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At least 145 records · Page 8

Radiological Risk From Disused Radioactive Sealed Sources in Egypt - 19083

Sealed sources are radioactive nuclear substances encased in a sealed capsule or in a cover to which the substance is bonded, and are used for a variety of activities, such as medical, industrial, academic and research, as well as commercial applications. While most sources are of relatively low activity, there are many of medium or very high activity. In use radioactive sealed sources after time become disused sources according to several reasons like, if the source activity became less than the desired activity (unfit for the intended application), if the model of the instrument became old fashion and no longer uses, if the source had been damaged, and if the user company was shut down and no longer in business. In developing countries, thousands of radium needles, teletherapy sources, oil well logging neutron sources, and miscellaneous industrial radioactive gauges are annually collected as waste and stored in centralized waste facilities. Although these sources become disused, it still dangerous and the mismanagement of high activity sources is responsible for most of the radiological accidents that result in loss of life or disabling injuries. On the other hand, these sources may be a target for criminal acts in countries where final disposal options are unavailable. Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) represented in Hot Labs and Waste Management Center (HLWMC) is responsible by the national nuclear law (law No. 7 /2010) for management of all kinds of radioactive waste including disused radioactive sealed sources from all Egyptian territories. Categorization of disused sources is necessary to ensure that the controls and security measures that are applied to the sources are adequate with its radiological risk. The aim of this work is to use the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) categorization system to provide a simple, logical system for grading disused radioactive sealed sources in Egypt as well as to update the inventory of such sources which already collected as waste in Egypt. The categorizations of radioactive sealed sources are based on their potential to cause harm to human health. This study revealed that nearly 980 sources have been defined in Egypt as disused sources with a total activity of 46100 Ci according to available data in July 2018. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Security of Mobile Radiological Sources: Overview of Industry Applied Technologies

Small radiological sources used in industrial settings recurrently require transit between job sites. Securing these sources, while stationary, can be addressed with standard security approaches and equipment. Transport of these sources increases the risk and complexity of managing and maintaining control of these sources. Implementing methodologies to securely monitor and locate sources improves response and resolution of anomalous events during transit. The Mobile Source Transit Security (MSTS) system was developed to improve security and provide situational awareness of these mobile sources throughout their job cycle. The MSTS development effort focused on creating a set of systems that could be successfully implemented in industrial radiography and well-logging applications. The MSTS team worked to address source presence and location through use and storage. The MSTS system monitors radiological sources as they move from the base of operations to the job site and back. The system provides near-real-time monitoring of the mobile source location and status and early notification of source loss or theft by transmitting operational status and alerting anomalous conditions over telematic links worldwide. The MSTS system can trigger an armed response or initiation of search and recovery operations and will automatically alert management and responsible staff if a radioactive source is lost or stolen whether it is on-site, in transport, or in storage.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

A compact ion source and accelerator based on a piezoelectric driver

Compact ion sources and accelerators using piezoelectric devices for the production of energetic ion beams are being evaluated. A coupled source-accelerator is being tested as a neutron source to be incorporated into oil-well logging diagnostics. Two different ion sources are being investigated, including a piezoelectric transformer-based plasma source and a silicon-based field ion source. The piezoelectric transformer plasma ion source uses a cylindrical, resonantly driven piezoelectric crystal to produce high voltage inside a confined volume filled with low pressure deuterium gas. The plasma generated in the confined chamber is ejected through a small aperture into an evacuated drift region. The silicon field ion source uses localized electric field enhancement produced by an array of sharp emitters etched into a silicon blank to produce ions through field desorption ionization. A second piezoelectric device of a different design is used to generate an accelerating potential on the order of 130 kV; this potential is applied to a deuterated target plate positioned perpendicular to the ion stream produced by either plasma source. This paper discusses the results obtained by the individual components as they relate to the final neutron source.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Calibration of NMR porosity to estimate permeability in carbonate reservoirs

Considering the performance of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) stored in geologic reservoirs requires some knowledge of the subsurface heterogeneity, where the most reliable data is extracted from wellbore measurements. This benefit is especially true for carbonate reservoirs were reactions between supercritical CO 2 , the reservoir brine, and carbonate minerals create new storage capacity and enhanced permeability. Techniques like NMR well logging hold promise for estimating subsurface permeability, because the total porosity and pore size can be calculated from response of 1 H NMR signal. Resulting depth profiles of porosity and permeability from downhole logs are useful input for reservoir simulations and can be used to design injection protocols and estimate storage capacity. We conducted a detailed characterization study to quantify the NMR response to matrix pore space, the connectivity to larger vugs and fractures, and the resulting permeability of core samples from distinct carbonate formations. The cores used in study span 5 orders in permeability, 4 orders in mean T 2 , and 2%–42% in porosity. The goal of the study was to use independent measures of pore volumes, surface relaxivity, fluid-accessible surface areas, and permeability to develop carbonate permeability models. It was not possible to develop a single model that reproduced permeability for different carbonate formations, because phenomena specific to the reservoirs could not be extracted even with the state-of-the-art characterization techniques used in this study. Estimates of permeability require calibration. Best calculations for a given formation were achieved by using a simple form of the Kozeny equation (Eq. 6): κ=Α’θ 3*n , and calibrating A’ and n with laboratory measurements made on the formation cores. Empirical calibrations can then be used to map the vertical heterogeneity of the storage complex to better understand the physical movement CO 2 and brine in the subsurface and the positive feedback between mineral dissolution and the development of flow pathways.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A 200 C Universal Gate Driver Integrated Circuit for Extreme Environment Applications

High-temperature power converters (dc-dc, dc-ac, etc.) have enormous potential in extreme environment applications, including automotive, aerospace, geothermal, nuclear, and well logging. For successful realization of such high-temperature power conversion modules, the associated control electronics also need to perform at high temperature. This paper presents a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) based high-temperature gate driver integrated circuit (IC) incorporating an on-chip low-power temperature sensor and demonstrating an improved peak output current drive over our previously reported work. This driver IC has been primarily designed for automotive applications, where the underhood temperature can reach 200 C. This new gate driver prototype has been designed and implemented in a 0.8 {micro}m, 2-poly, and 3-metal bipolar CMOS-DMOS (Double-Diffused Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) on SOI process and has been successfully tested for up to 200 C ambient temperature driving a SiC MOSFET and a SiC normally-ON JFET. The salient feature of the proposed universal gate driver is its ability to drive power switches over a wide range of gate turn-ON voltages such as MOSFET (0 to 20 V), normally-OFF JFET (-7 to 3 V), and normally-ON JFET (-20 to 0 V). The measured peak output current capability of the driver is around 5 A and is thus capable of driving several power switches connected in parallel. An ultralow-power on-chip temperature supervisory circuit has also been integrated into the die to safeguard the driver circuit against excessive die temperature ({ge}220 C). This approach utilizes increased diode leakage current at higher temperature to monitor the die temperature. The power consumption of the proposed temperature sensor circuit is below 10 {micro}W for operating temperature up to 200 C.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

A compact high-performance low-field NMR apparatus for measurements on fluids at very high pressures and temperatures

We discuss an innovative new high-performance apparatus for performing low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times and diffusion measurements on fluids at very high pressures and high temperatures. The apparatus sensor design and electronics specifications allow for dual deployment either in a fluid sampling well logging tool or in a laboratory. The sensor and electronics were designed to function in both environments. This paper discusses the use of the apparatus in a laboratory environment. The operating temperature and pressure limits, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the new system exceed by a very wide margin what is currently possible. This major breakthrough was made possible by a revolutionary new sensor design that breaks many of the rules of conventional high pressure NMR sensor design. A metallic sample holder capable of operating at high pressures and temperatures is provided to contain the fluid under study. The sample holder has been successfully tested for operation up to 36 Kpsi. A solenoid coil wound on a slotted titanium frame sits inside the metallic sample holder and serves as an antenna to transmit RF pulses and receive NMR signals. The metal sample holder is sandwiched between a pair of gradient coils which provide a linear field gradient for pulsed field gradient diffusion measurements. The assembly sits in the bore of a low-gradient permanent magnet. The system can operate over a wide frequency range without the need for tuning the antenna to the Larmor frequency. The SNR measured on a water sample at room temperature is more than 15 times greater than that of the commercial low-field system in our laboratory. Thus, the new system provides for data acquisition more than 200 times faster than was previously possible. Laboratory NMR measurements of relaxations times and diffusion coefficients performed at pressures up to 25 Kpsi and at temperatures up to 175 °C with crude oils enlivened with dissolved hydrocarbon gases (referred to as “live oils”) are shown. This is the first time low-field NMR measurements have been performed at such high temperatures and pressures on live crude oil samples. We discuss the details of the apparatus design, tuning, calibration, and operation. NMR data acquired at multiple temperatures and pressures on a live oil sample are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Prospect evaluation of shallow I-35 reservoir of NE Malay Basin offshore, Terengganu, Malaysia

A potential accumulation of hydrocarbon that describes significant and conceivable drilling target is related to prospect. Possibility of success estimation, assuming discovery of hydrocarbons and the potential recoverable quantities range under a commercial development program are the basis of Prospect evaluation activities. The objective was to find the new shallow prospects in reservoir sandstone of I –Formation in Malay basin. The prospects in the study area are mostly consisting of faulted structures and stratigraphic channels. The methodology follows seismic interpretation and mapping, attribute analysis, evaluation of nearby well data i.e., based on well – log correlation. The petrophysical parameters analogue to nearby wells was used as an input parameter for volumetric assessment. Based on analysis of presence and effectiveness, the prospect has a complete petroleum system. Two wells have been proposed to be drilled near the major fault and stratigraphic channel in I-35 reservoir that is O-1 and O-2 prospects respectively. The probability of geological success of prospect O-1 is at 35% while for O-2 is 24%. Finally, for hydrocarbon in place volumes were calculated which concluded the best estimate volume for oil in O-1 prospect is 4.99 MMSTB and O-2 prospect is 28.70 MMSTB while for gas is 29.27 BSCF and 25.59 BSCF respectively.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

The snake geothermal drilling project. Innovative approaches to geothermal exploration

The goal of our project was to test innovative technologies using existing and new data, and to ground-truth these technologies using slim-hole core technology. The slim-hole core allowed us to understand subsurface stratigraphy and alteration in detail, and to correlate lithologies observed in core with surface based geophysical studies. Compiled data included geologic maps, volcanic vent distribution, structural maps, existing well logs and temperature gradient logs, groundwater temperatures, and geophysical surveys (resistivity, magnetics, gravity). New data included high-resolution gravity and magnetic surveys, high-resolution seismic surveys, three slimhole test wells, borehole wireline logs, lithology logs, water chemistry, alteration mineralogy, fracture distribution, and new thermal gradient measurements.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

Utah FORGE: Pressure Temperature Logs from Blundell Well 71-10, Beaver County

This archive contains an Excel spreadsheet with pressure and temperature logs from PacifiCorp well 71-10. This well is in the Blundell Power Plant geothermal well field near Roosevelt Hot Springs, Beaver County, Utah. The spreadsheet also contains UTM coordinates for the location of the well.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

In situ and laboratory evidence for high electrical anisotropy in marine gas hydrate

Marine gas hydrate is electrically resistive compared to the surrounding hydrate-free formation, a property that is exploited in borehole logging and also by marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys. Well logging shows that hydrate can be electrically anisotropic, with vertical resistivities up to 10 times higher than horizontal resistivities, although the use of logging tools capable of measuring anisotropy is the exception rather than the rule. Marine CSEM methods are well known to be sensitive to anisotropy in seafloor sediments, and, for example, we have observed anisotropies of more than an order of magnitude using CSEM to map offshore relic permafrost.

02 PETROLEUM↗

Gigaton commercial-scale carbon storage and mineralization potential in stacked Columbia River basalt reservoirs

This work presents a detailed supercritical CO 2 storage resource estimation for the stacked basalt reservoirs in the Grande Ronde Basalt of the Columbia River Basalt Group in eastern Washington and Oregon. The assessment aims to derisk the commercialization potential of geologic carbon storage in basalt by leveraging both structural and mineralization trapping of CO 2 in basalt. The structural closures formed by anticlinal ridges and synclinal valleys in Yakima Fold Belt are excellent physical traps to accommodate injected supercritical CO 2 . Rigorous hydraulic testing, well logs and simulation results from the Wallula Basalt Pilot #1 well showed the occurrence of 17 suitable permeable injection zones (up to 2,496 mD) intercalated with dense seals (~2.6E-10 mD) in the Grand Ronde Basalt. In addition, geochemical studies showed fast reactions between supercritical CO 2 and dissolved basalt minerals to form stable carbonates. In conclusion, our calculation indicates up to 40 gigatons (P90) of mineralization storage resources exist in the Grande Ronde Basalt reservoirs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Multiscale petrophysical characterization and flow unit classification of the Minnelusa eolian sandstones

Integration of petrophysical and geological information is critical to simulation of subsurface carbon storage (GCS). In this sense, two depositional facies were identified from the core description and well-log interpretation, namely massive (MS) and cross-bedded (CB) facies groups. Additionally, pore-scale characteristics were studied by a combination of techniques, e.g. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and petrographic analyses show that the pore structure is dominantly controlled by the depositional environment and dolomite cementation. NMR-T 2 distributions of MS and CB facies show triple and quadruple modes, respectively. In addition, MICP of high- and low-permeability MS facies samples, and their CB facies group mixtures were collected. The MS sample pore-throat size distribution is uni-modal, while the triple-modal characteristic of the mixtures indicates heterogeneous pore structures at the sub-core scale for CB facies. The reliably estimates of porosity and permeability for both facies groups via NMR techniques and the MLR (Multiple Linear Regression) approach demonstrate the applicability of these techniques to eolian sandstone. Moreover, irreducible water saturation via the T 2 -cutoff method correlates strongly with T 2LM instead of porosity. Finally, the rock quality index and flow zone indicator were calculated based on Combinable Magnetic Resonance (CMR) log interpretations. This provides direct connection to properties measured in the well. Four flow units were classified for both facies groups. Finally, results show that better reservoir quality with significant heterogeneities is observed in the CB facies. This study highlights the importance integrating multiscale petrophysical properties including facies, pore architecture and diagenesis analysis with core- to log-scale property characterization. The results herein validate our reservoir characterization and flow unit classification in eolian reservoirs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Predicting variations of the least principal stress with depth: Application to unconventional oil and gas reservoirs using a log-based viscoelastic stress relaxation model

Knowledge of layer-to-layer variations of the least principal stress, S hmin , with depth is essential for optimization of multi-stage hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. Utilizing a geomechanical model based on viscoelastic stress relaxation in relatively clay rich rocks, we present a new method for predicting continuous S hmin variations with depth. The method utilizes geophysical log data and S hmin measurements from routine diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFITs) at several depths for calibration. We consider a case study in the Wolfcamp formation in the Midland Basin, where both geophysical logs and values of S hmin from DFITs are available. We compute a continuous stress profile as a function of the well logs that fits all of the DFITs well. We utilized several machine learning technologies, such as bootstrap aggregation (or bagging), to improve the generalization of the model and demonstrate that the excellent fit between predicted and observed stress values is not the result of over-fitting the calibration points. The model is then validated by accurately predicting hold-out stress measurements from four wells within the study area and, without recalibration, accurately predicting stress as a function of depth in an offset pad about 6 miles away.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Prestack Waveform Inversion at GC 955: Trials and sensitivity of PWI to high-resolution seismic data (Data Report)

Understanding the spatial extent and variability of hydrate deposits has important implications for potential economic production, climate change, and assessing natural hazards risks. Seismic reflection techniques are capable of determining the extent of gas hydrate deposits and can shed light on hydrate concentrations and properties. Using high resolution prestack time migrated seismic data collected during a 2013 US Geological Survey expedition and prestack waveform inversion (PWI) techniques, we produce highly resolved velocity models and compare them to co-located well logs. Coupling our PWI results with velocity-porosity relationships and nearby well control, we compare hydrate properties at site 955 in the Green Canyon and site 313 at Walker Ridge.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

A phased workflow to define permit‐ready locations for large volume CO 2 injection and storage

Abstract To‐date, only two UIC Class VI permits have been issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency. We illustrate a four‐phase workflow to first identify regional storage resources and then down‐select sites to yield permit‐ready locations that can accept and store large volumes of CO 2 . Specific permit requirements should guide objectives and define deliverables of respective workflow phases. In the first phase we used available regional data and screened structure and injection zones to locate resources that match CO 2 volumes planned to be captured. Available data were also used to assess presence and depth of usable groundwater, the key resource being protected via permitting. We then used advanced, closed‐form, analytical solutions (EASiTool) to estimate CO 2 injectivity into each hydrologically connected injection compartment. In the second phase we acquired and conditioned additional wireline logs and leased available seismic datasets. We interpreted the depositional systems from wireline well‐log character and mapped sandbody geometry to interpolate injection and confining‐zone distribution. Using available data, we mapped faults and locations of freshwater and overpressure (or other capacity‐limiting geologic parameters) in more detail. In the third phase, we used the augmented geologic data to develop a static model for the selected area, extracted the areas of highest interest, and generated and ran dynamic (flow) models. In a fourth phase, we reduced major uncertainties identified in earlier phases. Our case study indicates that to complete preparation of a permit application requires (1) improved lithologic characterization information (thicknesses and horizontal and vertical connectivity) and (2) better definition of poorly defined local faults. © 2023 The Authors. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Time-lapse VSP integration and calibration of subsurface stress field utilizing machine learning approaches: A case study of the morrow B formation, FWU

This study aims to develop a methodology for calibrating subsurface stress changes through time-lapse vertical seismic profiling (VSP) integration. The selected study site is a region around the injector well located within Farnsworth field unit (FWU), where there is an ongoing CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. In our study, a site-specific rock physics model was created from extensive geological, geophysical, and geomechanical characterization through 3D seismic data, well logs, and core assessed as part of the 1D MEM conducted on the characterization well within the study area. Here, the Biot-Gassmann workflow was utilized to combine the rock physics and reservoir simulation outputs to determine the seismic velocity change due to fluid substitution. Modeled seismic velocities attributed to mean effective stress were determined from the geomechanical simulation outputs, and the stress-velocity relationship developed from ultrasonic seismic velocity measurements. A machine learning-assisted workflow comprised of an artificial neural network and a particle swarm optimizer (PSO) was utilized to minimize a penalty function created between the modeled seismic velocities and the observed time-lapse VSP dataset. The successful execution of this workflow has affirmed the suitability of acoustic time-lapse measurements for 4D-VSP geomechanical stress calibration pending measurable stress sensitivities within the anticipated effective stress changes and the availability of suitable and reliable datasets for petroelastic modeling. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Impact of induced seismic events on seal integrity, Texas Gulf Coast

Recent publications have suggested that large-scale CO 2 injection could trigger earthquakes and that even small- to moderate-sized earthquakes may threaten the seal integrity of the injection zone, and potentially damage buildings and other surface structures. In this study, we compared seal thickness to estimated fault displacement due to a single hypothetical seismic event in a selected area of the Texas Gulf Coast comprising an offshore strip of state waters along two Texas counties. To evaluate the slip generated by a single seismic event, we compiled well log information on shale/sand sequences and seismic information on fault geometric characteristics of a section of Lower Miocene age. The section is thousands of feet thick and is overlain and underlain by marine shales (Amph. B and Anahuac, respectively) that are relatively easy to correlate between wells. The Amph. B. shale is the secondary and ultimate seal for all injection intervals in the Lower Miocene. Given its thickness, no realistic seismic event or small series of seismic events will offset it significantly. However, this may not be true of smaller local primary seals. An analysis of geophysical logs of a total of 71 wells yielded a total of 2,871 sand / shale binary intervals. An analysis of the dedicated 3D seismic survey counted 723 fault traces at five roughly horizontal horizons within the Lower Miocene Fault displacement estimated using the product of the fault length times an uncertain multiplier coefficient assumed to follow a triangular distribution with a 10 -3 to 10 -5 range and a mode of 8 × 10 -5 . We then compared estimated single-event fault displacements to seal thicknesses by means of a Monte-Carlo analysis. Only 1.8% of thickness/displacement pairs display a displacement greater than 20% of the seal thickness. Only 0.26% of the pairs result in a displacement of half the seal thickness and only 0.05% of thickness/displacement pairs result in a clear seal rupture. The next step was to compare the magnitude of the event generated by such a displacement to documented magnitudes of “large” earthquakes generated by waterflooding and fluid disposal. Based on this analysis, we conclude that seismicity that may arise from CO 2 injection appears not to be a serious complication for CO 2 storage integrity, at least in the Gulf Coast area.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Hawthorne Nevada Deep Direct-Use Feasibility Study - Temperature and Geochemistry Well Data

The objective of this project is to use a multi-disciplinary, three-tiered approach to assess the geothermal resource and determine the feasibility of implementing a large-scale, direct-use facility for the Hawthorne Army Depot (HAD) and the various town and county facilities in Hawthorne, Nevada. This assessment directly targets a geothermal resource recently characterized by the Navy Geothermal Program Office (GPO) as part of a focused exploration and development campaign. This data batch contains: Zip file containing well and water data from 2002, including reports, isotope analysis, shallow well data, and data by well; Zip folder containing 2009 GPO well data including well logs, geochemistry, and mud logs; Compiled data from 2010 in excel and word format; 2010 Final data from TG, well HAD-1; Zip file containing PDFs and Excel files for wells Haw1, HAD1, HWADD2-3, HWAD4-5; Zip folder containing Word docs and images pertaining to final well reports and discussion.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗