Exposure to Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Nuclear Radioactive Material (TENORM) from oil and gas drilling and production activities can have effects on both the environment and workers involved in the industry. There is a significant lack of available information regarding dynamic modeling and risk assessment of TENORM occupational exposure in the oil and gas industry, and available studies show that workers in the field are at risk of being exposed to varying levels of radiation. This paper presents a methodology to bridge this knowledge gap by modeling workforce TENORM radiation exposure at different oil and gas operation stages. This was achieved by integrating SHIPP (System Hazard Identification, Prediction and Prevention) Methodology And Rational Theory (SMART approach). The SMART approach was applied to develop an integrated framework for TENORM occupational exposure risk assessment. Application of the proposed approach is illustrated with a scenario, and outcomes from modeling this scenario explain how system degraded as a function of safety barrier performance.

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Enhanced oil and gas production activities have resulted in the increased production of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Nuclear Materials (TENORMs). This has raised a radiological concern for workers, the public and the environment. The available studies have focused on identification and assessment of TENORMs; no attention yet has been given to the safe handling and management of produced TENORMs based on scientific evaluation or adoption of new technology. This paper attempts to present set of recommendations and conceptual understanding of a technology to manage TENORMs concerns, as part of a larger system development program of TENORMs risk management in the oil and gas industry. These recommendations stress the importance of new approaches of special personal protective equipment shielded with an effective and lightweight layer of leaded material. It also introduces a novel Thermo-chemi-nuclear Conversion Technology (TCT) to treat TENORMs. This technology is designed to manage TENORMs wastes along with household, sewage, industrial effluent, and hazardous wastes, and eventually convert them into fuel and renewable energy.@en

The great debate about incorporating public participation in the legislative process of oil and gas regulation is contentious and triggered by the political game theory, whereby states focus on building a strong economy and full sovereignty at the expense of the environment, the safety of their citizens, and health. The relationship between politics and the economy in oil- and gas-producing states is represented by the oil and gas industry. During oil and gas production, harmful radioactive materials known as TENORM (technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive materials) are coproduced. Furthermore, the coproduced radiological materials pose a serious radiological risk to workers in the oil and gas industry as well as the public. This occurs via radiological pathways that contaminate soil, water, and food sources due to the current methods of disposing radioactive materials that are stored either near the surface or underground. Incidentally, TENORM disposal sites that are subsequently developed into residential sites, commercial premises, or industrial sites can increase the radiological risk. This paper focuses on the relationship between the legislation and politics of the oil and gas industry and the laws associated with the oil and gas industry that protect human health and environmental safety. The paper aims to highlight the importance and activate the role of public participation in the formulation of legislation, by striking a balance between the interest of the authorities and interests of the public under democracy.@en

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Nuclear Radioactive Materials (TENORM) waste in the petroleum industry has become a serious concern as a potential source of radiation. The risk of being exposed to TENORM waste must be identified and controlled to protect workers, the general public and the environment. This paper presents an analysis of TENORM waste disposal options and risk assessment methods commonly used in the oil and gas industry. To assess their effectiveness, the paper utilizes an integrated fate and transport methodology and exposure pathways. The paper also studies plausible scenarios in which the contaminants can migrate through the geosphere and biosphere, reaching the environment, animals and humans. A real case scenario of TENORM waste disposed in an evaporation pond is simulated using RESRAD (version 6.5) where real data used as input parameters to evaluate the potential radiological doses and increased carcinogenic risk. To both understand and validate the simulated results, the findings of the real case scenario are compared with results obtained using a similar simulated scenario constructed from a literature review.

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