Event Notification Report for September 19, 2017
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Operations Center
EVENT REPORTS FOR
09/18/2017 - 09/19/2017
Agreement State
Event Number: 52977
Rep Org: ALABAMA RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: SCHLUMBERGER
Region: 0
City: State:
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MYRON K. RILEY
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Licensee: SCHLUMBERGER
Region: 0
City: State:
County:
License #:
Agreement: N
Docket:
NRC Notified By: MYRON K. RILEY
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Notification Date: 09/19/2017
Notification Time: 13:16 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 09/26/2017
Notification Time: 13:16 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EST]
Last Update Date: 09/26/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
SILAS KENNEDY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
SILAS KENNEDY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFIC (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - WELL LOGGING SOURCES STUCK DOWN HOLE
The following information was received via fax:
"On September 19, 2017, the [Alabama Department of Public Health] received a phone call from Schlumberger, stating that they had failed to notify the Agency [Alabama Department of Public Health] upon entering the State, to perform a job on September 13, 2017, and that two sources (Cf-252 - 18.3 mCi and Cs-137 - 1.78 Ci) are stuck down hole.
"Schlumberger stated that the first fishing attempt had failed to recover the sources, and the second attempt is now underway. Gathering information is continuing."
Alabama Incident: #17-26
* * * UPDATE FROM MYRON RILEY TO VINCE KLCO AT 1148 EDT ON 9/26/2017 Via Fax * * *
"On September 24, 2017, after several days of fishing for the logging tools, all recovery attempts had been unsuccessful and the sources were cemented in place down hole.
"The licensee will follow up with a written report and a picture of the plaque to be placed on the well head."
Notified R1DO (Bower) and NMSS Events Notification via 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)
The following information was received via fax:
"On September 19, 2017, the [Alabama Department of Public Health] received a phone call from Schlumberger, stating that they had failed to notify the Agency [Alabama Department of Public Health] upon entering the State, to perform a job on September 13, 2017, and that two sources (Cf-252 - 18.3 mCi and Cs-137 - 1.78 Ci) are stuck down hole.
"Schlumberger stated that the first fishing attempt had failed to recover the sources, and the second attempt is now underway. Gathering information is continuing."
Alabama Incident: #17-26
* * * UPDATE FROM MYRON RILEY TO VINCE KLCO AT 1148 EDT ON 9/26/2017 Via Fax * * *
"On September 24, 2017, after several days of fishing for the logging tools, all recovery attempts had been unsuccessful and the sources were cemented in place down hole.
"The licensee will follow up with a written report and a picture of the plaque to be placed on the well head."
Notified R1DO (Bower) and NMSS Events Notification via 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
Note: This device is assigned an IAEA Category 3 value based on the actual radioactivity of the source, not on the device type. (Reference IAEA RG-G-1.9)
Agreement State
Event Number: 52978
Rep Org: FLORIDA BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL
Licensee: GFA INTERNATIONAL INC.
Region: 1
City: FT. MYERS State: FL
County:
License #: 3021-2
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TIM DUNN
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Licensee: GFA INTERNATIONAL INC.
Region: 1
City: FT. MYERS State: FL
County:
License #: 3021-2
Agreement: Y
Docket:
NRC Notified By: TIM DUNN
HQ OPS Officer: DAN LIVERMORE
Notification Date: 09/19/2017
Notification Time: 16:54 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/20/2017
Notification Time: 16:54 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 00:00 [EDT]
Last Update Date: 09/20/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
SILAS KENNEDY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
SILAS KENNEDY (R1DO)
NMSS_EVENTS_NOTIFICA (EMAI)
AGREEMENT STATE REPORT - STOLEN TROXLER GAUGE
The following information was received from the State of Florida via email:
"[The State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control] received a call from [the licensee] RSO to report a stolen Troxler gauge. An employee from GFA International had the gauge stolen from the back of his truck while at a convenience store. Awaiting the police report for more information."
The stolen gauge is a Troxler Moisture Density Model 3430, S/N 29415, containing two sources; 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am241/Be.
* * * UPDATE ON 9/20/17 AT 1215 EDT FROM TIM DUNN TO DONG PARK * * *
The following information was received from the State of Florida via email:
"[The State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control] received a call from [the licensee RSO] to report that the gauge has been found. A contractor onsite found the gauge on 9/19 and secured it until [the licensee RSO] could be located and took possession of the gauge on 9/20. The case has a small crack, but all radiation readings are normal."
Incident Number: FL17-256
Notified R1DO (Kennedy) and NMSS Events Notification via 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
The following information was received from the State of Florida via email:
"[The State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control] received a call from [the licensee] RSO to report a stolen Troxler gauge. An employee from GFA International had the gauge stolen from the back of his truck while at a convenience store. Awaiting the police report for more information."
The stolen gauge is a Troxler Moisture Density Model 3430, S/N 29415, containing two sources; 8 mCi Cs-137 and 40 mCi Am241/Be.
* * * UPDATE ON 9/20/17 AT 1215 EDT FROM TIM DUNN TO DONG PARK * * *
The following information was received from the State of Florida via email:
"[The State of Florida Bureau of Radiation Control] received a call from [the licensee RSO] to report that the gauge has been found. A contractor onsite found the gauge on 9/19 and secured it until [the licensee RSO] could be located and took possession of the gauge on 9/20. The case has a small crack, but all radiation readings are normal."
Incident Number: FL17-256
Notified R1DO (Kennedy) and NMSS Events Notification via 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. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf
Non-Power Reactor
Event Number: 52980
Rep Org: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Licensee: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Region: 0
City: MANHATTAN State: KS
County: RILEY
License #: R-88
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000188
NRC Notified By: AMIR BAHADORI
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO
Licensee: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Region: 0
City: MANHATTAN State: KS
County: RILEY
License #: R-88
Agreement: Y
Docket: 05000188
NRC Notified By: AMIR BAHADORI
HQ OPS Officer: STEVEN VITTO
Notification Date: 09/20/2017
Notification Time: 13:13 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 14:49 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/20/2017
Notification Time: 13:13 [ET]
Event Date: 09/19/2017
Event Time: 14:49 [CDT]
Last Update Date: 09/20/2017
Emergency Class: NON EMERGENCY
10 CFR Section:
10 CFR Section:
Person (Organization):
SPYROS TRAIFOROS (NPR)
BETH REED (NPR)
SPYROS TRAIFOROS (NPR)
BETH REED (NPR)
REACTOR BAY VENTILATION INOPERABLE
The following was received via email:
"The exhaust plenum monitor (EPM) was sent out for calibration a couple of weeks ago. It was received back on September 17, 2017, and returned to service. [On 9/20/17,] one of the senior reactor operators noticed that the noble gas detector was not responding properly. It was turned off. A relay on the EPM controls reactor bay ventilation, which is required to be operable per Technical Specifications. If the EPM alarms, ventilation is turned off. This relay was rewired to use only the two operating EPM detectors. Despite this, the reactor bay ventilation was observed to not operate as expected. The problem was traced back to a separate faulty relay, which was subsequently bypassed. The senior reactor operator had access to a control room breaker, and planned to manually cut power to the ventilation system if the EPM or continuous air monitor alarmed. An experiment was installed that has the potential to release radioactive gases; the reactor was started up at 1449 CDT and shut down at 1743 CDT. No increases in radiation levels were observed during or after operations. The ventilation system was operating during reactor operations.
"As previously mentioned, reactor bay ventilation is required to be operable per Technical Specifications. Operable is defined as being capable of performing it's intended function in a normal manner. Manually cutting power to the ventilation system via control room breaker is not considered normal operation for the ventilation system. According to Technical Specifications, the reactor may be operated with the ventilation system inoperable, but reactor experiment operations with the potential to release radioactive gases or aerosols must be secured. While the apparatus was secured according to the definition in Section 1 of the Technical Specifications, the experiment was still performed, and so experiment operations were not secured in accordance with the Limiting Condition of Operation."
The following was received via email:
"The exhaust plenum monitor (EPM) was sent out for calibration a couple of weeks ago. It was received back on September 17, 2017, and returned to service. [On 9/20/17,] one of the senior reactor operators noticed that the noble gas detector was not responding properly. It was turned off. A relay on the EPM controls reactor bay ventilation, which is required to be operable per Technical Specifications. If the EPM alarms, ventilation is turned off. This relay was rewired to use only the two operating EPM detectors. Despite this, the reactor bay ventilation was observed to not operate as expected. The problem was traced back to a separate faulty relay, which was subsequently bypassed. The senior reactor operator had access to a control room breaker, and planned to manually cut power to the ventilation system if the EPM or continuous air monitor alarmed. An experiment was installed that has the potential to release radioactive gases; the reactor was started up at 1449 CDT and shut down at 1743 CDT. No increases in radiation levels were observed during or after operations. The ventilation system was operating during reactor operations.
"As previously mentioned, reactor bay ventilation is required to be operable per Technical Specifications. Operable is defined as being capable of performing it's intended function in a normal manner. Manually cutting power to the ventilation system via control room breaker is not considered normal operation for the ventilation system. According to Technical Specifications, the reactor may be operated with the ventilation system inoperable, but reactor experiment operations with the potential to release radioactive gases or aerosols must be secured. While the apparatus was secured according to the definition in Section 1 of the Technical Specifications, the experiment was still performed, and so experiment operations were not secured in accordance with the Limiting Condition of Operation."