Predicting and managing the health risks of sour-gas wells

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5230865

Layton, D W; Cederwall, R T

The development of sour-gas resources in Canada and the United States has prompted concerns about the public health risks of accidental releases of gas contaminated with hydrogen sulfide (H/sub 2/S) from wells. This paper focuses on methods for improving the prediction and management of those risks. Data associated with the health effects of hydrogen sulfide are examined, and it is suggested that sublethal effects should be addressed in risk assessments of sour-gas wells along with the life-threatening effects normally considered. The demarcation of hazard zones around wells can be improved by using a statistical approach for estimating an upper-bound H/sub 2/S release rate; this rate can then be used in an atmospheric dispersion model to estimate maximum distances to downwind concentrations for lethal (300 ppmv) and sublethal (50 ppmv) effects resulting from an accidental release. A vertical release is found to have little impact, especially under stable atmospheric conditions; horizontal releases, on the other hand, result in the greatest downwind distances for health impacts. Management of health risks depends on a mix of safety technologies and contingency actions, such as well-ignition options and provision for post-release monitoring and assessment of ambient H/sub 2/S concentrations.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5230865
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 37:10; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030500* -- Natural Gas-- Health & Safety
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
CHALCOGENIDES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MAMMALS
MAN
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
PRIMATES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
WELLS