Abstract
The study was carried out in-situ using a Radalert 100 nuclear radiation monitor and a geographical positioning system (GPS). Five facilities were investigated at the rig site which included the rig site host community as well as the camp site for the oil workers at Ekapkamreh town. Ten 10 sampling locations were evaluated at a total of 60 study points. The values obtained range between 0.115±0.018 (µSv/hr) and 0.299±0.040 (µSv/hr) for the rig site environment, 0.111±0.006 (µSv/hr) and 0.337±0.031 (µSv/hr) for field logistic base (offices and workshops), 0.114±0.011 (µSv/hr) and 0.312±0.021 (µSv/hr) for components of the mud circulation section. Also, the radiological concentration of the Chemical Store ranged between 0.126±0.019 (µSv/hr) and 1.181±0.104 (µSv/hr), while the radiological values obtained from other facilities within the rig site ranged from 0.155±0.026 (µSv/hr) and 0.249±0.026 (µSv/hr). Radiation readings obtained for soil ranged from 0.149±0.05 (µSv/hr) to 0.219±0.025 (µSv/hr) and 0.114±0.039 (µSv/hr) to 0.219±0.051 (µSv/hr) respectively at the host community and camp site. Most of the results obtained showed that the general environment of the rig site is slightly above the permissible absorbed dose rate threshold of 0.15(µSv/hr) recommended by the United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) in 2009. However, the exposure rates exceed the standard background level of 13µR/hr (coequal to 0.13µSv/hr). There is high tendency for the industry workers to be exposed to radiation with time.
Highlights
Nuclear and other radioactive sources are used in key sectors of the world’s economy, these includes Oil and Gas, Health, Manufacturing, Security, Agriculture, Mining, Engineering and Construction, Education and Research, Water Resources amongst others (Abison, 2001)
Significant quantities of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) originating from sub surface formations are encountered during production, maintenance and decommissioning activities, the oil and gas industry is a potential sources of radioactivity in any given country where the natural resources are found (UNSCEAR, 2000)
The survey of the background ionizing radiation levels (BIR) levels in oil drilling environment have been carried out in-situ, Five facilities were studied in the rig site; the rig site host community was monitored as well as the camp site for the oil workers at Ekapkamreh town
Summary
Nuclear and other radioactive sources are used in key sectors of the world’s economy, these includes Oil and Gas, Health, Manufacturing, Security, Agriculture, Mining, Engineering and Construction, Education and Research, Water Resources amongst others (Abison, 2001). The oil and gas industry (both up and downstream) operating in many countries of the world makes extensive use of radiation generators, sealed and unsealed radioactive sources, some of which are potentially harmful to human health and the environment if not properly controlled (IAEA, 2010). Significant quantities of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) originating from sub surface formations are encountered during production, maintenance and decommissioning activities, the oil and gas industry is a potential sources of radioactivity in any given country where the natural resources are found (UNSCEAR, 2000). Well logging, drilling operations (especially mud circulation) and the use of radioactive substances within flow stations as well as other oil processing units is of great concern as research has established a correlative spectrum between exposure to radiation and long-term health hazards (Jibril et al, 1999; Abison, 2001; Agbalagba et al, 2007)
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