Exposure on the Drilling Site
During oil and gas well drilling operations, H2S is first released to the atmosphere at the shale shaker area and later at the circulation fluid treatment areas. It may also be released during tripping procedures in the immediate area around the drilling operation. Typically, however, only nominal amounts of H2S are released during normal drilling operations.
With the exception of exploratory or "wildcat" wells, drilling operations take place in oil fields where the hydrogen sulfide locations and formation pressures likely to be encountered are known. With the demand for hydrocarbons increasing, formations historically deemed too dangerous to produce are now being developed. In some instances, there is frequent to nearly continuous employee exposure to hydrogen sulfide at concentrations from 10 ppm (OSHA 8-hour permissible exposure limit (PEL)) to life-threatening levels requiring the wearing of self-contained breathing apparatus. Innovative technologies, alarm systems, and respiratory protective equipment and programs are being employed without uniform Federal regulation.
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7-5. Where is it likely that hydrogen sulfide locations and formation pressures are unknown.
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