Title: Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and associated radiological hazard in scale and sludge from Jubilee oilfield of Ghana

Authors: David O. Kpeglo; Juan Mantero; Emmanuel O. Darko; Augustine Faanu; Edith A. Amoatey; Guillermo Manjón; Ignacio Vioque; Rafael García-Tenorio

Addresses: Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Seville, Andalucia, Spain; Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana ' Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Seville, Andalucia, Spain; Department of Radiation Physics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden ' School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana ' School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana ' Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana ' Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Seville, Andalucia, Spain ' Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Seville, Andalucia, Spain ' Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA), Seville, Spain; Department of Applied Physics II, University of Seville, Seville, Andalucia, Spain

Abstract: Knowledge of accurate radio-isotopic signatures and chemical constituents is essential in assessing potential radiological hazards to the public and workers from exposure to NORM waste. For that reason, scale and sludge samples from Ghanaian oilfields were assessed using alpha spectrometry, gamma spectrometry, radon monitoring and scanning electron microscope techniques. Activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th-series and ⁴⁰K radionuclides for NORM residues have been evaluated. Fourteen trace elements were also identified and semi-qualitatively quantified. The obtained results clearly reflect that scale and sludge may present radiological risk for workers, public and environment.

Keywords: NORM waste; trace elements; scale; sludge; radon; gamma spectrometry; alpha spectrometry; scanning electron microscopy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2019.103346

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2019 Vol.11 No.2, pp.143 - 157

Received: 21 Nov 2018
Accepted: 05 Sep 2019
Published online: 04 Nov 2019 *

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