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May 15, 1999 -- Some of this week's stories:
 'ASAP'
may save oil, gas producers millions
Argonne
is love struck
High
school women learn about science careers
Cello
concert tickets go on sale
ECT
hosts information tech expo
HR offers software classes |
Oil and gas producers may save millions of dollars in cleaning up soils contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive materials thanks to an on-site soil sampling and testing method developed at Argonne.
Naturally occurring radioactive material accumulates when the production of oil and natural gas from underground reservoirs carries small quantities of radium to the surface. Over time, the radium -- usually radium-226 and to a lesser extent, radium-228 -- can concentrate in pipe scale and sludge deposits, which in turn can contaminate soil and equipment with radioactivity.
The traditional approach to cleaning up such sites involves complicated soil sampling techniques and shipping these samples to offsite laboratories for analysis -- a time-consuming and costly process.
But a recent demonstration has shown that using Argonne's Adaptive Sampling and Analysis Program (ASAP) can dramatically cut the time and money needed to study and clean up sites contaminated by naturally radioactive materials. ASAP combines real-time data collection with in-field decision-making for faster and more precise characterization of a site. It was first used successfully for faster and cheaper cleanup of radioactive contamination at Department of Energy sites.
The demonstration was conducted on a 3½-acre site at Lease Management, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Pipe salvaged from nearby oil and gas production sites was stacked there prior to being cleaned and reconditioned. Contaminated scale on the outside of the pipes fell off during handling and due to exposure to the elements. As a result, soils across the pipe yard had varying levels of radium-226 concentrations.
First, scientists walked over the site with a portable global positioning system and a hand-held gamma ray detection device to map surface radiation levels.
The scientists then used a commercial technology called the RadInSoilTM meter to determine a relationship between overall radioactivity measurements and radium-226 concentrations. State guidelines are based on these concentrations.
Armed with the field data, researchers then used unique Argonne-developed techniques to determine where soil contamination exceeded regulatory standards and would need to be excavated for disposal. To confirm the presence of radium-226, scientists used a tripod-mounted, camera-like device called a High Purity Germanium gamma spectroscopy system that directly measures radium-226 concentrations in surface soils.
Using the results from ASAP, scientists can immediately make decisions on excavating contaminated soil for disposal. It took four days to study and clean up the Michigan site.
The average cost for soil disposal ranges from about $100 to $200 per cubic yard, so keeping soil volumes to an absolute minimum is very important.
"The goal is to be as precise as possible in digging up dirt for disposal so you don't take anything clean with you or leave behind anything above clean-up standards," said Bob Johnson (EA).
For sites contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive materials, it's estimated that using ASAP costs only 10 percent of what a more traditional study would cost. In the Michigan demonstration, use of ASAP is expected to save the site owner at least $36,000 in disposal costs.
Johnson says this is a technology that is easily transferred to industry, and plans are underway to host a series of workshops to provide training in ASAP techniques to members of the oil and gas industry.
In the future, Johnson hopes to apply these technologies to stewardship of remediated Department of Energy sites. Once active remediation is done, the department is responsible for long-term monitoring of these sites.
There needs to be an efficient and cost effective way to do this, and Johnson believes methods like ASAP could be the answer.
-- Donna Jones Pelkie
"Love" struck the laboratory at 6:14 a.m. Thursday, May 4. The "ILOVEYOU" e-mail virus caused some interruption in e-mail service, but for the most part, was only an annoying inconvenience.
Some e-mail servers were taken off-line briefly while technicians removed the virus, said Argonne Computer Protection Manager Paul Krystosek. Many employees had to delete dozens or hundreds of amorous e-mail messages. Public address announcements and voice-mail broadcasts were used to alert employees to the true nature of the message. Most of the disruption was over by the end of the day.
The "success" of the virus has spawned copycats, Krystosek said, and the usual rule of thumb applies: if you don't recognize the author or the subject of an e-mail message, delete it.
Anti-virus programs
Command AntiVirus and Trend virus protection software is available at the Electronics and Computing Technologies Division Web site. Argonne's site license allows employees to install a copy on their machines at work and one on their machines at home if it is used for work-related activities.
For Mac users, "Disinfectant" freeware is available via the AppleTalk Public Volume.
Hundreds of high school girls came to Argonne May 5 to explore careers in scientific and technical fields and meet women scientists and engineers.
Lisette G. de Pillis, associate professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and winner of Argonne's Maria Goeppert Mayer Distinguished Scholar award, was the keynote speaker.
Students attended discussions on balancing career and family life and career development. Panel members included scientific and technical employees from Argonne and organizations like Lucent Technologies, ABC Pediatrics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
There were afternoon tours to various departments at Argonne, followed by a visit to the career booths set up at the Advanced Photon Source Conference Center.
Maryka Bhattacharyya, initiator for Argonne's Women in Science and Technology program and coordinator of this year's conference, provided closing remarks at the end of the day.
Tickets go on sale this week for Arts at Argonne's weekend of cello music, featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Cello Section and a recital by the winner of a competition to be held May 20.
Tickets for all events will be sold in the Building 213 Cafeteria Lobby May 15-19 from noon to 1 p.m. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the Auditorium Box Office prior to each performance.
Tickets for a performance by
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Cello Section Friday, May 19, are $20, or $15 for
students. The concert begins at 8 p.m. in the Advanced Photon Source Conference
Center Auditorium, Building 402.
The first Holland-America
Music Society Cello Competition will be held at Argonne-East Saturday, May 20.
The afternoon semi-final performances are free and open to the public. Admission
to the evening's final round is $12.
The winner of the
competition will perform in recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, as part of "The
Next Generation _ Young Performers in Recital" concert series at Argonne.
The Sunday recital is free to subscribers of the Arts at Argonne Chamber Music Series; otherwise, tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Special dinner
A special four-course dinner will be offered at the Argonne Guest House from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20. The fixed dinner price is $22.95. For reservations, call (630) 739-6000.
An Information Technology Expo will be held at the Argonne-East Building 213 Cafeteria Thursday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ten companies will demonstrate the latest in presentation solutions, portable computers, security software, digital printers, copiers and scanners, client-server solutions and Silicon Graphics-based technical computing solutions. Light refreshments will be served.
The expo will be hosted by the Electronics and Computing Technologies Division.
Argonne-East employees can visit with the directors of the Argonne Credit Union Wednesday, May 17, in the Building 213 Cafeteria.
The lunch date gives credit union members a chance to share their views and concerns, ask questions and get to know their representatives on the board.
Credit union board members will be seated at four tables next to the south entrance (nearest the Credit Union) from noon to 1 p.m.
For more information, call Dee Wernette at ext. 2-3280.
Classes in several office computer software products will be offered in June at Argonne-East by the Electronics and Computing Technologies Division.
All classes will use programs from Microsoft's "Office 2000" suite of applications. Unless otherwise specified, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, are limited to 10 participants and cost $195.
For detailed descriptions of class content, see the Web page at http://www.anl.gov/ECT/courses/. For more information on enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153, or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) --
This class consists of two three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First
session: Tuesday, June 6, 9 a.m. - noon. Second session: Thursday, June 8,
9 a.m. - noon. Cost: $245.
Microsoft Outlook 2000
(ECT377). Monday, June 12, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
Advanced Word 2000 (ECT378)
-- Tuesday, June 13, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
Advanced Excel 2000 (ECT379)
-- Prerequisites: Introduction and Intermediate Excel 2000. Wednesday, June 14,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advanced Access 2000
(ECT380). Prerequisite: Intermediate Access 2000. Thursday, June 15, 8:30
a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to eight.
Visual Basic for Access 2000
(ECT381) -- Prerequisites: Advanced Access is required and student must have
experience creating databases in Access. Friday, June 16, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30
p.m.
Service Awards for April include:
30 Years
William R. Vroman (RPS).
25 Years
Clyde B. Dennis (ER), Suk Hong Kim (AOD), Marcella J. Sklenar (ES), Paul E. Vanderwall (PFS), Lynn M. Welsh (OPS).
20 Years
Kyong C. Chun (EA), Joseph S. Gregar (CHM), Wieslaw F. Prucnal (PFS), Robert W. Stanek (HEP), Fred J. Stevens (BIO).
15 Years
Charles W. Allen (MSD), David M. Bartels (CHM), Robert J. Blaskovitz (CMT), Robert J. Ferry (AOD), Urs W. Geiser (CHM), Jim R. Mason (ED), Terry E. Smith (OD).
10 Years
Michael D. Atella (HR), Thomas R. Barsz (ASD), Sharon Brown (PFS), Julie Colborn (OD), Jeffrey T. Collins (XFD), Laurel A. Culbert (IPD), Robert J. Dortwegt (ASD), Randy J. Eaton (OD), David S. Ferguson (ED), Erison Hamilton (PFS), Brent G. Harris (ED), Karen L. Haugen (IPD), Trenton L. Johnson (RPS), Marvin Kirshenbaum (AOD), Albert Macrander (UPD), Gary C. Marshall (RPS) and LeRoy M. Mitchell (OD). Jerry A. Nolen, Jr. (PHY), Veronica O'Connor (XFD), Gregory G. Peters (NT), Curtis M. Ricks (RPS), Richard A. Rons (HR), Gloria A. Ruppert (PFS), Mark W. Schlueter (IPNS), Ronald W. Sommers (RPS), Nancy A. Stewart (OD), Jeffrey L. Warren (ASD).
5 Years
Allen Bakel (CMT), Vincent Battaglia (CMT), Hual-Te Chien (ET), Kim B. Davies (NT), Jian Shu Luo (CMT), John P. O'Donnell (ECT), Stephen H. Southworth (CHM), William T. Ward, Jr. (PFS), John Whennen (IPD).
Jeanne A. Blomquist,(ESH), retired March 31 with 23 years of service.
James K. Coleman, (PFS-BM), retired March 31 with 30 years of service.
Paul D. Elswood, (RPS), retired March 24 with 34 years of service.
Gloria M. Fang, (OCF-ACT), retired March 17 with 37 years of service.
John Haley,(DIS), retired March 30 with 10 years of service.
Joseph Haumann, (ECT), retired March 31 with 39 years of service.
Violet Henry, (PFS), retired March 31 with 21 years of service.
Gaylord J. Kamis, (ECT-EE), retired March 31 with 34 years of service.
Robert T. Kampwirth, (MSD), retired March 31 with 35 years of service.
Frank J. Kovachik, (PFS-BM), retired March 31 with 22 years of service.
Bruce Millar, (PHY), retired March 24 with 34 years of service.
Craig G. Murdoch, (PFS-CS), retired March 10 with 10 years of service.
Carl Peraino, (BEM), retired March 31 with 34 years of service.
Edwin H. Roemer, (OD), retired March 31 with 27 years of service.
Charles Savers, (MSD), retired March 31 with 41 years of service.
Anthony W. Uzzardo, (IPD-MED), retired March 31 with 39 years of service.
James L. Walton, (ED), retired March 24 with 33 years of service.
Margaret Zurek, (EA), retired March 30 with 21 years of service.
