About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

41 Ann. Inst. on Min. L. 160 (1994)
NORM - Science, Regulations, Litigation

handle is hein.journals/mineral35 and id is 168 raw text is: NORM - Science, Regulations, Litigation David L. Martindale Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. Houston, Texas I. Introduction In April, 1986, in the Raleigh field in Mississippi, Chevron made a discovery that raised issues that industry, government and courts have had to address concerning low-level radioactive material in oil and gas production in the continental United States and offshore. That low-level radioactive material is now called NORM, an acronym for naturally occurring radioactive material. Anybody involved in the petroleum industry, whether operators, service companies, lessees or surface and mineral owners, should be aware of some of the basic science, regulations and types of litigation that may be germane to the issue of NORM. One must understand some of the scientific terms and principles to understand the applicable regulations and environmental and health effects that are alleged in oil and gas related NORM litigation. Both the science and the regulations must be considered in any litigation involving NORM. The scope of this article is intended to give a rudimentary introduction to the relevant science, regulations and some of the manners in which they have been applied to types of allegations that, thus far, have been raised in NORM litigation involving the oil and gas industry. II. Basic Scientific Principles Applicable To Norm Issues A. What is NORM? Generally, NORM is just what its name says, any material that is radioactive in its natural physical state. The Louisiana Radiation Regulations define NORM as any nuclide which is radioactive in its natural state (not man made) excluding source material or special nuclear material.' As a practical matter, NORM accumulated in production equipment scales generally contains radium, which is produced by the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium contained in the materials in the geologic formations. Radium is fairly soluble in hot fluids found at depths typical of modem petroleum formations and is therefore removed from the host geologic formations during oil extraction operations.' LAC 33:XV.1403. 2 A Preliminary Risk Assessment of Management and Disposal Options for Oil Field Wastes and Piping Contaminated with NORM in the State of Louisiana (Draft prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 1993), p. 1-3 -160-

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most