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)
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