Application of spectral gamma-ray borehole geophysics for characterization of radionuclide contamination at Hanford
An innovative, passive, gamma-ray borehole logging program was developed at Hanford for the purpose of identifying and quantifying the gamma-ray-emitting radioisotopes in the subsurface. Recent nuclear counting equipment was configured into a borehole logging system and calibration methods were devised for the in situ assay of man-made radionuclides. Operation procedures and data analysis methods were developed, creating an efficient production logging system. The logging program has proven to be effective when used in a screening mode for characterizing effluent release sites at Hanford. It located the primary gamma-emitting contaminants and identified which of the sites had contributed to the groundwater contamination. At one of the single-shell tank farms, the system was used to quantify the unsaturated zone contamination and trace the contamination back to the tank leak sources. It also provided a baseline of the radioelement concentrations for future data comparisons and to permit identification of a dynamic radionuclide transport system. In this manner, the logging program can help to identify future tank leaks. When combined with an inexpensive drilling method, the logging program can produce in situ radioelement concentration data at a fraction of the cost of conventional drilling and sampling, without personnel exposure to the contamination or generation of waste, and it can be done in a matter of days instead of months. Future developments will refine the quality assurance program so that the system will produce laboratory-quality in situ assays. Future applications will require a high degree of quality assurance.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10190630
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-SA-2055; CONF-931095-28; ON: DE94001691; TRN: 93:024137
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Department of Energy environmental remediation conference,Augusta, GA (United States),24-28 Oct 1993; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Vadose zone characterization project at the Hanford Tank Farms: U Tank Farm Report
Assessment of unsaturated zone radionuclide contamination in the 200 areas of the Hanford site, Washington
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
HANFORD RESERVATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
SOILS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
GAMMA LOGGING
DATA ANALYSIS
GEOPHYSICS
RADIOISOTOPES
QUALITY ASSURANCE
BOREHOLES
TANKS
LEAKS
052002
540250
540230
053002
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS