Dependence of radon concentration in natural gas on the geological and physical parameters of the gas reservoir

Pressure of natural gas in its rock reservoir determines the final radon concentration in this gas after its decompression to normal conditions. In this investigation, radon contents of 62 natural gas samples were measured and a simple physical model of the gas reservoir was applied. The model takes into account an additional dependence of radon concentration on the natural gas pressure and on the porosity of the rock reservoir. The influence of the gas pressure on the value of the radon emanating power is discussed. The mean ²²⁶ Ra content in the source rock needed for generation of ²²² Rn concentrations observed in gas is also calculated. The calculations are made with the help of regression analysis.