Good Friday

 In observance of Good Friday, the Railroad Commission offices will be closed Friday, March 29, 2024. Staff will be on hand to respond to emergencies. Call toll-free at 844-773-0305.

 

Commission NORM Survey of Equipment at Leases and Facilities

Fields With Equipment Readings >50 ΜR/Hr

Staff of the Commission district offices performed field surveys from December 1999 to mid-March 2000. The purpose of the survey was to measure levels of NORM in equipment being used at production leases and other associated oilfield facilities to estimate the number of sites at which NORM-contaminated equipment may be located and to estimate an approximate range of the level of NORM at various sites across the state. The leases were chosen randomly to ensure a representative sample. Measurements were collected using an energy-compensated pulse rate “micro-R” meter that provides a scaled reading in microroentgens per hour (µR/hr.) Equipment measurements were taken at locations where gamma radiation most likely would be detected if present such as flow lines, tanks/vessels, pipe, pumps, valves, and injection headers. Background readings were also collected for comparison. More than 5,900 readings were collected on more than 600 leases and other oil and gas facilities.

Most of the readings of oil and gas equipment collected during the field survey demonstrate that the radiation levels are typically below the regulatory limit for release of equipment for unrestricted use (use for purposes other than oil and gas activities.) Of the 612 sites surveyed, only 59 sites had equipment with readings above 50 µR/hr, the limit above which the equipment cannot be released for unrestricted use. Out of over 5,900 readings, only 203 readings were above 50 µR/hr. The survey, however, indicates that specific geographic areas tend to have elevated NORM levels. The geographic distribution is evident from the randomly selected leases and facilities surveyed in each commission district at which NORM readings of equipment were greater than 50µ/hr.

No readings greater than 50 µR/hr were found for equipment on leases/facilities in RRC Districts 1 and 8A.

RRC District County Field # Equipment Readings 50 µR/hr Maximum Reading (µR/hr)
02 Karnes Person (Edwards) 2 56
02 Karnes Panna Maria (Edwards) 4 400
03 Chambers Devillier (Vicksburg) 1 60
04 Brooks Pita (A-8) 1 155
04 Hidalgo McAllen Ranch (Guerra) 3 92
04 Hidalgo McAllen Ranch (Guerra E) 3 250
04 Kenedy Sarita, East (0-Sand) 2 117
04 Kenedy Rita (S.M. North ) 8 230
04 Nueces Turkey Creek (4000 Sand) 7 320
04 Willacy Willamar, West 16 200
05 Henderson Opelika (Woodbine) (SWD Fac.) 4 212
05 Van Zandt Fruitvale 3 130
05 Van Zandt Grand Saline 3 350
05 Leon Jewitt (Travis Peak) 2 90
06 Cass Linden, East (Cotton Valley) 1 75
06 Gregg Willow Springs (Travis Peak) 1 57
06 Panola Bethany (Rodessa) SWD Fac 5 67
06 Rusk New London (Travis Peak) 2 75
06 Smith Overton (Travis Peak) 1 132
06 Wood Quitman (Paluxy) 1 550
06 Wood Quitman (Eagle Ford) 1 550
7B Comanche Duster, NE (Marble Falls 2750) 2 73
7B Throckmorton Throckmorton County Regular 4 252
7C Coke Jameson (Strawn) 3 400
7C Coke Bloodworth, NE (5750 Canyon) 4 117
7C Coke IAB (Menielle Penn.) 1 88
7C Coke Ft. Chadbourne 3 360
7C Crockett Weger, N. Commercial SWD 7 250
7C Irion Brooks (San Angelo) 3 90
7C Reagan Spraberry (Trend Area) Commercial SWD 9 225
7C Reagan Spraberry (Trend Area) 10 550
7C Runnels Ballinger (Palo Pinto, N) 2 300
7C Runnels Ballinger (Palo Pinto) Commercial SWD 9 900
7C Runnels Busher (Morris) 2 90
7C Schleicher Camar, N (Canyon Sand) 2 105
7C Schleicher Hulldale, W (Harkey) Commercial SWD 10 910
7C Sutton Sonora, SE (Canyon Reef) Commercial SWD 9 300
7C Sutton Ft. Terrett Ranch (Canyon 2800) 1 52
7C Tom Green Giebel (Strawn) Commercial SWD 9 450
7C Tom Green Harriett Commercial SWD 7 425
7C Upton Spraberry (Trend Area) 7 167
7C Upton Amacher 3 166
08 Loving Wheat (Cherry Canyon) 4 1100
08 Midland Spraberry (Trend Area) 5 500
08 Reeves Collie (Delaware) 5 275
08 Reeves Ken Reagan (Delaware) 2 56
08 Ward Rhoda Walker (Canyon 5900) 5 812
08 Winkler Evetts (Silurian) 1 150
09 Archer Trans-continental (VOGTS. 4500) 2 247
09 Archer Archer County Regular 1 125
09 Clay Clay County Regular 1 75
09 Wichita Wichita County Regular 5 313
09 Wilbarger Wilbarger County Regular 1 125
10 Wheeler Mobeetie (Missouri Basal) 11 117
10 Hutchinson Hutch (Penn 5650) 4 77
10 Hutchinson Bar Nine (Council Grove) 6 300
10 Gray Hoover, NE (Ellenburger) 1 54