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Facts Relating To H2S
Facts Relating To H2S
Facts Relating To H2S
1. What is H2S?
Hydrogen Sulfide is a colorless, transparent gas with a characteristic of a rotten-egg odor at low
concentrations and not detectable by odor at high concentrations.
Chemical symbol: H2S
Specific Gravity: 1.192 (heavier than air)
Explosive limits: Lower: 4% , Upper: 44% volume in air
Ignition Temperature: 500o F
Solubility in water: 2.9 volumes of gas , per volume of water at 20o C
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50-100 ppm Slight conjunctivitis and respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour exposure
Coughing, eye irritation, loss of sense of smell after 2-15 minutes. Altered
respiration, pain in the eyes and drowsiness after 15-30 minutes followed by
100 ppm throat irritation after 1 hour. Several hours exposure results in gradual
increase in severity of these symptoms and death may occur within the next
48 hours.
200-300 ppm Marked conjunctivitis and respiratory tract irritation after 1 hour of exposure
5. What is being done to protect citizens when drilling the H2S well?
The following safety features are required:
The drilling rig must contain wind direction indicators, hydrogen sulfide detection monitors
(with an audible alarm at 20 ppm), emergency escape breathing apparatus.
All free gas separated from the drilling fluid must be flared and tested for H2S.
Proper drilling fluids must be used to prevent formation fluids or gases from escaping
from the well.
Blowout preventers must be in place and tested, and be capable of immediately closing
in the well even if drilling pipe is in the well.
Multiple, concentric strings of casing must be cemented in place to protect fresh waters
and confine fluids or gases to within the well bore.
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6. What is being done to protect citizens when producing the H2S well?
Warning signs must be posted at the well and markers placed along the flow line.
Any vents to the atmosphere must be at least 10 feet above the tank top or 20 feet above
the ground. Venting may be prohibited if it results in a verified chronic nuisance odor.
When storage vessels release more than 5000 cubic feet of vapors in 24 hours, they
must be equipped to convey those gasses to an incinerator, flare or vapor recovery
system, the site must be fenced and warning signs posted. Emergency relief valves on
these wells must be routed to an incinerator or flare.
Incinerators or flares must be designed and equipped to prevent the release of unburned
gas to the atmosphere.
Wells which produce unattended with pressures greater than 100 psig must be equipped
with high-low pressure shut-in systems.
Vapor return lines are required on truck loading facilities.
All flow lines to first point of sale are required to be marked to denote the presence of a buried
line containing hydrogen sulfide, the owner’s name and emergency number.
Flow lines or facility piping for wells permitted after Sept. 20, 1996 are to be pressure
tested every twelve months or visually inspected every three months.
Above ground lines are to be protected from accidental damage.
OGS (Office of Geological Survey) staff inspect production facilities two to four times per year.
Facilities known to have a history of problems are inspected more frequently.
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7. What is being done to protect citizens when servicing the H2S well?
The same safety equipment as required for drilling, must be installed whenever servicing
requires removing the seal on the innermost well casing. A revised contingency plan is
required.
Field staff can require updating of contingency plans whenever significant changes are
noted or a significant action such as well servicing is proposed.
We have recently issued a clarification to the existing rules which requires all gas
produced or discharged during any servicing operation is flared or otherwise properly
controlled.
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8. What training is provided for the people who work on H2S wells?
A permittee of a well is required by law to ensure that all employees, including drilling contractors
or other independent contractors, who are involved in drilling, completing, testing, producing,
repair, workover or servicing on an H2S well have been trained regarding:
The properties and effects of H2S.
Effects of H2S on materials.
Emergency escape procedures.
Location and use of safety equipment, briefing areas, detection and warning systems.
Corrective actions, shut-in procedures, well ignition procedures and how to notify
off-site public authorities identified in the contingency plan.
Contents of the permittee’s contingency plan.
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