GLOBAL WELL LOGGING SECURITY INITIATIVE

The threat of radiological terrorism is a growing international security concern and a principal priority within the national security community. Terrorists are actively attempting to obtain the high-activity radioactive sources necessary to develop a radiological dispersal device, commonly referred to as a “dirty bomb”. The use of such a device in a populated and/or symbolic area could cause widespread health, environment, psychological effects, as well as catastrophic worldwide economic damage. In this context, high-activity Am-241 well logging sources used world-wide during oil explorations are of particular concern to international security. The vast number of well-logging sources used globally, estimated to be greater than 5000 with each containing from 5 to 20 Curies of Am-241, coupled with the portability and frequent movement of these sources, present a significant security threat. The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Global Threat Reduction’s Well Logging Security Initiative has partnered with the oilfield services industry to co-author and promulgate the “Security and Control of High-Activity Well Logging Sources Guidelines” document [1]. This document provides specific guidelines to enhance elements of security including deterrence, detection, delay, assessment and response. The guidelines are focused on sources stored at base camps, during transportation and in use at drill sites. This government/industry partnership effort is intended to greatly reduce the threat of theft of these high-activity well logging sources and markedly enhance the security of sources worldwide. The industry partners are voluntarily enhancing the security of their well logging sources to meet the recommendations in the Guidelines document.