Borehole logging for radium-226: recommended procedures and equipment. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6286621

Olsen, K B; Thomas, V W

Field investigations and a literature review were conducted to determine whether existing well-logging techniques are suitable for measuring /sup 226/Ra at remedial action sites. These methods include passive gamma-ray measurement techniques using NaI(Tl) and, occasionally, intrinsic germanium detectors. Parameters that must be considered when logging boreholes at remedial action sites include: (1) casing material and thickness, (2) water in the borehole, (3) borehole diameter, (4) disequilibrium between uranium and its daughters when using scintillation detectors, and (5) spatial distribution of the tailings material. Information from the uranium exploration industry demonstrates that borehole logging is a better method for estimating radionuclide concentrations in subsurface soils than core and drill cutting analysis. Field measurements using NaI(Tl) and IG detectors at Edgemont, South Dakota, have shown that NaI(Tl) detectors log boreholes faster than IGs. However, if NaI(Tl) detectors are used, additional time is required after logging to obtain representative samples of any anomalies found during logging, conform those samples to a constant geometry, and then count the samples using IG detectors to determine if the materials are tailings. 16 references, 13 figures.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6286621
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3429; PNL-5094; ON: TI85002815; TRN: 85-000050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIUM 226
GAMMA LOGGING
BOREHOLES
DRILL CORES
FIELD TESTS
MEASURING METHODS
MILL TAILINGS
NAI DETECTORS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CAVITIES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUCLEI
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SOLID SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
TESTING
WASTES
WELL LOGGING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
440400 - Well Logging Instrumentation
052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing