RADIATION PROTECTION AND RADIOACTIVE SCALES IN OIL AND GAS-PRODUCTION

Low specific-activity scales consisting of alkaline earth metal carbon ates and sulfates are often present in some gaseous and liquid hydroca rbon plants. These scales contain a certain concentration of radium, u ranium, and thorium which can cause a risk of gamma irradiation and in ternal radiocontamination when they must be mechanically removed. The gamma dose rates and the U-238, Th-232, Ra-226 concentrations were det ermined in sludges, scales, and waters of some gas and oil hydrocarbon plants located in Italy, Congo, and Tunisia. U-238 and Th-232 concent rations were very low. The isotopes U-238 and U-234 resulted in radioa ctive equilibrium, while Th-232 and Th-228 were not always in equilibr ium. A rough correlation was found between the gamma dose rate and the Ra-226 concentration. Some considerations and conclusions about radia tion protection problems are pointed out.