Role of geomembrane to prevent water pollution and radiation exposure in landfill for NORM waste from the oil and gas industries

Abstract

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) can be concentrated and increased by oil and gas extraction processes. NORM disposal must provide adequate protection to both human health and the environment, which one choice is landfill. The main parameters of concern in the safety of landfills are leachate which could cause water pollution and also radioactive contamination. Leachate can be reduced by using geomembrane in landfill design. In this paper, leaching simulation has been carried out using the required design of class I landfill to see the role of geomembrane to prevent water pollution and reduce radiation dose. Leaching simulations are carried out using the US EPA Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance software. Simulations of radiation assessment are performed using RESRAD. Landfill is assumed as residential area, with people with people living there and produces their food from that land. From simulation result, appearance of geomembrane can reduce leaching water at bottom layer of landfill from 8.58% of total infiltrated water to 0. For 1 Bq/gram Ra-226, people in landfill with geomembrane are exposed maximum 0.183 mSv/year with radon as dominant exposure. Compared without geomembrane, the maximum exposure is 3.846 mSv/year with drinking water consumption as dominant exposure.