HYDROGEN SULFIDE

In the Oilfield

OVERVIEW

General H2S
Information
API Guidance
BLM Onshore
Order #6
Other Regulations

DOT
EPA

WHAT IS H2S
Colorless gas
Flammable
Heavier than air
Extremely toxic
Rotten egg smell
Deadens sense of
smell

WHY DOES H2S OCCUR

Biological breakdown of organic matter in

an anaerobic environment

HEALTH EFFECTS
Low

concentrations (<10ppm)
irritation of eyes, nose, throat and
respiratory system
Moderate concentrations
(10<x>30ppm) headache,
dizziness, nausea, coughing,
vomiting and difficulty breathing
High concentrations (>30ppm)
shock, convulsions, coma, death

EXPOSURE LIMITS
ACGIH

TLV (8hr)= 10 ppm

OSHA ceiling (15 min)= 20 ppm
OSHA peak (instantaneous) = 50
ppm
IDLH = 100 ppm
ATSDR MRL = 0.07 ppm (acute),
0.03 ppm (intermediate)

OTHER PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Explosive
Reacts with water to form Sulfuric Acid

Tears
Lungs

Reacts with iron/steel to form Iron Sulfide

(extremely flammable)
Iron sponge

Burns to form Sulfur Dioxide (toxic gas)

May lead to metal fatigue

H2S PRODUCTION

AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE

Recommended Practice 49 -Recommended Practice

for Drilling and Well Servicing operations Involving
Hydrogen Sulfide

Applies to well drilling, completion, servicing, workover,

downhole maintenance and plug & abandonment
procedures.
Establishes location classifications
Addresses personnel training, monitoring equipment,
personal protective equipment, contingency planning and
emergency procedures.
Also establishes Sulfur Dioxide requirements

LOCATION CLASSIFICATIONS

No Hazard Area
Condition 1 Area low hazard

Condition 2 Area medium hazard

<10 ppm
>10ppm, <30 ppm

Condition 3 Area high hazard

>30 ppm

WARNING SYSTEMS

Condition 1 Area
warning sign with green
flag or light
Condition 2 Area - warning
sign with yellow flag or
light; visual and audio
alarms
Condition 3 Area warning
sign with red flag or light;
visual and audio alarms

MONITORING

Equipment

Manufacturer certified for H2S and SO2

Accurate in a range from well below to well

above action levels (H2S = 10 ppm, SO2 = 2 ppm)

Mixture of fixed and portable monitors as needed

to protect workers

MONITORING EQUIPMENT

Used during all activities where a potential of H2S

and SO2 to exceed action levels exists.
Located in the following areas:

Bell nipple
Mud return line or shale shaker
Pipe-trip tank
Drillers station
Living quarters
Other areas of potential accumulation

Calibrated and functionally tested per manufacturer

WARNING SYSTEM ACTIVATION

Typical 2 level alarm

10 ppm
20 to 300 ppm

TRAINING

All personnel working in an area with potential of

H2S and SO2 to exceed action levels exists.
Minimum topics;

Hazards, characteristics and exposure symptoms

Sources
Detection equipment, warning signs and wind direction
awareness
Workplace procedures, location of safety equipment and
location of safe breathing areas
PPE
Emergency response

CONTINGENCY PLAN

May be required by certain federal, state or local

agencies.
Must contain:

Facility specific description and maps

Monitoring equipment locations

Safety equipment locations
Safe breathing area locations
Evacuation routes

Training and drill requirements

Emergency response procedures

BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT

Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 6,

Hydrogen Sulfide Operations

APPLICABILITY

All onshore Federal and Indian oil and

gas leases.
Drilling, completing, testing, reworking,
producing, injecting, gathering, storing,
or treating operations.
Involving zones which are known or
could reasonably be expected to
contain H2S present in concentrations
equal to or greater than 100 ppm.

REQUIREMENTS

Written H2S Drilling Operations Plan

submitted with APD
Written Public Protection Plan submitted
with APD, notification of production or
when radius of exposure criteria are met
Training Program available for review
upon request
All plans and programs available at site

REQUIREMENTS

H2S Drilling Operations Plan

Site diagrams showing all safety
equipment, topography, exit roads, briefing
(safe breathing) areas, flare lines and pits
Appropriate well control equipment,
personal protective equipment, H2S
monitoring equipment, visual and audio
warning system, appropriate mud system,
appropriate metallurgical plan and means
of communication from wellsite

REQUIREMENTS

Public Protection Plan

Drilling or production site where:

The 100 ppm radius of exposure is

greater than 50 feet and includes any
occupied residence, scholl, church,
park, school bus stop, place of business
or other are where the public could be
reasonably expected to frequent

REQUIREMENTS

Public Protection Plan

Drilling or production site where:

The 500 ppm radius of exposure is

greater than 50 feet and includes any
part of a federal, state, county or
municipal road maintained for public
use

REQUIREMENTS

Public Protection Plan

Drilling or production site where:

The 100 ppm radius of exposure is

equal to or greater than 3,000 feet and
includes any facility or part of a federal,
state, county or municipal road
maintained for public use.

RADIUS OF EXPOSURE

Pasquill-Gifford derrived equation:

X = [1.589)(H2S concentration)(Q)]0.6258
X = radius of exposure
H2S concentration = decimal equivalent of the
volume fraction of H2S in the gas stream
Q = maximum volume of gas determined to
be available for escape in cubic feet per day

ESCAPE RATE (Q)

Gas production facility = maximum

daily absolute open flow gas
production rate
Oil production facility = (gas/oil ratio of
production) (maximum daily
production rate)
Exploration well = use the above from
producing wells from the target
interval in the area

PUBLIC PROTECTION
PLAN

Must include:

responsibilities of key personnel and

institutions for alerting the public and
requesting assistance;
list of telephone numbers and names of
response agencies or contractors, residents,
those responsible for occupants of public
buildings and those responsible for safety of
public roadways;
a plat of the 100 ppm and 500 ppm radius of
exposure showing all private and public
buildings and roads;
emergency response measures

PUBLIC PROTECTION
PLAN

May be required to
include: public
education
seminars, mass
alert systems
(including
telephone,
commercial radio
or television), and
public input
allowances

OTHER REGULATIONS

OSHA

DOT

Pipeline Safety Requirements

EPA

Process Safety Management

Risk Management Plan requirements

SARA Title 3 requirements

STATE SPECIFIC