H2S

Hydrogen Sulfide
 Other Names
• Sour gas
• Sulfureted Hydrogen
• Rotten egg gas
• Sulfur Hydride
• Stink damp
• Swamp gas
 General Characteristics
• Made up of two atoms of hydrogen, and 1 atom of sulfur
• Associated with operations that involve decomposing materials
• Unstable
• Explosive
• Toxic -
• Corrosive
• Colorless
• Soluble in oil and water

• Produced in nature primarily through the decomposition of organic material by bacteria.

Occurs as a constituent of:

• Natural gas
• Petroleum
• Sulfur deposits
• Volcanic gases
• Sulfur springs

In industrial operations, H2S is either a product, byproduct, or waste material. As a byproduct, it is

often recovered and converted to elemental sulfur
 Areas of potential exposure
Commonly encountered in the oilfield and can be found in any fluid such as gas, mud, and crude oil
that comes from or comes into contact with an H2S formation.

Dangerous areas on Drilling rigs

• Cellar * Mud pit
• Shale shaker * Drill floor
• Flares

Dangerous areas on production locations/refineries

*Wellheads *Reactor vessels
*Treaters *Separators
*Piping *Flares

Dangerous areas in well servicing equipment

*Inside vacuum trucks *Vacuum truck vacuum pump discharge
*Inside or near frac tanks * Inside or near cuttings boxes
*Inside down hole tools * Inside or near well testing equipment
*Inside barges

Note: Several other industries are also affected by H2S (Page 7)

 Poor Warning Characteristics
• Less than 100 PPM smells like rotten eggs
• Greater than 100 PPM deadens sense of
smell

• Do Not Use Your Nose to Detect H2S!!

 Heavier Than Air
• About 19% heavier than air
• Specific gravity of 1.19
• Tends to settle in poorly ventilated low
lying areas like:
* Pits *Holds
*Ditches *Voids
 Extremely Flammable
• Broad flammable range 4.3% to 46%
• Low ignition temperature of about 500F
• Burns with a bright Blue flame
• Forms Sulfur Dioxide when burned which is also:
*Toxic *Heavier than air
*colorless * Not flammable
* doesn’t deaden sense of smell
* can produce permanent lung damage
* PEL of 2 PPM
* Irritation similar to pepper spray

Ignition sources could be:

* Cigarette
* Cigarette lighter
* Catalytic converter
* Engine exhaust
* Spark
*etc.
 Corrosive
• Causes severe corrosion to silver, copper, brass, and bronze.

• Reacts with the iron in steel to form potentially dangerous compounds, such
as iron pyrite (Fool’s gold), and iron sulfide

• The corrosion that forms on the surface of steel appears as a black powder
or film.

• H2S in solution can cause sulfide stress cracking in certain grades of steel
which can result in catastrophic failure within minutes of exposure.

• H2S causes embrittlement in metals that are above 22 on the Rockwell

scale of hardness and a yield strength of at least 90,000 PSI. (Page 29 or
31)

• Blowout preventers and well control equipment must be equipped for

Hydrogen Sulfide.
 Effects of Exposure
• Depends on:
* Concentration
* Length of exposure
* Individual susceptibility

Affected organs include:

* Olfactory nerves – responsible for sense
of smell
* Lungs
* Respiratory control center (Brain stem)
* Eyes
 Effects of exposure
• Irritated skin • Dry nose and/or
• Nausea throat
• Loss of appetite • Irrational behavior
• Headache • Coughing
• Fatigue • Light headedness
• Burning of the eyes • Loss of
• Burning of the lungs consciousness
• Death
 Effects of exposure
• Go to table on page 8 or 10.
• Toxicity considered to be Acute – most
die from respiratory paralysis
• Chronic toxicity could be pulmonary
edema (chemical pneumonia)
• Danger is from inhalation
• Cannot be absorbed through skin
• Also toxic to animals
 Susceptibility
• Body mass
• Overall physical condition
• Age
• Smoker/non smoker
• Personal biochemistry
• Certain medications and alcohol may increase
toxic effects.
• OSHA PEL is 10 PPM
• See page 22 for more information
 Units of Measure
• Page 6 or 8 in manual
• PPM is parts per million
• To convert to percent move decimal 4
places to left (ex. 500 PPM = .05%)
• To convert from percentage to PPM move
decimal 4 places right (ex. 18% = 180,000
PPM)
 Methods of Detection
• Hand operated tube detector (pg.19)
• Note: It is important to wear protective
breathing equipment before advancing into
the contaminated area !!!!!
• Personal H2S detectors (pg.20)
• Fixed location monitors
 Methods of Detection exit
SBA11
SBA

x
x
Fixed monitors
x x

well truck
x H2S
x x 3rd
party
truck x

x x
x
entrance
Co. man storage x
SBA 2
 Engineering Controls
• Containment – keeps H2S trapped within sealed
system such as a pipeline
• Chemical reaction - can be chemically reacted to
prevent H2S from existing as a gas. Chemical
Scavengers – will permanently react with H2S.
• Ventilation – either mechanical or natural
• Flaring - converts H2S to SO2. The unburned
H2S and SO2 tend to rise and be dispersed.
 Overview of SCBA’s
• SCBA – Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
• Must be used as per OSHA’s Respiratory Standard:
*Medical evaluation
*Face fit test- Conditions that may cause leakage include: narrow face, facial
hair, hollow temples, mask size, scars, missing dentures, deep wrinkles
*Hands on training
• Must be worn in concentrations greater than 10 PPM
• Three general categories:
*Escape only units
*Hoseline work units
*Work/Rescue units
• Requires specially purified breathing air. Pure oxygen is never used
• User must be clean shaven
• Cannot wear regular glasses
• Contact lens traditionally not recommended. OSHA now allows.
 Overview of SCBAs
• Must be refilled to within 90% rated
capacity
• Cannot be refilled with regular machine air
compressor (could have harmful
contaminants)
• If breathing air compressor is used on
location, rather than cascade system, care
must be taken where it is placed.
What’s wrong with this picture?
• Next slide
Duh!!!
 Conditions that may prevent
use of SCBAs
• Lung disease
Pg. 22
• Heart disease
• Epilepsy (Grand Mal Epilepsy)
• Diabetes
• Back problems
• Claustrophobia
 Cleaning and Sanitizing/
Recharging and repacking
• Must be cleaned and sanitized after use
• Must be cleaned and sanitized using OSHA’s or the
manufacturer’s protocol
• Simply using spray cleaners or alcohol wipes not
acceptable

• Should be recharged and repacked immediately after

each use
• Cylinders recharged within 90% of rated capacity
• Cannot use 100% oxygen
• Must not use regular machine air compressors
 Rescue and Emergency
Procedures
• Quick rescue is very important
• Victims have 3 to 6 minutes before
sustaining permanent brain damage
unless resuscitated
• The “BUDDY SYSTEM” – Workers are in
frequent or continuous contact with each
other. The “Buddy” is responsible for
summoning help.
 First Aid Procedures
• If victim is responsive:
* Monitor ABCs
* Rinse with eyewash if pain in eyes
* Provide oxygen if available and trained
* Seek medical attention

• If victim is not responsive

* Open the airway
* Look, listen, feel for breathing
* If not breathing, pinch nostrils shut. Give 2 slow full
breaths.
* Check for pulse
* If pulse is present, give one breath every 5 seconds until victim
regains consciousness
* If no pulse present, begin chest compressions (CPR)

All victims must seek medical assistance. Rescuers must insist upon this!!!!!!
 Contingency plans
• Must have a contingency plan at H2S facilities provided by the customer
• Should be discussed at safety meeting prior to start of job
• Should list:
* Responsibilities of personnel
* Immediate action plan
* Telephone nos. and communication
methods
* Location of nearby residences, schools,
businesses, hospitals, parks, etc.
* Evacuation routes and road block locations
* Safety equipment and supplies available
* Characteristics of H2S and SO2
* Facility description with maps and drawings
* Training and drills
 Test time
• Are there any questions?
• Please place answers on the separate
answer sheet