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Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

rollingstone.com

41–50 of 109 posts

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they weren’t informed about the real dangers of what was being spread. I wonder how many of them would even care. This week the EPA dismantled the Clean Water Rule. The primary backers for this were farmers and developers.

I guess they would care if their land becomes worthless as a result.

They didn't care about selling their crops when they elected Trump they certainly won't care about their land. They'll just do as Fox tells them to do at any price.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alpha particles generally cannot penetrate the skin, much less clothing or shoes. Betas can get through skin but probably not shoes. There is some energy dependence. Secondary decays and energy transitions often emit gamma rays as well which can go through everything, but the majority of the energy with these nuclides are alphas and betas. These are primarily dangerous because they're water soluble and present an ing…

> These are primarily dangerous because they're water soluble and present an ingestion and inhalation hazard. Once a large amount of a strong alpha-emitter is in your intestines it can really cause damage. So since the workers are getting it all over their hands and feet, which probably has sweat on it, would it pose a danger? Also, would getting it on wounds like cuts be dangerous as well?

Yes. If you are appropriately protected you can work with it. If you’re paying people $16/hr to haul hazmat (that you are concealing), you’re not providing appropriate protection or procedure.

Don’t listen to the apologists here. If you’ve worked in a place that handles toxic materials, you wouldn’t read about worried truck drivers keeping samples in mayonnaise jars. The driver would contact the industrial hygienist or safety officer at work.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We literally mine Uranium. How can people not realize this stuff can be found naturally on Earth?

We literally mine Uranium. How can people not realize this stuff can be found naturally on Earth? The same way 30% of British children think that cheese is a plant, that fish sticks come from pigs, and 10% think potatoes grow on trees. https://www.bbc.com/news/education-22730613 Of course, with almond "milk" and soy "turkey" these days, I guess it's normal for them to be confused.

Most of this is probably just kids taking the piss with adults who ask them dumb questions.

> "Where do fish sticks come from? Do they think I'm retarded just because I'm five? Fuck it, I'll tell them it comes from pigs, I wonder if they'll be stupid enough to think I'm not fucking with them."

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#45

For what it's worth this brine is potentially a monster source of lithium.

How is that relevant to the story about workers being exposed to brine, not being told it's radioactive and everyone is acting casually around waste management around brine?

With all that lithium, at least the workers won't be depressed about getting irradiated.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#46

For what it's worth this brine is potentially a monster source of lithium.

How is that relevant to the story about workers being exposed to brine, not being told it's radioactive and everyone is acting casually around waste management around brine?

Many interesting discussions here touch on tangential subjects. I for one found the information relevant.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#48
post #42

> There are over 1 million active oil-and-gas wells across 33 states This is insane. One well per 300 inhabitants of the USA. How is that even economically viable?

I’m guessing here, but I think the number seems high because shale wells have short lifespans. The declines are much higher than conventional wells, and so there are a great many of them to maintain production as the wells decline. There are large a number of DUCs, or drilled but uncompleted wells. They maintain these so that when one well runs dry, another can be brought online to maintain production targets. Also it’s more economic to drill as many wells as you can as quickly as possible even if it exceeds targets because there are economies of scale when it comes to moving and leasing rigs that drill the wells.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#49
post #42

> There are over 1 million active oil-and-gas wells across 33 states This is insane. One well per 300 inhabitants of the USA. How is that even economically viable?

Have you ever looked at Google maps/Earth of Texas? Zoom out to a couple thousand feet, and look at all of the little white dots across the surface. Each one of those little dots is a fracking well. Seeing it from this view is quite shocking. Look at how close houses/schools/etc are next to these well sites.

Re: Oil-and-gas wells produce radioactive waste

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We literally mine Uranium. How can people not realize this stuff can be found naturally on Earth?

We literally mine Uranium. How can people not realize this stuff can be found naturally on Earth? The same way 30% of British children think that cheese is a plant, that fish sticks come from pigs, and 10% think potatoes grow on trees. https://www.bbc.com/news/education-22730613 Of course, with almond "milk" and soy "turkey" these days, I guess it's normal for them to be confused.

Some British people believed that spaghetti grows on trees.

http://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/the_swiss_spaghetti_harv...

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