[ RadSafe ] Pipe coating using Cs-137

[Robert D Gallagher]

There are many pipe inspection  companies that utulize radioactive sources
in their operations. Some use radiation sources for measuring pipe wall
thickness as the device is pushed through the line by the moving fluids.
Other companies utilize external sources positioned in different sequences
to trigger control relays of a device within the pipe to make it stop or
take samples. A third application as mentioned by Franz uses millicurie to
multicurie cobalt sources to find stuck pipeline scraper pigs in a pipeline
or to at least follow the progress of the scraper pig.

I have worked with all of these devices and we never considered the
personnel operating them to be industrial radiographers. The sources used in
the above applications are usually millicurie to a few Curie sources.
Radiographers commonly uses 25-200 Curies.   Also with radiographers, the
source is exposed for extended periods of time in air where the pipeline
sources are usually several feet below ground and are constanly moving so
the potential for personnel exposure is minimal.

For the external pipe control sources that I have seen, the sources were
only a few millicuries and were well shielded and  collimated. Unless
someone turned it upside down and sat on it, minimal exposure is likely.


Bob Gallagher
NSSI   Houston


---Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl]On
Behalf Of Franz Schönhofer
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 5:59 PM
To: 'Abu-Jarad, Falah A'; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] Pipe coating using Cs-137


Dear collegue,

Your request reminds me to a very long ago lecture (about four decades) of a
professor of mine, who reported the use of a machine, equipped with a Cs-137
source, which was used to clean pipes and which's progress could be
monitored and if it was stuck could be easily located.

This is obviously similar to your scenario.

Not being able to answer to the point, because I do not know the radiation
protection regulations in your country, I would believe, that persons
working with radioactive sources (depending on their involvement) might be
classified as radiation workers.

Again I refer you to your countrie's regulations and if there are nones,
refer to the IAEA guidance rather than to the US regulations.

Best regards,

Franz


Franz Schoenhofer
PhD, MR iR
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
AUSTRIA
phone -43-0699-1168-1319


> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] Im
> Auftrag von Abu-Jarad, Falah A
> Gesendet: Montag, 03. April 2006 15:17
> An: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Betreff: [ RadSafe ] Pipe coating using Cs-137
>
> Dear All
>
>
>
> Radiation workers using radiation sources of Cs-137 during their job of
> internal oil pipe coating. The source used from outside of the pipe as
> indicator to the boundaries where the coating machine inside the pipe
> will stop. Is there any radiation protection guide or instruction to
> this type of job?.  Are the workers considered as industrial
> radiographers?
>
> Your input is greatly appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Dr. Falah Abu-Jarad
>
> abujarad at hotmail.com
>
>
>
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