MANAGEMENT OF NORM IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY Akpojevwa Tega Naomi, october 2016 | Page 62

 The production sector responsible for developing and exploiting commercially viable oil and gas fields;  ‘Downstream’ sectors dealing with transport of the raw materials and their processing into saleable products;  Marketing sectors responsible for the transport and distribution of the finished products. Radioactive materials, sealed sources and radiation generators are used extensively by the oil and gas industry, and various solid and liquid wastes containing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) are produced. The presence of these radioactive materials and radiation generators results in the need to control occupational and public exposures to ionizing radiation. These wastes are generated predominantly in solid and liquid forms and may contain radionuclides of artificial or natural origin with a wide range of half- lives. The oil and gas companies themselves are not experts in every aspect of the technology applied in their industry. Frequently the necessary expertise is provided to the industry by specialized support organizations. Obviously it is in the interests of the oil and gas industry to demonstrate an appropriate standard of basic radiation safety, environmental protection and waste management and to have a common understanding of requirements and controls to establish efficient and safe operations. (IAEA, 2010) 51