Event Notification Report for August 24, 2013
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
08/23/2013 - 08/24/2013
Agreement State
Event Number: 49309
Rep Org: NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Licensee: NABORS COMPLETION & PRODUCTION SERVICES COMPANY
Region: 4
City: WILLISTON State: ND
County:
License #: 33-48830-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID STRADINGER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Licensee: NABORS COMPLETION & PRODUCTION SERVICES COMPANY
Region: 4
City: WILLISTON State: ND
County:
License #: 33-48830-01
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: DAVID STRADINGER
HQ OPS Officer: DONALD NORWOOD
Notification Date: 08/27/2013
Notification Time: 16:27 [ET]
Event Date: 08/24/2013
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2013
Notification Time: 16:27 [ET]
Event Date: 08/24/2013
Event Time: 00:00 [MDT]
Last Update Date: 12/06/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
BOB HAGAR (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (E-MA)
BOB HAGAR (R4DO)
FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (E-MA)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - NUCLEAR DENSITY GAUGE INVOLVED IN FIRE AT WELL SITE
The following information was received via facsimile:
"A fire started at a well site near Williston, ND on Saturday, August 24, 2013. At the time of the event, fracking activities were being performed utilizing a Thermo Fisher Scientific model 5190 nuclear density gauge containing a Cs-137 source attached to a blender. Personnel evacuation was immediately performed and notification was made to the local fire department. Local fire department personnel arrived on-site and established control of the scene. The fire was extinguished later that night. Local fire department personnel restricted access to the site until Sunday morning. At that time, licensee personnel on-site were allowed to approach the gauge from a safe distance working their way towards the gauge while continually monitoring a radiation survey instrument (Ludlum Model 3). As the observed readings were higher than expected, it was believed the lead shielding had melted inside the steel casing and shifted to the lower area within the casing. The steel casing remained intact. After the initial assessment, licensee personnel maintained continual surveillance while site security personnel prohibited access within the public dose boundary set by the licensee. The licensee dispatched their Radiation Compliance Coordinator for further evaluation.
"The licensee's Radiation Compliance Coordinator arrived in Williston late Sunday night. Early Monday morning he arrived on site to perform more complete radiation surveys and leak testing of the involved gauge. The highest radiation levels noted around the gauge were 2.6 R/hr at the surface and 20 mR/hr at 1 meter. Wipe tests were collected and sent to Applied Health Physics of Bethel, PA for analysis. The results of the first two wipe samples demonstrated no evidence of contamination.
"The licensee contacted the manufacturer regarding disposal of the damaged gauge. The manufacturer, not willing to accept receipt of the gauge, suggested the licensee contact a waste broker for final disposal. The licensee subsequently contacted Applied Health Physics (AHP). AHP plans to cut out the gauge and package it in a lead lined 55 gallon steel drum for transport, and ship the container for final disposal. AHP is scheduled to perform this activity on Thursday, August 29, 2013.
"Licensee and site security personnel will continue to maintain surveillance and control of the site until the disposal personnel arrive."
* * * UPDATE FROM DAVID STRADINGER TO PETE SNYDER AT 1756 EDT ON 9/5/13 * * *
AHP removed the gauge and packaged it for transport. Notified R4DO (Gaddy) and FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (e-mail).
* * * UPDATE FROM DAVID STRADINGER TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1431 EDT ON 12/6/13 * * *
The North Dakota Department of Health has completed their investigation and recommending the LER (License Event Report) for closure.
Notified the R4DO (Vasquez), R1DO (Cook), and FSME Events Resource via email.
The following information was received via facsimile:
"A fire started at a well site near Williston, ND on Saturday, August 24, 2013. At the time of the event, fracking activities were being performed utilizing a Thermo Fisher Scientific model 5190 nuclear density gauge containing a Cs-137 source attached to a blender. Personnel evacuation was immediately performed and notification was made to the local fire department. Local fire department personnel arrived on-site and established control of the scene. The fire was extinguished later that night. Local fire department personnel restricted access to the site until Sunday morning. At that time, licensee personnel on-site were allowed to approach the gauge from a safe distance working their way towards the gauge while continually monitoring a radiation survey instrument (Ludlum Model 3). As the observed readings were higher than expected, it was believed the lead shielding had melted inside the steel casing and shifted to the lower area within the casing. The steel casing remained intact. After the initial assessment, licensee personnel maintained continual surveillance while site security personnel prohibited access within the public dose boundary set by the licensee. The licensee dispatched their Radiation Compliance Coordinator for further evaluation.
"The licensee's Radiation Compliance Coordinator arrived in Williston late Sunday night. Early Monday morning he arrived on site to perform more complete radiation surveys and leak testing of the involved gauge. The highest radiation levels noted around the gauge were 2.6 R/hr at the surface and 20 mR/hr at 1 meter. Wipe tests were collected and sent to Applied Health Physics of Bethel, PA for analysis. The results of the first two wipe samples demonstrated no evidence of contamination.
"The licensee contacted the manufacturer regarding disposal of the damaged gauge. The manufacturer, not willing to accept receipt of the gauge, suggested the licensee contact a waste broker for final disposal. The licensee subsequently contacted Applied Health Physics (AHP). AHP plans to cut out the gauge and package it in a lead lined 55 gallon steel drum for transport, and ship the container for final disposal. AHP is scheduled to perform this activity on Thursday, August 29, 2013.
"Licensee and site security personnel will continue to maintain surveillance and control of the site until the disposal personnel arrive."
* * * UPDATE FROM DAVID STRADINGER TO PETE SNYDER AT 1756 EDT ON 9/5/13 * * *
AHP removed the gauge and packaged it for transport. Notified R4DO (Gaddy) and FSME EVENTS RESOURCE (e-mail).
* * * UPDATE FROM DAVID STRADINGER TO JOHN SHOEMAKER AT 1431 EDT ON 12/6/13 * * *
The North Dakota Department of Health has completed their investigation and recommending the LER (License Event Report) for closure.
Notified the R4DO (Vasquez), R1DO (Cook), and FSME Events Resource via email.
Power Reactor
Event Number: 49306
Facility: COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: MATT HUMMER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Region: 4 State: WA
Unit: [2] [] []
RX Type: [2] GE-5
NRC Notified By: MATT HUMMER
HQ OPS Officer: PETE SNYDER
Notification Date: 08/25/2013
Notification Time: 00:46 [ET]
Event Date: 08/24/2013
Event Time: 16:14 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/29/2013
Notification Time: 00:46 [ET]
Event Date: 08/24/2013
Event Time: 16:14 [PDT]
Last Update Date: 08/29/2013
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
10 CFR Section:
50.72(b)(3)(xiii) - LOSS COMM/ASMT/RESPONSE
Person (Organization):
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
GREG WERNER (R4DO)
| Unit | SCRAM Code | RX Crit | Initial PWR | Initial RX Mode | Current PWR | Current RX Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N | Y | 100 | Power Operation | 100 | Power Operation |
MALFUNCTION OF STACK RADIATION MONITOR SUPPORTING EQUIPMENT
"At 1614 hours PDT on August, 24, 2013 the Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitor - High Range and Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitor - Intermediate Range detectors were declared non-functional due to a loss of supporting equipment. Corrective actions are being pursued to restore the affected monitors to functional status.
"To compensate for the loss of assessment capability due to the non-functioning Radiation Monitoring Equipment, an additional Health Physics (HP) Technician trained to acquire offsite dose assessment information on offsite releases is available. The additional personnel are pre-staged in support of the Radiation Monitoring System outage and will be mobilized in accordance with guidance in the compensatory measure instructions.
"This event is being reported as a loss of emergency assessment capability in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii). A follow up notification will be made when the Equipment has been returned to service.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
* * * UPDATE FROM MATT HUMMER TO VINCE KLCO ON 8/29/13 AT 1739 EDT * * *
"Repairs have been completed and both the Intermediate and High Range Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitors have been returned to service.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Notified the R4DO (Hagar).
"At 1614 hours PDT on August, 24, 2013 the Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitor - High Range and Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitor - Intermediate Range detectors were declared non-functional due to a loss of supporting equipment. Corrective actions are being pursued to restore the affected monitors to functional status.
"To compensate for the loss of assessment capability due to the non-functioning Radiation Monitoring Equipment, an additional Health Physics (HP) Technician trained to acquire offsite dose assessment information on offsite releases is available. The additional personnel are pre-staged in support of the Radiation Monitoring System outage and will be mobilized in accordance with guidance in the compensatory measure instructions.
"This event is being reported as a loss of emergency assessment capability in accordance with 10 CFR 50.72(b)(3)(xiii). A follow up notification will be made when the Equipment has been returned to service.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
* * * UPDATE FROM MATT HUMMER TO VINCE KLCO ON 8/29/13 AT 1739 EDT * * *
"Repairs have been completed and both the Intermediate and High Range Reactor Building Stack Radiation Monitors have been returned to service.
"The licensee has notified the NRC Resident Inspector."
Notified the R4DO (Hagar).