Radioactivity levels in scales generated from crude oil production in Ghana

Abstract

Knowledge of accurate radio isotopic signatures is very necessary in assessing any potential radiological hazards and risks to members of the public and workers from exposure to NORM contaminated scales. In this work scales from crude oil production activities from Ghana have been assessed using alpha spectrometry after radiochemical separation, and non-destructive gamma spectrometry. Characterization and determination of activity concentrations of 234U, 238U, 210Po, 230Th, 232Th, 226Ra, 210Pb, 228Ra, 228Th, 224Ra and 40K have been established. The average activity concentrations of 43.9 ± 8.1 kBq.kg-1, 30.3 ± 5.1 kBq.kg-1, 11.2 ± 2.8 kBq.kg-1 and 11.2 ± 2.6 kBq.kg-1 obtained for 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, and 224Ra respectively in scale samples in this study exceeded the IAEA Basic Safety Standards (BSS) exemption levels giving an indication that the scale samples could present significant future radiological risk for workers, the public and environment.