Re-Assessment of Radiological Hazards of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (Norm) from the Jubilee Oilfields of Ghana
Date
2018-07
Authors
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
This study re-assesses the radiological hazards of Naturally Occurring Radioactive
Materials (NORM) on workers and the general public due to continuous exploration and
production of crude oil and waste generated from the Jubilee Oilfields of Ghana. The
specific activities of 234U, 238U, 230Th, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 234Th, 228Ra, 224Ra and 40K in
crude oil and NORM waste samples have been estimated using Sodium Iodide detector
and alpha spectrometry after radiochemical separation. A trend analysis of an increase in
the activity concentrations of radionuclides has also been established between the
previous study and this study using a statistical test of association (paired t-test) at 95%
confidence interval. An annual effective dose of 1.32 mSv obtained for occupationally
exposed workers in this study was below the International Commission on Radiological
Protection (ICRP) recommended dose limit of 20 mSv per year (averaged over 5 years
and not exceeding 50 mSv per year in any single year). From the study, radium concentrations are of radiological importance for sludge and produced water due to the
high levels of activity concentrations recorded. There is also tendency for possible
increase levels of activity concentration of these radionuclides with time as exploration
and production continues with more wells being drilled. As a result it is recommended
that a national guideline for monitoring of NORM is established to ensure regulatory
monitoring of these facilities in Ghana.
Description
MPhil.
Keywords
Radiological Hazards, Radioactive Materials, Jubilee Oilfields