Estimation radiation dose from operation of petroleum NORM waste disposal in landfill using TSD-DOSE

Abstract

In the petroleum industry, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) are often enhanced as a result of industrial operation. Radiation protection must be applied in every step of NORM management including disposal. Top rank choice for NORM disposal is landfill. Landfill must provide sufficient protection to both human health and the environment, not only for future but also for operational phase. Landfill workers, including receiving worker, driver and placement worker, are evaluated to estimate potential exposures resulting from landfill operation. Estimation is done for radioisotopes which are of concern in the oil and gas industry, Ra-226, Ra-228, Th-232 and Pb-210. The TSD-DOSE computer code, developed by Argonne National Laboratory, is use to estimate radiological doses to workers from operations at a treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facility. The characteristics of the time needed by workers were obtained from observations and discussions with workers at PPLI Cileungsi Hazardous Landfill. Disposal of NORM Waste in bulk form give higher dose than containerized waste. For receiving worker, Ra-226 gives higher dose and for placement worker higher dose arise from Th-232. The size of the vehicle used to transport NORM waste affects the radiation dose received by landfill workers.