Doc ID 30

Lufkin Middle East issue 1

Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

Introduction:

Lufkin Middle east employees are occasionally asked to work on locations where H2S is
present. Drilling rigs are the most common places for such hazards. Lufkin employees are
working around the rig area to make new Pump installation, or to make pump change and
during fishing of stuck rods.

Lufkin Middle East supervisor is responsible for fulfilling this job and he started working
in installations, changing or maintaining the pump after notified by the rig operator that the
rig is ready. The rig crew supervisor shall inform Lufkin crew of any potential adverse
conditions e.g. high reservoir pressure or high concentration of H2S which needs special
safety procedures, training and equipment.

It is also possible that during drilling, a formation containing high concentration of H2S
may be encountered, if that happens and due to the properties of H2S, the gas could be
released from or accumulated in the following areas:

1. blow –out preventor ( BOP)

2. flow nipple
3. drilling fluid piping system
4. choke manifold
5. storage tanks

This procedure is divided into three sections as the following:

1. Hydrogen Sulphide characteristics and effect on the human body and also its effect
on the subsurface pumping unit.
2. Hydrogen Sulphide safety procedures around rigs.
3. Other related safety procedures in the rig area.

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

First Section: Hydrogen Sulphide characteristics:

Hydrogen sulphide, H2S, is an extremely hazardous, toxic compound. It is colorless,
flammable gas that can be identified in relatively low concentrations by a characteristic
rotten egg odor. Hydrogen sulphide occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gases and
hot springs. In high concentrations, hydrogen sulphide causes instant paralysis and death.

1. Definitions:

Exposure Assessment: The evaluation of health risk associated with workplace exposure
to chemical, physical, or biological agents. The health risks for a similar exposure group
are judged insignificant, significant, unacceptable, or uncertain.
Health hazards: An unacceptably high risk for an illness or disease associated with
occupational exposure to chemical, physical, or biological agent.
Industrial Hygiene: A discipline directed at preventing occupational illnesses and
diseases through the anticipation, identification, assessment, and control of workplace
health hazards.
Occupational Exposure limits (OEL): A criterion for differentiating acceptable from
unacceptable exposures.OELs for air contaminants and noise are expressed as full shift
time –weighted average values ( 8,10,12 hours,etc.), short term exposure limits, excursion
limits and ceiling limits. Biological OELs are available for some chemicals and are
employed where the main route of exposure is skin absorption and/or inadvertent
ingestion.
Similar Exposure group (SEG) Groups of workers have the same general exposure
profile for the environmental agent being assessed because of the similarity and frequency
of the tasks they perform, the materials and processes with which they work, the similarity
of the way they perform tasks. a similar exposure group is commonly identified by the
process,job,task and environmental agent.
Lower flammable limits (LEL) the lowest amount of gas in the air that will burn
Upper flammable limits (UFL) the highest amount of gas in the air that will burn

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

Immediately dangerous to life and death (ILDH) the level of exposure to chemical s that
causes either chronic or acute health effect
Time weighted average (TWA) the level that an employee can be exposed to over
the course of 8 hour work day during 40- hour work

2. Hydrogen Sulfide properties:

• Colorless
• H2S smells like rotten eggs in low concentration. This smell should not be trusted
since it impairs your sense of smell at higher concentrations. “ Do not depend on
your nose of smell”
• H2S is heavier than air and therefore collects in low-lying areas ( i.e. tanks, confined
spaces, etc)
• H2S is heavily flammable and in concentrations of 43.000- 46.000 ppm. It can
explode with the high temperature present.
• H2s emits Sulphur dioxide (SO2) when burned causing severe irritation to eyes,
nose, throat, and respiratory system.
• H2S is soluble in water, oils, and most organic liquids.
• Acid solutions containing H2S can cause severe irritation to skin and eyes.
• H2S reacts violently to strong oxidizers, metal oxides, peroxides, strong alkalis,
active metals, and some plastic and rubbers.
• Very corrosive so, suitable specification should be selected during designing for the
pumping units. It reacts also as oxidizing agents with metal carbides forming scales
and turning it to fragile.

3. Human Health Effects from Exposure to Hydrogen Sulphide

H2S enters the body through the lungs. It dissolves in the blood and spreads in the
bloodstream to the brain. It shuts down the respiratory control center. Without

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

messages from the brain, breathing stops and heart also stops due to lack of oxygen.
The following are short and long term effects of Hydrogen Sulphide.
Short- Term effects:
a. irritates the eyes, nose, mouth and throat
b. light sensitivity
c. Giddiness
d. Lack of energy
Long term effects
e. fatigue
f. headache
g. dizziness
h. cough
i. irritability

4. Regulatory Limits:
The following are H2S exposure limits established by OSHA:
• OSHA ceiling limit C= 20 ppm
PEL = 10 ppm

• OSHA short term Exposure limit ( STEL) STEL = 20 ppm

Average exposure shall not exceed over a 10 minute period of maximum exposure
during a single 8 hour shift.
• I.D.L.H ( immediately dangerous to life) = 100 ppm

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

The following table shows the effect of hydrogen sulphide exposure:

Exposure concentration Human effect
1 ppm can be smelled
10 ppm OSHA occupational exposure limit ( OEL)
• Eye irritation
• Odor is obvious and unpleasant
15 ppm • OSHA ceiling of exposure
• An unprotected worker may not be
exposed above this concentration
20- 25 ppm • Severe eye irritation
• Nose, throat and lung irritation
• Loss of appetite
50 ppm • Dryness and irritation of nose and throat
• Prolonged exposure may cause a runny
nose, cough hoarseness, shortness of
breath
• Pneumonia
100-150 • Temporary loss of smell
• Immediately dangerous to life health
• Gas seems odorless due to loss of smell
200- 250 ppm • Severe irritation, headache, nausea,
vomiting and dizziness
• Prolonged exposure may cause lung
damage
• Exposure 4- 8 hours can cause death

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

300- 500 ppm • Same symptoms as above but sooner or

more severe
• Death can occur in 1- 4 hours
500 ppm • Excitement, headache, dizziness
• Staggering, unconsciousness and
respiratory failure occur in 5 minutes to 1
hour
500 ppm + • Causes unconsciousness and death
• Severe exposure that do not result in
death, may cause long term symptoms
such as memory loss, paralysis of facial
muscles or nerve tissue damage.
600 ppm + • One or two breaths of air with as little as
600 ppm can cause a person to lose
consciousness.
• Continued exposure can kill

Note:
1% = 10000 ppm

5. Section two: procedures of safety in rig area in H2S

atmosphere
a. All drilling and workover operations in known or suspect hydrogen sulfide areas
shall be conducted according to API RP 49, "Recommended Practices for Safe
Drilling of Wells Containing Hydrogen Sulfide"
b. All Lufkin personnel shall be informed by the rig operator and owner HSE manager
of the hazards related to H2s and shall receive instructions in the correct use of any

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

personnel safety equipment, hydrogen sulfide detector and warning systems

associated with the rig operator’s H2S equipment.
c. Two four channel H2S monitoring system with two visual audio alarm system shall
be installed and fully operational on all land drilling rigs operating on known or
suspect H2S locations.
d. H2S alarm system shall be set for first alarm 10 ppm ( visual and audible) and high
alarm at 20 ppm ( visual and audible)
e. The alarm system shall be located in clearly visible locations so that personnel in
any work area can can see and /or hear at least one set.
f. Two personnel portable are to be set at 10 ppm, one monitor shall be with Lufkin
personnel and the other located in the supervisor office.
g. The atmosphere shall be monitored with fixed monitor continuously whenever any
person is working in a known or suspected H2S area.
h. When working in areas that normally do not have H2S levels greater than 10
ppm, employees must wear a personal H2S monitor with audible and visual
alarm that will alert employees H2S levels have reached 20 ppm.
CAUTION: electronic monitors don’t think for you. You must still be
alert to the dangers of H2S
i. On all drilling and workover operations in known or suspect hydrogen sulphide
areas, there shall be some methods of H2S monitoring to anticipate the likely need
for wearing protective equipment.
j. Wind indicating devices such as wind socks, shall be provided and maintained in
good condition. They shall be conspicuously located so they are visible from
anywhere on the location.
k. Lufkin supervisor and the rig team shall be responsible to make sure that all Lufkin
personnel have the basic fundamental training of Hydrogen sulphide safety. these
basic fundamental must include the following:
(a) characteristic of hydrogen sulphide and its toxicity
(b) detection and warning systems peculiar to the location
(c) emergency procedure of H2S safety

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

(d) instruction in the inspection, maintenance, and use of

assigned respiratory protection equipment

l. Rig operator shall provide emergency eye wash and or shower stations where
necessary to provide immediate relief to any personnel who may be contaminated
with harmful substance. The eye wash stations shall be capable of providing a
minimum of 15 minutes of fresh clean, water to irrigate eyes that have been
contaminated by some hazardous materials including H2S.
m. On all drilling and workover rigs operations in known Hydrogen Sulfide areas or
any rig drilling, there shall be on each rig at least the minimum amount of
respiratory protection equipment required for contractor Operators. Lufkin
personnel must use these respirators
n. Where respiratory protection equipment is or may be required to be worn in areas
which are or may be contaminated with H2S, Lufkin supervisor shall ensure that
excessive facial hair which prevents effective sealing of the face shall be removed (
facial policy appendix is attached).
o. All field personnel must receive an initial on-site orientation before beginning work
by their supervisor
p. No person shall enter an area where H2S are known or suspected to be greater than
10 ppm (according to personal monitor reading) without having current training in
H2S operations and without wearing proper respiratory protection.
q. No person shall wear any type of respirator without having current training on how
to use it, and having passed a fit for pulmonary test.
r. Persons should not assign to tasks requiring the use of respiratory protective
equipment unless it has been examined that they are physically able to work while
wearing the equipment.
s. Any employee, who may, in the course of employment, be required to wear
respiratory protection equipment will have to be medically checked annully.This
examination must include a pulmonary function test.
t. During rod fishing or maintenance, no tank, pipeline, valves or flange shall be
opened to the atmosphere which may release H2S unless all personnel are wearing
supplied air respirators rated for IDLH ( immediately Dangerous to life and health)
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Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

u. We should work according to Buddy system where a standby person is required

when personnel may be exposed to high concentrations of H2S.If a H2S alarm is
sounded , employees shall go immediately crossing the wind direction to the
evacuation assembly area and shall not reenter without authorization or proper
respiratory protection.
6. Required Breathing Apparatus
a. Air line units consist of a hose that supplies air during normal use and should be
equipped with an escape unit in case line fails.. Escape units are completely self
contained and equipped with an air cylinder rated for five (5) minutes. These should
be used only to escape from a hazardous area.
b. SCBA self contained breathing apparatus, consists of an air cylinder with thirty (30)
minute or more air supply and is used to enter a hazardous area. This is the
most flexible type of respiratory PPE because they allow movement from one
area to another.

7. Safety practice emergency response

a. Buddy system:
At work in hazardous location must be carried out using the buddy systemic
one worker enters a hazardous area another person (his buddy) will
observe the work from a safe place.
The buddy system is also used to ensure the safety of breathing Apparatus
wearers in H2S release incidents, fire incidents in fact in any incident where
Breathing apparatus is required to be worn.
b. Emergency procedure:
If while you are working, or at the worksite, you smell H2S or the detection
system operates:
1. Don’t panic
2. hold your breath
3. wear breathing apparatus equipment if available, if not,
4. leave the area immediately
5. Don’t attempt to rescue anyone until you have donned apparatus
6. don’t attempt to rescue anyone until you have donned apparatus
7. Report to your supervisor immediately.

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

c. Rescue
1. Don full duration breathing apparatus
2. Remove victim immediately to fresh air
3. If breathing, keep casualty at rest administer Oxygen if available
4. If not breathing start artificial respiration immediately
5. Request medical assistance
6. Keep casualty in the recovery position
7. If eyes are affected rinse thoroughly with water

Third section: Rig work and safety Precautions:

It is the responsibility of the rig crew and the owner to that the drill site is safe to enter
and to begin work. and the following precaution is taken by Lufkin Supervisor:
1. Start work with rig crew when rig is ready to install seat Nipple and in new
installation and leave while rig run tubing.
2. when rig lays down tubing hanger and have slips set will get KTH flange and
ring setting on slips and install joint of tubing for overpull
3. Check starting weight and get rig crew to turn tubing to set TAC.
4. Lufkin operator install slips in KTH and tighten cap.
5. Rig operators tighten bolts in KTH, install Bop and flow tee under Lufkin
supervision, move rig floor and install rod table.
6. Lufkin supervisor make sure they have correct rod tools and check condition.
7. Get rod tools on rig floor. Get rods moved to rig and get rig crew started putting
coupling on rods.
8. Install sand screen and start pump as well.
9. Pick up K –Bar and install.
10. Start picking up rods and set tongs under supervision of Lufkin personnel.
11. Check torque for tongs every 10 rods by Lufkin personnel.
12. When finishing running rod will fill tag and mark rod to figure spacing.
13. Install pony rods and lay down rod table. Install polish rod and tighten stuffing
box in flow tee.
14. Fill tubing with rig pump and pressure to 500 PSI.
15. release pressure to 200 PSI and stroke pump with rig and pressure to 500PSI

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
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Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

Safety measures on the rig:

1. Beyond the scope of the previous SOP, it is the responsibility of owner and rig
crew to constantly take a proactive approach to ensuring that unsafe conditions do
not exist.
2. it is the responsibility of the owner and the rig crew to immediately correct all
hazards when brought to their attention.
3. It is the responsibility of the owner and rig operators to ensure that the rig is used
for the purpose for which it is intended and that tolerances and limitations of the
equipment not be exceeded.
4. All Lufkin employees working in rig site shall wear all proper PPE as following:
• Hart hat
• Steel toe boots
• Hearing protection when noise level is higher than standard.
• Gloves of the appropriate type for the work being performed.
• Climbing devices, body harnesses, safety belts, lanyards etc.
• Personnel H2S detectors
• standard Locks and tags

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Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

APPENDIX II

FACIAL HAIR POLICY

TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION EQUIPMENT, FACIAL HAIR THAT PASSES BETWEEN THE FACE
AND THE SEALING SURFACE OF THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT PERMITTED. FACIAL HAIR IS DEFINED
AS BEARD, MOUSTACHE, SIDEBURNS, STUBBLE OF GREATER THAN 24-HOUR GROWTH, LOW
HAIRLINE, OR BANGS. ADDITIONALLY, ANY GROWTH OF FACIAL HAIR MUST NOT BE OF
SUCH LENGTH AS TO INTERFERE WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE RESPIRATOR VALVE.

THIS POLICY APPLIES TO TIGHT FITTING FACE PIECES THAT OPERATE IN EITHER POSITIVE
OR NEGATIVE PRESSURE MODES AND IS APPLICABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND/OR
SUBCONTRACTORS WORKING FOR LUFKIN SERVICES.

THE SHADED PORTIONS ARE YOUR RESPIRATOR SEAL AREAS.

FACIAL HAIR IS NOT PERMITTED ON THESE PORTIONS OF THE FACE.

ACCEPTABLE

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

CLEAN SHAVEN MUSTACHE

Training
Each employee shall be trained in H2S operations before being allowed entrance to any
area that is known or suspected to contain H2S. The following topics shall be covered in
this training as minimum:
1. The hazards, properties and characteristics of H2S and SO2
2. The sources of hydrogen and sulphur dioxide
3. Operation and maintenance of gas detector
4. Symptoms of H2S and So2 exposure
5. Use, operation, maintenance and limitation of supplied air respirators
6. The effects of wind and other weather conditions on H2S operations.

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Lufkin Middle East issue 1
Date 1/ 12/09
Lufkin Middle East Hydrogen Sulphide Safety Prepared by Talaat A.kader
Around Drilling Rigs Approved by Craig Guillory

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