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RE: contamination by spraying
Scott,
If 'production water' was just sea water I can completely agree with
you, but it is not ...
Fyi: during the deep-downhole gas/oil formation process, als (connate)
water is formed. Via porous/cracked 'rocks', the gas/oil/water mixture
tries to escape via the surface. During this transport (on a geological
time scale) minerals may be leached from the 'rocks' passed, where these
minerals mainly will become dissolved in the aqueous part of the
mixture. If these these mixtures encounter (dome shaped) impenetrable
rock, so-called (gas/oil) reservoirs may be formed, where also some
separation may occur (from top of the dome to 'bottom', gas-oil-water).
Starting production from such a reservoir, initially 'pure' gas/oil may
be produced, but with increasing productional life time, also water will
be co-produced. This water is just termed 'production water', which is
separated from gas/oil in so-called dehydration facilities. The
production water may just be sweet water, but can be very saline as well
(specific gravities up 1.15 g/mL have been reported). Besides, the
reported concentrations of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORs) in
'production waters' vary considerably:
NOR Reported Range (Bq/L)
U-238 0.0003 <> 0.1
Ra-226 0.002 <> 1,200
Pb-210 0.05 <> 190
Th-232 0.0003 <> 0.001
Ra-228 0.3 <> 180
Ra-224 0.5 <> 40
Very likely, it will be a non-issue, but before I draw the conclusion
that 'contamination by spraying' is a 'radiological' non-issue, some
work has to be done.
Kind Regards, Gert Jonkers
e-mail Gert.G.Jonkers@OPC.Shell.COM
>----------
>From: Scott D Kniffin[SMTP:Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov]
>Sent: 1998-10-20 15:43
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: Re: contamination by spraying
>
>Gert,
>For those of us completely devoid of knowledge where offshore oil drilling
>is concerned, what is "production water?" If we're simply talking about
>sea water, what's the point in worrying about this? What difference is
>there between this and standing on the deck of a ship in high seas? I take
>a near bath in our "home made" sea water at the aquarium each week (small
>children + touch pool, you do the math) and the last thing I'd worry about
>is the dose from the salts and minerals. The 7 pound lobster in the "no
>touching zone" that routinely breaks his Lexan feeding stick is much more a
>concern than anything else. As always with things I don't know, I await
>enlightenment.
>
>Scott Kniffin
>
>RSO Unisys Federal Systems, Lanham, MD
>CHO Radiation Effects Facility, GSFC, NASA
>mailto:Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov
>
>The opinions expressed here are my own. They do not necessarily represent
>the views of Unisys or NASA. This material has not been reviewed by my
>manager or NASA.
>
>
>At 03:39 10/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>Dear Colleagues,
>>
>>During an offshore spill of production water, the excess of water
>>cascaded into the sea. The wind broke up the cascading water and mist
>>droplets sprayed the crew of supply boats working near the platform.
>
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