RE: Natural radioactivity in oil

["Jim Otton" <jkotton@usgs.gov>]

Julian,



I have a copy of USGS Bull. 1100 "Uranium and other metals in crude oils".

It is not online.  Part A of the document describes the analytical methods

and Part B describes the data from the study.  The sampling covered

oilfields west of the Mississippi and cannot be considered a random sample.

Table 6 in that report lists 117 analyses for uranium in crude oil.  The DL

was 0.1 ppb.  Twelve values were less than  0.1 ppb, 64 values are in the

range of 0.1-0.9ppb, 35 values are in the range of 1.0-9.9 ppb and 5 values

range from 10.0-400 ppb.  The data are log normally distributed.  The median

is 0.5 ppb.

There is some indication that high values are found in specific geographic

areas, but the data are too sparse to define patterns..



Jim Otton



  -----Original Message-----

  From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu]On Behalf Of JGinniver@AOL.COM

  Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 10:52 AM

  To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

  Subject: Natural radioactivity in oil





  Hi, I've checked the archives and discovered that there has been a

previous discussion on this although it doesn't appear to have provided much

in terms of detail.



  One thing that was identified was USGS Bulletin 1100.  There doesn't

appear to be an electronic copy of this on the web.  Is there anyone out

there in Radsafe land who know where an electronic copy may exist or could

provide an electronic copy.



  Also the previous discussion took place some time ago, has anyone got more

recent experience of the possible quantities of Natural Radionuclides

present in oil.  I would appreciate any information anyone could provide on

the analysis of oils for artificial radionuclides.



  Any and all help on this would be appreciated.



  Regards,

       Julian