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| Entered date | Event description | |
|---|---|---|
| ENS 55485 | 24 September 2021 10:24:00 | The following information was received via email: On Sunday, May 9, 2021 NexTier Completion Solutions, Inc., (NexTier) was conducting fracing operations in Eddy County, New Mexico for XTO Energy. At approximately 1900 MDT a fire at the wellsite damaged equipment including two ThermoFisher Scientific densitometers. Eddy County, Otis, Loving and Malaga fire departments responded to the incident late that evening. The wellsite was secured overnight to allow the damaged equipment to cool. The NexTier On-Site RSO, from the Odessa, Texas facility, arrived at the wellsite the morning of May 10, 2021 to visually inspect the damaged densitometers and conduct a radiation survey. The visual inspection revealed each densitometer received heavy heat damage and the results of the survey concluded the lead shielding inside each densitometer had been compromised. It was also confirmed the lead plates on the shutter mechanism of the Model 5190 densitometer had been melted. Leak test samples were collected from each densitometer and sent to NSSI Environmental and Recovery Services, Inc., for emergency assay. A perimeter was set up around each densitometer and all personnel instructed to remain out of the area until the damaged densitometers could be removed. The dose rate at this perimeter was less than 2 millirem per hour. After receiving the assay results confirming the source capsules had not been compromised, the Odessa RSO completed the removal of supports and clamps which secured the damaged densitometers to the equipment. Using a large crane, he removed the damaged densitometers, one at a time and placed both in a pre-designated area away from personnel. Bags of barite were placed over the damaged densitometers to reduce dose rates throughout the operation. The area was roped off and marked to keep anyone from entering. Following the removal of the densitometers from the equipment the NexTier Corporate Radiation Safety Officer conducted a survey on and around the equipment using a Ludlum Model 3000 survey meter with a Nal scintillation detector. No readings more than natural background were detected. Each densitometer contained 0.2 Curie of Cs-137. |
| ENS 55487 | 24 September 2021 10:24:00 | The following information was received via email: The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of Design Technologies was notified at approximately 1600 MDT on 3/30/2020 by the technician that that the technician had lost a Troxler model 3411-B, serial number 7085, moisture density gauge out of the back of his truck. The gauge contains 9 millicuries of Cs-137 and 44 millicuries of Am241/Be. The technician claims that while on a paving project at the location, he was discussing a rolling pattern with the roller operator and sat the gauge in the bed of his truck with the tailgate down. The foreman then came by and told the technician that he could leave for the day. The technician then got in his truck and drove back to the office without securing the gauge. When the technician arrived at the office, he then realized the gauge was missing from the truck. The technician and the RSO quickly got in the truck to retrace his route from the jobsite to the office in search of the gauge. After searching for the gauge, the RSO then called the New Mexico State Police to report the lost gauge. The search continued until dark along the route until the next morning, 3/31/2020, at daylight. The RSO received a phone call from a local contractor in Las Cruces. The contractor stated that he was behind the technician as they were both making a 90 degree right turn onto Taylor Road from North Valley Drive when the gauge slid off the tailgate. The contractor knew what the gauge was and picked it up and put it in the back of his truck. The contractor then tried to track down the technician but could not find him. The contractor contacted the company that calibrates and leak tests our gauges whom the RSO had already notified and they provided the phone number. The contractor contacted the RSO and said the gauge was in good condition and its handle was in the shielded position. The RSO placed the gauge in its case, secured it, and brought it back to the office. Upon arriving at the office, the RSO inspected the gauge to the best of his ability, placed it on the standard block and performed a standardization count. The gauge has been placed out-of-service and a leak test was performed as a precautionary measure before the gauge was put back into service. New Mexico Item No.: NM200011 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf |
| ENS 55486 | 24 September 2021 10:24:00 | The following information was received via email: Earthwork Engineering Group (EEG) reported the loss and recovery of a moisture/density gauge (Seaman Nuclear model C-300, serial #21279) that contained a 1.48 GBq (40 mCi) Am-Be source (AEA Technologies model AMNV.997) and a 0.333 GBq (9 mCi) Cs-137 source (AEA Technologies model CDC.800). An EEG employee was contacted by personnel at a job site (believed to be a city inspector) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on 7/17/2018. The EEG employee was informed that a gauge was left at the job site. The gauge had apparently fallen off the back of the truck. The employee immediately returned to the job site, secured the gauge, and placed it in the shipping container. The gauge was out of EEG's control for between 20 and 30 minutes. The gauge was inspected for cracks and leaks. No damage was observed. The employment of the involved employee was terminated for not securing the gauge as trained. NMED Item No.: 180513 |
| ENS 46119 | 23 July 2010 13:13:00 | The following information was received from the State of New Mexico via email: Medical Event was reported 7/23/2010 at 8:39 am by the Radiation Safety Specialist, UNM Radiation Safety Office. Location: UNM Nuclear Medicine Department 1801 Tucker Avenue
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Medical Event: 7/21/2010 at 3:00 pm, patient written directive order to receive Iodine-131 Therapy treatment 200 mCi (NaI), patient received 80 mCi. A detailed report will be supplied to State of New Mexico Radiation Control Bureau by UNM RSO within 15 days. A Medical Event may indicate potential problems in a medical facility's use of radioactive materials. It does not necessarily result in harm to the patient. |