| (4) Each licensee or registrant conducting well logging
service operations at a temporary job site shall have copies of the
records/documents specified in subsection (ee)(5)(B), (C), (I), (K),
(L), and (N) of this section available at that site for inspection
by the agency.
(5) Records/documents required by paragraph (4) of
this subsection shall be maintained at the temporary job site for
the period of operation at that site for inspection by the agency.
(dd) Notification of incidents and lost sources; abandonment
procedures for irretrievable sources.
(1) Notification of incidents and sources lost in other
than downhole well logging operations shall be made in accordance
with appropriate provisions of §289.202 of this title, or §289.231
of this title, as applicable.
(2) Whenever a sealed source or a device containing
radioactive material has been ruptured or is likely to have been ruptured,
the licensee shall notify the agency immediately by telephone and
submit written notification within 30 days. The written notification
shall designate the following:
(A) the well or other location;
(B) a description of the magnitude and extent of the
escape of radioactive material;
(C) an assessment of the consequences of the rupture;
and
(D) an explanation of the efforts planned or being
taken to mitigate these consequences.
(3) Whenever a sealed source is separated from the
logging tool and is lost downhole, the licensee shall notify the agency
immediately by telephone prior to beginning source recovery operations.
(4) Whenever a sealed source or device containing radioactive
material is lost downhole, the licensee shall do the following:
(A) consult with the well operator, well owner, drilling
contractor, or land owner regarding methods to retrieve the source
or device that may reduce the likelihood that the source or device
will be damaged or ruptured during the logging tool recovery (fishing)
operations;
(B) monitor with a radiation survey instrument (or
logging tool adjusted to detect gamma emissions from source(s) lost
downhole), at the surface for the presence of radioactive contamination
during logging tool recovery (fishing) operations; and
(C) notify the agency immediately by telephone and
submit written notification within 30 days if radioactive contamination
is detected at the surface or if the source appears to be damaged.
(5) When efforts to recover the radioactive source
are not successful, the licensee shall do the following:
(A) notify the agency by telephone of the circumstances
that resulted in the inability to retrieve the source and obtain agency
approval to implement abandonment procedures, or that the licensee
implemented abandonment before receiving agency approval because the
licensee believed there was an immediate threat to public health and
safety; and
(B) advise the well operator of the Railroad Commission
of Texas requirements regarding abandonment and an appropriate method
of abandonment, that shall include the following:
(i) the immobilization and sealing in place of the
radioactive source with a cement plug;
(ii) a means to prevent inadvertent intrusion on the
source, such as the setting of a whipstock or other deflection device,
unless the source is not accessible to any subsequent drilling operations;
and
(iii) the mounting of a permanent identification plaque,
containing information required by paragraph (6) of this subsection,
at the surface of the well;
(C) notify the agency by telephone giving the circumstances
of the loss; and
(D) file a written report with the agency within 30
days of the abandonment, providing the following information:
(i) date of occurrence;
(ii) a description of the radioactive source involved,
including radionuclide, activity, chemical and physical form, and
manufacturer, model number and serial number;
(iii) surface location and identification of well;
(iv) results of efforts to immobilize and seal the
source in place;
(v) depth of the radioactive source;
(vi) depth of the top of the cement plug;
(vii) depth of the well; and
(viii) information contained on the permanent identification
plaque.
(6) Whenever a sealed source containing radioactive
material is abandoned downhole, the licensee shall provide a permanent
plaque (an example of a suggested plaque is shown in subsection (ee)(3)
of this section) for posting on the well or wellbore. This plaque
shall meet the following requirements:
(A) be constructed of long-lasting material such as
stainless steel, brass, bronze, or monel. The size of the plaque should
be convenient for use on active or inactive wells; for example, a
7-inch (17 cm) square. Letter size of the word "CAUTION" should be
approximately twice the letter size of the rest of the information;
for example, 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) and 1/4 inch (0.63 cm) letter size,
respectively; and
(B) contain the following engraved information on its
face:
(i) the word "CAUTION;"
(ii) the radiation symbol (color not required);
(iii) the date of abandonment;
(iv) the name of the well operator or well owner;
(v) the well name and well identification number(s)
or other designation;
(vi) radionuclide(s) and activity(ies) of the source(s);
(vii) the source depth and the plug back depth (depth
to the top of the plug); and
(viii) an appropriate warning, depending on the specific
circumstances of each abandonment, such as the following:
(I) "Do not drill below plug back depth;"
(II) "Do not enlarge casing;" or
(III) "Do not re-enter hole before contacting Radiation
Control, Texas Department of State Health Services."
(7) The licensee shall immediately notify the agency
by telephone and confirming letter if the licensee knows or has reason
to believe that radioactive material has been lost in or to an underground
potable water source. Such notice shall designate well location and
describe the magnitude and extent of loss of radioactive material,
consequences of such loss and efforts taken or planned to mitigate
these consequences.
(8) In the event of an uncontrolled release of radioactive
tracer material to the environment, the licensee shall notify the
agency by telephone within 24 hours and submit written notification
within 30 days.
(ee) Appendices.
(1) Subjects to be included in training courses for
well logging service operations and/or tracer studies are as follows:
(A) fundamentals of radiation safety that include:
(i) characteristics of radiation;
(ii) units of radiation dose (rem) and activity;
(iii) significance of radiation dose specifying radiation
protection standards and biological effects of radiation;
(iv) levels of radiation from sources of radiation;
(v) methods of controlling radiation dose specifying
time, distance, and shielding;
(vi) radiation safety practices, specifying prevention
of contamination and methods of decontamination; and
(vii) discussion of ingestion, inhalation pathways;
(B) radiation detection instrumentation to be used
that includes:
(i) use of radiation survey instruments specifying
operation, calibration, and limitations;
(ii) survey techniques; and
(iii) use of individual monitoring devices;
(C) equipment to be used that specifies;
(i) handling equipment and remote handling tools;
(ii) sources of radiation;
(iii) storage control, disposal, and transport of equipment
and sources of radiation;
(iv) operation and control of equipment; and
(v) maintenance of equipment;
(D) pertinent federal and state requirements;
(E) the licensee's or registrant's written operating,
safety, and emergency procedures;
(F) the licensee's or registrant's record keeping procedures;
and
(G) case histories and potential consequences of accidents
in well logging service operations and tracer studies.
(2) In addition to the subjects for training courses
required in paragraph (1) of this subsection, individuals performing
tracer studies must also complete training in the following subjects:
(A) sources of contamination;
(B) contamination detection and control;
Cont'd... |
