The following information was received via E-mail:
At approximately 0825 MDT on 04/29/14, the Colorado Radiation Program received notification from Weatherford International, LLC (Colorado license 1116-01), a well logging licensee, regarding a source recovery operation taking place on a well located in Weld County, Colorado (well - 'Razor #261,' operated by Whiting Oil Company). During well logging operations (which involved a 5 Ci Am241:Be source, and a 1.5 Ci Cs-137 source) on 04/28/14, an 'unintentional pull off' occurred sometime around 2200 MDT at a depth of approximately 3500 feet below the surface. A source recovery ('fishing') company was called in to perform source recovery operations and the sources became unstuck around 0230 MDT on 04/29/14. Recovery operations are underway at this time. Fluids are being monitored to verify the sources remain intact during the recovery operations. At this time, the sources are estimated at being 1000 feet below surface, and are continuing to move toward the surface.
The Radiation Program remains in contact with the licensee and continues to monitor the situation.
- * * UPDATE FROM JAMES JARVIS TO DONALD NORWOOD AT 1312 EDT ON 4/29/2014 * * *
At 1030 MDT on 4/29/14, the licensee reported that the sources have been recovered, are intact, and have been returned to their storage containers at the temporary jobsite. Surveys of the fluids, sources, work area, and drilling platform areas do not indicate the presence of contamination. The licensee reported that visual inspection of the tools in which the sources were used indicated no significant damage. The sources used on the job will be returned to the Weatherford location in Casper Wyoming where they will be formally leak tested. In addition to the Colorado license, Weatherford also holds an NRC license (NRC 42-26891-01). According to the Colorado RSO, the well logging operation was being conducted under the Colorado license, and involved crew members from both the Colorado and Wyoming locations. The sources were brought from the Casper, Wyoming office.
Notified R4DO (Haire) and
FSME Events Resource.