Controle de exposição a rejeitos radioativos de ocorrência natural em descomissionamento offshore

Abstract

The offshore oil production is extremely important in the global production chain, being the basis for supporting energy generation and has been the subject of much discussion due to the impacts associated with climate change and the reduction in the useful life of offshore oil fields. The production of oil, among other elements associated with oil, causes the accumulation of sludge in tanks and scale in pipes and vessels, which constitutes a significant radiological hazard, called Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM). When platforms need to be decommissioned, it is necessary to employ workers to clean equipment and cargo tanks, which can be exposed to radiation for long periods, given that there is no homogeneous technical guidance that allows companies to follow the same exposure control standard. In this way, this research sought to evaluate the main regulations and technical documents on exposure to TENORM and compare data from countries involved in oil production and consumption scenarios, as well as those involved in the decommissioning of platforms and ships with the aim of developing a guiding methodology with a view to standardizing worker exposure management control. With Brazil's entry into the platform recycling scenario in addition to the practices adopted by companies, it is necessary to adopt specific legislation for this new segment, given the number of facilities that will be decommissioned in the next years.