Regulatory Guide 6.8

Identification Plaque for Irretrievable Well-Logging Sources,For Comment

ML003739251
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/31/1978
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
To:
References
RG-6.8
Download: ML003739251 (2)

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

October 1978 REGULATORY

GUIDE OFFICE OF STANDARDS

DEVELOPMENT

REGULATORY

GUIDE 6.8 IDENTIFICATION

PLAQUE FOR IRRETRIEVABLE

WELL-LOGGING

SOURCES*

A. INTRODUCTION

The Commission has published proposed amend ments to 10 CFR Part 30, "Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material," and to 10 CFR Part 70, "Domestic Li censing of Special Nuclear Material,'" concerning the implementation of certain requirements in cases of irretrievable well-logging sources. One of these re quirements would call for the mounting of a perma nent identification plaque at the surface of a well that contains an irretrievable well-logging source. This regulatory guide describes methods that would be ac ceptable to the NRC staff for the characteristics and the mounting of this permanent identification plaque assuming the proposed regulation is promulgated as an effective rule by the Commission after considera tion of public comments.

B. DISCUSSION

Sealed source logging techniques use garnmw sources and neutron sources in quantity levels up to several curies per source for substrata anag, , in'oil, gas, and mineral exploration.

When the¢i W'an f h" trievable well-logging source, a perman t iden-fica tion plaque must be mounted at the s the well. The mounting of this plaque is one of continuing control of the byproduct material, and the identification plaque is uitehoed to be a permanent indication of a sealed sd0irce C. REGULATORY

'POSITION

Acceptabletplaque information, plaque material, and methods of mounting for active and inac tive wells that contain an irretrievable well-logging source are as follows: *An "irretrievable well-logging source" means any sealed source containing licensed material that is pulled off or not con nected to the wireline downwell and for which all reasonable effort at recovery, as determined by the Commission, has been expended.1. Plaque Information.

All of the following infor mation should be engraved on the face of the identifi cation plaque. The engraving procedure should re move sufficient material to ensure that the depth of engraving will be sufficient to produce characters that have long-lasting visual discernibility.

a. The words, "CAUTION RA]DIOACTIVE

MATERIAL." b. The radiation sy rriblp n required)

as described in 10 C5V § T03 'Caution signs, labels, signals and S. V, c. The well-logging source(s)," alf tilda'rf occurrence.

d. d' r he well-owner and the city and stateý,dh, thig'ti in office is located.

eS Jhe well name and the well number (if appli* Cabf Th)le sealed source(s) (radionuclide and quan tity of activity).

g. The source depth and the plug-back depth. h. An appropriate warning, depending on the specific circumstances of each incident, such as: (1) Do not drill below plug-back depth, (2) Do not enlarge casing, or (3) Notify the appropriate State agency before reentry (if required by regulation in the State where the well is located).

2. Plaque Material.

The plaque should be con structed of long-lasting material such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, or monel. The size of the plaque should be convenient for use on active or inactive wells: e.g., a seven-inch

(177.8 mm) square would be usable in both cases. The thickness of the metal plaque should be at least l/8 inch (3.2 mm). Letter size of the words, "CAUTION RADIOACTIVE

MATERIAL," should be approximately double the letter size of the rest of the information;

e.g., 1/4 inch USNRC REGULATORY

GUIDES Comments should be sent to the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Attention:

Docketing and Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the public Service Branch. methods acceptable to the NRC staff of implementing specific parts of the Commission's regulations, to delineate techniques used by the staff in evalu- The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions:

ating specific problems or postulated accidents, or to provide guidance to applicants.

Regulatory Guides are not substitutes for regulations, and corn- 1. Power Reactors 6. Products pliance with them is not required.

Methods and solutions different from those 2. Research and Test Reactors 7. Transportation set out in the guides will be acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings 3. Fuels and Materials Facilities

8. Occupational Health requisite to the issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the 4. Environmental and Siting 9. Antitrust and Financial Review Commission.

5. Materials and Plant Protection

10. General Comments and suggestions for improvements in these guides are encouraged Requests for single copies of issued guides (which may be reproducedl or for at all times, and guides will be revised, as appropriate, to accommodate corn- placement on an automatic distribution list for single copies of future guides ments and to reflect new information or experience.

However, comments on in specific divisions should be made in writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory this guide, if received within about two months after its issuance, will be Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Attention:

Director, Division of particularly useful in evaluating the need for an early revision.

Technical Information and Document Control.5 n eco 0 .5. 0

(6.4 mm) and /s inch (3.2 mm) letter sizes would be acceptable.

3. Plaque Mounting.

a. For active wells, the plaque should be mounted in a readily observable location by welding or bolting it to the well-head structure.

The plaque information should be readable by personnel in the immediate area. b. For inactive wells, the plaque should be mounted by welding or bolting it to the top of the casing cap so that the plaque information would be readily observable if the well were reentered at a fu ture date.

D. IMPLEMENTATION

The guidance contained herein may be used by licensees or by applicants for a license as a reference for information normally supplied in support of a license application.

Other equally effective methods for providing for and mounting of an identification plaque for irre trievable well-logging sources may also be used.-o 40 0. <0.0 Ww 0 z 00 00 ý>0I 01(o 0 0 0> -Jo ~cr z