MANAGEMENT OF NORM IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY Akpojevwa Tega Naomi, october 2016 | Page 32

smaller (5 x 10 -5) e.g. 1.000.000 m3 of gas produced require only the co-
production of 50 m3 of water. (Rood et al, 1998, Paranhos Gazineu et al, 2005)
The produced water comes with the production flow mixed with the oil and gas.
When separated from the solids, the oil and gas and the water is further treated
to remove small particles by using different processes such as centrifugation
filtration, skimming and adsorption. After these processes the water is
discharged to the sea or is re-injected into the sea bottom (OGP 2008; Betti et
al. 2004).
The problem with the produced water is that it contains elevated levels of
NORM e.g. Ra-226 and Ra-228 which have a long half-life (see table 3) (NRPA
2004).
Table 2.5: Activity concentration of NORM in produced water (Jonkers et al.
1997).
2.2
NORM Health Effect
The health effects of NORM are a function of the energy transmitted to the
body as the Alpha-α, Beta-β or Gamma-γ radiation dissipates excess energy into
living cells, which may result in cellular damage and genetic mutation.
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