What to consider when using the NORM Monitor-IS for field based NORM work

Posted by Tracerco

Aug 20, 2015 10:05:48 AM

Oil and gas professionals are continuously faced with the problem of identifying NORM and safely working in NORM contaminated environments. In this blog post we will discuss how to identify the most appropriate radiation survey meter for field based NORM work and how the Tracerco NORM Monitor-IS can effectively meet your NORM screening challenges and requirements. 

The first consideration is always safety. In many oil and gas facilities there is potential for explosive atmospheres and the safest solution is to use an intrinsically safe meter.  Intrinsic safety means the meter has been designed so that it will not generate a spark or heat with enough energy to cause ignition. The best possible solution is to select equipment that has been approved to the highest possible level for your region.

NORM_kit The Tracerco NORM Monitor-IS has been approved as intrinsically safe by IEC Ex (international standard), ATEX (Europe) and by CSA (USA and Canada).

In the oil and gas sector NORM can be produced in a wide range of environments. NORM surveys often have to be made in extreme weather conditions, such as the freezing winters in Canada, the driving rain offshore in the North Sea, the dry heat of a Middle Eastern summer and the constant humidity of South East Asia to list a few. As equipment and people can be mobilised globally it’s important that NORM meters can cope with any weather condition. A minimum temperature range of -20 to 50oC (-4 to 122F) with no effect on measurement accuracy is essential. The meter must also have a high ingress protection to withstand rain, snow and high levels of humidity and be highly ruggedized, reliable and easy to use. 
 
NORM_Image_2
The Tracerco NORM Monitor-IS has been deployed globally in a wide range of environments. It has a working temperature range of -20 to 50oC (-4 to 122F) and a high ingress protection rating.

Finally, and most importantly, the right detector must be used. For some regions, such as the USA, the standard methodology is to screen for gamma dose rate with a one-inch sodium iodide scintillator detector. A screening threshold of 50 µR/h is commonly used. Where NORM location assessments are made through vessel or pipe walls a scintillator probe is essential.  In other regions a pancake Geiger-Muller tube is the detector of choice. These GM probes are highly sensitive to alpha and beta emissions and so are particularly useful where lead-210 based NORM is suspected. Lead-210 is commonly associated with gas production facilities and emits only weak gammas, so is more readily detected by its particulate emissions. 

greyprobe

The Tracerco NORM Monitor-IS can be supplied with both scintillator and GM probes

 


 

For more detailed information please email radiation.monitors@tracerco.com to discuss your normNORM screening requirements and challenges.

Topics: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, NORM Monitor-IS, NORM Detection, NORM, NORM Management, NORM Survey Meters

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