Application of RESRAD model to assess radiation doses due to TENORM accumulation in evaporation pond during petroleum production

Abstract EN

TE- Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TE- NORM) is the potential radiation source in the petroleum industry which needs to be identified and controlled to maintain safe working conditions and protection of the environment.

In this study radioactive contamination of produced water by NORM has been modeled by using RESRAD (version 6.5) computer code to evaluate potential radiological doses and health risks to workers at several oil field locations.

The presence of NORM in produced water unlikely to cause external exposures which may be exceeded dose limits for workers.

In this assessment the exposure source parameters were adjusted a period of 100 years and area of evaporation pond was 1300 m2 and 10 m depth.

The predicted maximum total effective doses equivalent received by workers from produced water in evaporation pond are (1.5 x 10-5 mSv/yr) and for soil (categories I, II and III) are (0.732, 0.244 and 0.150 mSv/yr).

Also its annual total cancer risk for produced water is (1.25 x 10-9) and for soil (categories I, II and III) are (6.0 x 10-5, 2.0 x 10-5, 1.25 x 10-5) respectively.