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Koppel DJ, Cresswell T, MacIntosh A, von Hellfeld R, Hastings A, Higgins S. Threshold values for the protection of marine ecosystems from NORM in subsea oil and gas infrastructure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2023; 258:107093. [PMID: 36621180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This modelling study uses the ERICA Tool and Bateman's equation to derive sediment threshold values for radiation protection of the marine environment relevant to NORM-contaminated products (radium-contaminated scales, 210Pb films and 210Po films) found in subsea oil and gas infrastructure. Threshold values are calculated as the activity concentration of the NORM-contaminated products' head of chain radionuclide (i.e., 226Ra + 228Ra, 210Pb, or 210Po) that will increase radiation dose rates in sediments by 10 μGy/h to the most exposed organism at a given release time. The minimum threshold value (corresponding to peak radiation dose rates from the ingrowth of progeny) were for radium-contaminated scales, 0.009 Bq/g of 226Ra, 0.029 Bq/g of 228Ra (in the absence of 226Ra) or 0.14 Bq/g of 228Ra (in the presence of 226Ra), followed by 0.015 Bq/g for 210Pb films, and 1.6 Bq/g for 210Po films. These may be used as default threshold values. Added activity concentrations of the NORM-contaminated products to marine sediments below these threshold values implies a low radiological risk to organisms while exceedances imply that further investigation is necessary. Using contaminated product specific parameterisations, such as Kd values derived for Ra from a BaSO4 matrix in seawater, could greatly affect threshold values. Strong consideration should be given to deriving such data as part of specific radiological risk assessments for these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J Koppel
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, Australia.
| | - Tom Cresswell
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy MacIntosh
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca von Hellfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; National Decommissioning Centre, Ellon, Scotland, UK
| | - Astley Hastings
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; National Decommissioning Centre, Ellon, Scotland, UK
| | - Stuart Higgins
- Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Fan W, Hayes KF, Ellis BR. Estimating Radium Activity in Shale Gas Produced Brine. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:10839-10847. [PMID: 30075626 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b01587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Shale gas reservoir-produced brines may contain elevated levels of naturally occurring radioactive material, including Ra-226 and Ra-228, which come from the decay of U-238 and Th-232 in shale. While the total Ra activity in shale gas wastewaters can vary by over 3 orders of magnitude, the parent radionuclides tend to only vary by 1 order of magnitude. The extent of Ra mobilization from the shale into produced brines is thought to be largely controlled by adsorption/desorption from the shale, which is influenced by shale cation exchange capacity (CEC) and reservoir brine salinity, often reported as the total dissolved solids (TDS). To determine how these factors lead to such large variation in Ra activity of produced brines, the U content and CEC of shale samples from the Antrim and Utica-Collingwood shales in Michigan and the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania were evaluated. Analysis of produced brine from 17 Antrim shale gas wells was then used to develop an empirical relationship between Ra-226 activity and produced water TDS for a given U content of the shale. This correlation will provide an a priori estimate of the expected Ra activity of a produced brine from a given shale gas play when the brine salinity and U content of the shale are known. Such information can serve as a guide for optimal wastewater treatment and disposal strategies prior to any drilling activity, thereby reducing risks associated with elevated Ra activity in shale gas wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Fan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , Unites States
| | - Kim F Hayes
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , Unites States
| | - Brian R Ellis
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , Unites States
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Radioactivity of Soil, Rock and Water in a Shale Gas Exploitation Area, SW China. WATER 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/w9050299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Torres L, Yadav OP, Khan E. Holistic risk assessment of surface water contamination due to Pb-210 in oil produced water from the Bakken Shale. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 169:627-635. [PMID: 27912187 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A holistic risk assessment of surface water (SW) contamination due to lead-210 (Pb-210) in oil produced water (PW) from the Bakken Shale in North Dakota (ND) was conducted. Pb-210 is a relatively long-lived radionuclide and very mobile in water. Because of limited data on Pb-210, a simulation model was developed to determine its concentration based on its parent radium-226 and historical total dissolved solids levels in PW. Scenarios where PW spills could reach SW were analyzed by applying the four steps of the risk assessment process. These scenarios are: (1) storage tank overflow, (2) leakage in equipment, and (3) spills related to trucks used to transport PW. Furthermore, a survey was conducted in ND to quantify the risk perception of PW from different stakeholders. Findings from the study include a low probability of a PW spill reaching SW and simulated concentration of Pb-210 in drinking water higher than the recommended value established by the World Health Organization. Also, after including the results from the risk perception survey, the assessment indicates that the risk of contamination of the three scenarios evaluated is between medium-high to high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Torres
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Om Prakash Yadav
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Eakalak Khan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA.
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