Determination of radon gas concentration 222Rn from rock models of selected oil wells from Basra oil fields - Iraq

Abstract

In this study, 56 rocks samples were taken from 8 welled oil wells from the oil fields in Basra Governorate - southern Iraq at deep depths of up to 3500m from the surface of the earth, to determine radon gas concentrations 222Rn emitted from the models of oil wells rocks. The Rational Application Developer (RAD7), an active measurement method, used rapid electronic technology. The results of this study showed that the largest concentration of radon gas in oil well rock (Rocks) is 53861Bq.m−3 in a rock sample at a depth of 3500 m from the Ru-205 well in the southern Rumaila oil field and the lowest concentration is248 Bq.m−3 in the rock sample. From WQ-94 well in West Qurna field. The effective annual dose that oil workers can be exposed to upon contact has been calculated to the highest concentration of radon gas 107.772 μSvh−1 which is higher than the permitted dose level 50 μSv h−1 proposed by the EPA in the United States, and may pose risks to the health of workers in Oil Fields, and therefore, measures must be taken to preserve the health and safety of workers. The possibility of developing cancer as a result of exposure to radon gas per million people was found to be high compared to the permissible limits (170-230) per million people previously.