Terrestrial radiation around oil and gas facilities in Ughelli Nigeria

Abstract

An environmental radiation survey in oil and gas facilities of oil fields and their host communities in Ughelli Delta State has been carried out, using a digilert nuclear radiation monitor and a Geographical Positioning System (GPS). Measurements were made in 21 stations and control readings in the host communities. Measured average values ranged between 12.00±0.1 μR h-1 (5.33±.0.35 μSv/week) to 22.00±21 μR h-1 (9.79±0.16 μSv/Week) in the fields and 09.00±1.0 to 11.00±0.5 μR h-1 in the host communities with the maximum deviation value of 88.9% recorded at Eriemu field. The average dose equivalent obtained are within the safe radiation limit of 0.02 mSv /week recommended by UNSCEAR. The radiation level within these facilities are far above the standard background level of 0.013 mR h-1. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.