Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 105 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH › Title 105 CMR 120.000 - The Control of Radiation › QUALITY ASSURANCE › Section 120.904 - Agreement with Well Owner or Operator

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
No licensee shall perform wireline service operations with a
				  sealed source(s) unless, prior to commencement of the operation, the licensee
				  has a written agreement with the well operator, well owner, drilling
				  contractor, or land owner. The licensee shall retain a copy of the written
				  agreement for three years after the well logging operation has been completed.
				  The written agreement shall identify who will meet the following
				  requirements:
(A)
(1) In the event a sealed source is lodged
				downhole, a reasonable effort at recovery will be made.
(2) A person may not attempt to recover a
				sealed source in a manner which, in the licensee's opinion, could result in its
				rupture.
(3) The licensee shall
				conduct radiation monitoring to detect any contamination.
(a) If the licensee detects evidence of that
				a sealed source has ruptured or licensed materials have caused contamination,
				the licensee shall initiate immediately the emergency procedures required in
				105 CMR
				120.932.
(b) If contamination results from the use of
				licensed material in well logging, the licensee shall decontaminate all work
				areas, equipment, and unrestricted areas.
(c) During efforts to recover a sealed source
				lodged in the well, the licensee shall continuously monitor, with an
				appropriate radiation detection instrument or a logging tool with a radiation
				detector, the circulating fluid from the well, if any, to check for
				contamination resulting from damage to the sealed source.
(4) If the environment, any equipment, or
				personnel are contaminated with licensed material, they must be decontaminated
				before release from the site or release for unrestricted use.
(5) If the sealed source is classified as
				irretrievable after reasonable efforts at recovery have been expended, the
				following requirements must be implemented within 30 days:
(a) Each irretrievable well logging source
				must be immobilized and sealed in place with a cement plug.
(b) A means to prevent inadvertent intrusion
				on the source, unless the source is not accessible to any subsequent drilling
				operations; and,
(c) A permanent
				identification plaque, constructed of long lasting material such as stainless
				steel, brass, bronze, or monel, must be mounted at the surface of the well,
				unless the mounting of the plaque is not practical. The size of the plaque must
				be at least 17 cm (seven inches) square and three mm (c ") thick. The plaque
				must contain:
1. The word "CAUTION";
2. The radiation symbol (the conventional
				color requirement need not be met);
3. The date of abandonment;
4. The name of the well operator or well
				owner;
5. The well name and well
				identification number(s) or other designation;
6. The sealed source(s) by radionuclide and
				quantity of activity;
7. The source
				depth and the depth to the top of the plug; and,
8. An appropriate warning, depending on the
				specific circumstances of each abandonment. (Appropriate warnings may include:
(A) "Do not drill below plug back depth";
(B)  "Do not enlarge casing";
				or
(C) "Do not re-enter the hole",
				followed by the words, "before contacting the Massachusetts Radiation Control
				Program".)