Safety Aspects of Well Logging
Consultancies provide an introduction to the principles of well logging operations in the oil and gas industry associated with the production of oil and natural gas on land and oceanic oil and gas well platforms so that the regulatory authority is versed on the basic concepts related to the initiation, production and exploration of oil and gas as they relate to its responsibilities to conduct a safety evaluation of license application review and the inspection process. US federal regulations and inspection procedures are discussed including; well logging equipment and operations, procedures related to retrieval of lost and irretrievable sealed sources are also covered. The itinerary includes, if possible a site visit to an operational well site, with the intent of observing the conduct of a full temporary job-site performance based inspection.
Typical topics covered include an introduction to well excavation and geology concepts; safety and security requirements associated with oil well drilling and logging sealed sources containing Code of Conduct (COC) quantities of concern; operations and the safe handling of un-sealed tracer sources; tracers used in fracturing operations and tracer waste management; safe handling of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste and technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM) waste; performance based well logging inspections; temporary job site inspection procedures; access to and safety on oceanic oil and gas well platforms; potential industrial radiography safety and security operations being conducted on the oil and gas platform; safety and security requirements for Category I & II Materials Quantities of Concern as per COC thresholds; and well logging accidents and reported events involving damaged or ruptured radioactive sources.
In addition, the safety evaluation and review of a well logging license application and inspection(s) of well logging platforms and/or the receipt and security of well logging sources at an oceanic or land staging docks are covered.
Safety Aspects of Industrial Radiography
This type of consultancy provides an introduction and understanding of radiography principles, sealed sources, machine produced sources, techniques and equipment, regulatory and licensing requirements for radiographic operation activities, regulatory requirements for handling, storing, shipping and transporting radiography sources, radiography incidents, inspection techniques for radiography activities at fixed facilities and field industrial radiography operations at temporary job site locations. Opportunities may be provided for The AdSTM expert(s) to assist the regulator through a hands-on experience by observing a safety and security inspection at an active temporary job-site (TJS) if arrangements can be made. the appropriate requirements for the implementation of the security requirements based on possession of industrial radiography sealed sources and security operations being conducted under the security requirements for Category I & II Materials Quantities of Concern as per COC thresholds are covered . At the conclusion of these inspections, discussions of the TJS inspection findings and area for improvement are discussed. Examples of incidents and accidents involving industrial radiography operations are shared.
Safety Aspects of Fixed and Portable Nuclear Gauges
These consultancies provide an introduction and understanding of radiography and health physics principles, sealed sources, techniques and equipment, regulatory and licensing requirements for the use of fixed and portable nuclear gauges used for data acquisition, operational activities, regulatory requirements for the safe use and handling, storing, shipping and transporting of these nuclear sources, gauge incidents, inspection techniques for nuclear gauge activities at fixed facilities and field portable nuclear gauge operations at temporary job site locations. Discussions cover the requirements for the implementation of the security requirements based on possession of fixed and portable nuclear gauges, sealed sources contained in these gauges and security of the nuclear gauges. At the conclusion of any inspections performed during the consultancy that are observed by AdSTM, the inspection finding(s) will be discussed with the Regulatory Authority and areas for improvement will be recommended.
Irradiator Technology
Understanding the basic role and responsibilities of the regulator as it relates to the operation of research and development, medical and industrial use irradiators including self-shielded irradiators; panoramic irradiators; and large pool irradiators is the focus of this type of consultancy. It includes discussion of all safety and security regulatory requirements; cobalt-60 source loading and unloading; safety, redundant and back-up systems; audits, checklists, and self-inspection items; equipment; control room and irradiator maintenance; radiation safety officer and operator responsibilities; swipe tests for leakage and pertinent radiation surveys; emergency procedures; commercial applications; dosimetry; regulations; the licensing review process, safety inspections; and public and media relations.
Nuclear Materials Control & Security Systems & Principles
Consultancies serve to provide regulatory body partners the necessary perspective to assess physical protection systems. NRC’s security requirements for radioactive materials licensees that are authorized to possess risk significant quantities of radioactive materials applied in the used of portable and fixed gauges; medical applications; academic/research and development; well logging, irradiators and industrial radiography are used as an example of what is necessary to meet the COC. Discussions provide instruction on a performance-based methodology to evaluate and assess the adequacy of a physical protection system to protect against theft, sabotage or diversion of risk significant quantities of radioactive materials. This will assist in providing the regulatory authority staff with the basic security competencies necessary to function in their specific security discipline. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: malicious uses of radioactive materials; introduction to physical protection systems and identification of critical components of a physical protection system for detection; target identification; interior and exterior intrusion detection sensors; security lighting; access control systems; barriers; locking systems; and response forces. Gaining a working knowledge of appropriate regulatory requirements and guidance associated with the inspection program for risk significant quantities of radioactive materials assist regulatory staff, conducting inspections on licensee’s facilities which possess risk significant quantities of radioactive materials.