On 8/18/06 the Superior Well Services crew at a temporary worksite approximately
2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> drive from Vernal,
UT discovered that their Thermo MeasureTech Density
Gauge was missing. The device, a Model #5192 - S/N B7000 containing a 200 mCi
Cs-137 source, is normally stored in the back of their vehicle and was last used the day before on 8/17/06. The licensee is continuing their investigation to determine whether the device was
stolen or fell off the back of the vehicle. The device itself weighs 150 pounds and is in a metal housing 36 inches in length (Sealed Source Registry No. TX0634D105B).
The licensee contacted the Utah Highway Patrol, the Vernal County Sheriff's Office and will contact the Utah Radiation Control Office. Also, a press release offering a $10,000.00 reward for return of the device will be issued.
- * * UPDATE FROM CRAIG JONES TO J. KNOKE AT 12:06 ON 10/30/07 * * *
Craig Jones from the state of Utah called to say that on 10/19/07 a member of the public located the Thermo MeasureTech Density Gauge South of Duchesne, UT along State Road 191. The licensee's RSO was notified and responded to the site. A leak test and survey was performed on the equipment and area, and the results were negative. The licensee indicated the person who found the gauge will be given the reward. Licensee now has the Thermo MeasureTech Density Gauge in their possession. The state of Utah will be conducting a follow-up meeting with the licensee in the near future.
Notified R1DO (Dentel), R4DO (Powers), FSME (M. Burgess), ILTAB (email)
THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
Sources that are "Less than
IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as
moisture density gauges or thickness
gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks.