published literature is conducted to evaluate the TENORM concentrations in the oil and gas industry. Moreover, their environmental and health hazards in different regions of the world are discussed.

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Concentrations of TENORMs in the petroleum industry and their environmental and health effects

http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/4702/1/radiation%20level.pdf

Investigation of Radiation Levels in Soil Samples Collected from Selected Locations in Ogun State, Nigeria

This paper present the findings of naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 228Ra and 40K) carried out on produced water collected from seven oil and gas fields onshore of Delta State, using gamma spectroscopy. Twenty- one produced water samples from seven flow stations waste pit were collected within the oil fields using standard methods. The average specific activity concentrations for the radionuclides 40K, 226Ra and 228Ra are 48.7813.67Bql-1, 6.042.48Bql-1 and 5.182.14Bql-1 respectively. These obtained values are higher than the WHO, 2008 recommended standard limit of 10Bql-1, 1.0Bql-1 and 0.1Bql-1 for 40K, 226Ra and 228Ra respectively. Radium equivalent have average activity concentration of 14.365.55Bql-1 while the average absorbed dose rate of 6.68mSvy-1 was found to be higher than the UNSCEAR 2000 acceptable standard of 1.5mSvy-1. Although the hazard indices (Hex, Hin) calculated are still within their tolerable levels, the estimated committed effective dose due to intake of the sampled water for all the produced water considered are far above the ICRP 0.1 mSvyr-1 maximum permissible limit. The result indicates some level of water pollution in the studied water samples. This work will add to the world data base of natural radionuclide in produced water from crude oil.

http://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20130105.11.pdf

Gamma Spectroscopy Analysis of Produced Water from Selected Flow Stations in Delta State, Nigeria

Water samples from Hadejia River in the north eastern part of Nigeria were studied in order to ascertain the suitability and radiological safety of water from the river for human consumption. Radioactive measurements, using a lead shielded sodium iodide detector coupled to a multichannel analyzer were used to estimate eight radiological parameters of water samples from Hadejia River. The results show that the values of all the parameters fall within the minimum universal standard, indicating that consuming the water pose no serious radiological hazard, especially for adults. The values of the Absorbed Dose Rate (50.10511 nGyh-1) and AEDE (12.458 mSvy-1) for the infant however portend that infant consumer could be susceptible to radiation hazard on consuming water from the River. It is however recommended that activities that are capable of enhancing the radiological content of the River be avoided within the area.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/173/1/012036/pdf

Radiological Safety of Water from Hadejia River

Measurement of Gamma-emitting Radionuclides in Rocks and Soils of Saunder Quarry Site, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

A survey of radioactivity concentration in water supplies used for domestic and industrial purposes in the oil and gas producing communities of Delta State, Nigeria was carried out using a well-calibrated High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector system. The study area was partitioned into ten sections and a total of two samples per partition were collected for analysis. Samples of water from a non-producing area were also collected as control. In all, a total number of forty three samples were collected and analyzed. Each sample was acidified at the rate of 10 ml of 11 M HCl per litre of water to prevent the absorption of radionuclides into the wall of the container and sealed in a properly cleaned container for at least one month so as to attain a state of secular radioactive equilibrium before analysis. The photopeaks observed with reliable regularity belong to the naturally occurring series-decay radionuclide headed by 238U and 232Th, as well as the non-series decay type 40K. The mean specific activity obtained for 40K was 49 ± 15 Bq L–1 with a range of 6 - 177 Bq L–1 while for 238U, the mean specific activity was 3 ± 1 Bq L–1 with a range of 1 - 12 Bq L–1 and the mean specific activity for 232Th was 3 ± 2 Bq L–1 with a range of 2 - 10 Bq L–1 and the total annual effective dose, which vary between 0 - 2 μSv y–1, did not show any significant health impact.

/pdf/assessment-of-radionuclide-concentrations-and-absorbed-dose-3z4re1ogvl.pdf

Assessment of Radionuclide Concentrations and Absorbed Dose from Consumption of Community Water Supplies in Oil and Gas Producing Areas in Delta State, Nigeria

James Bolarinwa Olomo

Papers

Assessment of Radionuclide Concentrations and Absorbed Dose from Consumption of Community Water Supplies in Oil and Gas Producing Areas in Delta State, Nigeria