Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 641 - Public Health Department › Chapter 45 - Radiation Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiographic Operations, Particle Accelerators for Nonhuman Use, Analytical X-ray Equipment, and Well-logging › Rule 641-45.6 - Radiation Safety Requirements for Well-logging, Wireline Service Operations and Subsurface Tracer Studies

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Purpose.
This rule establishes radiation safety requirements
			 for using sources of radiation for wireline service operations including
			 mineral-logging, radioactive markers, and subsurface tracer studies. The
			 requirements of this rule are in addition to, and not in substitution for, the
			 requirements of 641-Chapters 38,39, and 40. The requirements of
			 641-45.1
			 (136C) to
			 641-45.5
			 (136C) do not apply.
(2)
Scope.
This rule applies to all licensees or registrants who
			 use sources of radiation for wireline service operations including
			 mineral-logging, radioactive markers, or subsurface tracer studies.
(3)
Definitions.
For the
			 purpose of this subrule, the definitions of 641-Chapter 38 may also apply. As
			 used in this rule, the following definitions apply:
"Energy compensation source (ECS) "
means a
				small sealed source, with an activity not exceeding 3.7 MBq (100 microcuries),
				used within a logging tool, or other tool components, to provide a reference
				standard to maintain the tool's calibration when in use.
"Fresh water aquifer"
means a geologic
				formation that is capable of yielding fresh water to a well or spring.
"Injection tool"
means a device used for
				controlled subsurface injection of radioactive tracer material.
"Logging assistant"
means any individual who,
				under the direct supervision of a logging supervisor, handles sealed sources or
				tracers that are not in logging tools or shipping containers or who performs
				surveys required by 45.6(22).
"Logging supervisor "
means the individual who
				uses licensed material or provides direct supervision in the use of licensed
				material at a temporary job site and who is responsible to the licensee for
				ensuring compliance with the requirements of these rules and the conditions of
				the license.
"Logging tool"
means a device used subsurface
				to perform well-logging.
"Personal supervision "
means guidance and
				instruction by the logging supervisor who is physically present at the
				temporary job site, who is in personal contact with logging assistants, and who
				can give immediate assistance.
"Radioactive marker "
means licensed material
				used for depth determination or direction orientation. For purposes of this
				rule, this term includes radioactive collar markers and radioactive iron
				nails.
"Safety review "
means a periodic review on
				radiation safety aspects of well-logging provided by the licensee for its
				employees. The review may include, as appropriate, the results of internal
				inspections, new procedures or equipment, accidents or errors that have been
				observed, and opportunities for employees to ask safety questions.
"Source holder "
means a housing or assembly
				into which a sealed source is placed to facilitate the handling and use of the
				source in well-logging operations.
"Subsurface tracer study "
means the release
				of unsealed licensed material or a substance labeled with licensed material in
				a single well for the purpose of tracing the movement or position of the
				material or substance in the well or adjacent formation.
"Surface casing "
for protecting fresh water
				aquifers means a pipe or tube used as a lining in a well to isolate fresh water
				aquifers from the well.
"Temporary job site"
means a place where
				licensed materials are present for the purpose of performing well-logging or
				subsurface tracer studies.
"Tritium neutron generator target source "
means a tritium source used within a neutron generator tube to produce neutrons
				for use in well-logging applications.
"Uranium sinker bar "
means a weight
				containing depleted uranium used to pull a logging tool down toward the bottom
				of a well.
"Well"
means a drilled hole in which
				well-logging may be performed. As used in this rule, "well" includes drilled
				holes for the purpose of oil, gas, mineral, groundwater, or geological
				exploration.
"Well-logging"
means all operations involving
				the lowering and raising of measuring devices or tools which may contain
				licensed material or are used to detect licensed materials in wells for the
				purpose of obtaining information about the well or adjacent formations and
				which may be used in oil, gas, mineral, groundwater, or geological
				exploration.
"Wireline"
means a cable containing one or
				more electrical conductors which is used to lower and raise logging tools in
				the well-bore.
"Wireline service operation "
means any
				evaluation or mechanical service which is performed in the well-bore using
				devices on a wireline.
(4)
Agreement with well owner or operator.
a. A licensee may perform well-logging with a
			 sealed source only after the licensee has a written agreement with the
			 employing well owner or operator. This written agreement must identify who will
			 meet the following requirements:
(1) If a
			 sealed source becomes lodged in the well, a reasonable effort will be made to
			 recover it;
(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 radiation monitoring required in
			 45.6(8) and 45.6(17) will be performed;
(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; and
(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:
1. Each irretrievable well-logging source
			 must be immobilized and sealed in place with a cement plug;
2. There must be a means to prevent
			 inadvertent intrusion on the source, unless the source is not accessible to any
			 subsequent drilling operations; and
3. 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 (7
			 inches) square and 3 mm (1/8-inch) thick. The plaque must contain:
* The word "Caution";
* The radiation symbol (the color requirement in 641-
				40.60(136C) need not be met);
* The date the source was abandoned;
* The name of the well owner or well operator, as
				appropriate;
* The well name and well identification number(s) or other
				designation;
* An identification of the sealed source(s) by radionuclide and
				quantity;
* The depth of the source and depth to the top of the plug;
				and
* An appropriate warning such as, "Do not reenter this
				well."