Section 3240. Design, performance, and certification criteria for sealed sources used in downhole operations

A. Each sealed source, except those containing radioactive material in gaseous form, and ECSs used in downhole operations, shall meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Be of doubly encapsulated construction;

2. Contain radioactive material whose chemical and physical forms are as insoluble and nondispersible as practical; and

3. Certified by one of the following methods:

a. For a sealed source manufactured on or before July 14,1989, a licensee may use the sealed source, for use in well-logging applications if it meets the requirements of USASI N5.10-1968, "Classification of Sealed Radioactive Sources," or the requirements in subdivision 3 b or c of this subsection;

b. For a sealed source manufactured after July 1989, a licensee may use the sealed source, for use in well-logging applications if it meets the oil well-logging requirements of ANSI/HPS N43.6-1997, "Sealed Radioactive Sources-Classification"; or

c. For a sealed source manufactured after July 14, 1989, a licensee may use the sealed source, for use in well-logging applications, if the sealed source's prototype has been tested and found to maintain its integrity after each of the following tests:

(1) Temperature. The test source must be held at -40°C for 20 minutes, 600°C for 1 hour, and then be subject to a thermal shock test with a temperature drop from 600°C to 20°C within 15 seconds.

(2) Impact test. A 5 kg steel hammer, 2.5 cm in diameter, must be dropped from a height of 1 m onto the test source.

(3) Vibrations test. The test source must be subject to a vibration from 25 Hz to 500 Hz at 5 g amplitude for 30 minutes.

(4) Puncture test. A 1 gram hammer and pin, 0.3 cm pin diameter, must be dropped from a height of 1 m onto the test source.

(5) Pressure test. The test source must be subject to an external pressure of 1.695 x 10⁷ pascals (24,600 pounds per square inch absolute).

B. Certification documents shall be maintained for inspection by the agency for a period of two years after source disposal. If the source is abandoned downhole, the certification documents shall be maintained until the agency authorizes disposition.

C. Energy Compensated Source (ECS). Licensee use of an ECS, which may contain no greater than 3.7 MBq (100 μCi), is exempt from this part, except the following:

1. For well-logging applications with a surface casing for protecting fresh water aquifers, use of the ECS is only subject to the requirements of 12VAC5-481-3210, 12VAC5-481-3220 and 12VAC5-481-3230.

2. For well-logging applications without a surface casing for protecting fresh water aquifers, use of the ECS is only subject to the requirements of 12VAC5-481-3160, 12VAC5-481-3210, 12VAC5-481-3220, 12VAC5-481-3230, subsection D of this section and 12VAC5-481-3370.

3. ECSs must be registered with the NRC under 10 CFR 32.210 or with an agreement state.

D. Use of a sealed source in a well without a surface casing. The licensee may use a sealed source in a well without a surface casing for protecting fresh water aquifers only if the licensee follows a procedure for reducing the probability of the source becoming lodged in the well. The procedure must be approved by the agency pursuant to 12VAC5-481-3151 A 3.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 25, eff. September 20, 2006; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 18, eff. June 12, 2008.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-229 of the Code of Virginia.