Vital Information to know during Gas Leak IncidentsPotential Identified Hazards: Fire / Explosion Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) release

se Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) formed when H2S is burnt Hazardous Material Spill Smell - rotten egg, hydrocarbon, burnt match Sound - hissing noise, bang Sight - visual abnormalities (fire, explosions, spill, vapor cloud) Explosions or fire (not to be confused with routine or controlled flaring) Call immediately for Emergency Response support Shelter in your office/camp until a safe evacuation route has been established by ERC If you do not have shelter or a telephone, immediately move away from the area, travel upwind direction at right angles from the source Do not try to find or investigate the situation yourself; wait for concerned personnel. Always keep personal gas detectors if you are in the oil field/ associated facilities/ areas

Recognizing an Emergency:

Precautions / actions, if You Suspect a Gas leak:

Things to do Close all windows and air vents. when you are in Shut off the heater or air your vehicle conditioner so that they are not bringing outside air to the interior of the car.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Characteristics and Effects

H2S Standard Concentration
<1 ppm 10 ppm 15 ppm 50 ppm TLV-TWA(1) TLV-STEL IDLH(3)
(2)

Health Effect
Perceptible odor Some workers may experience eye irritation Some workers may experience eye irritation Mild eye and throat irritation after prolonged exposure. Maximum concentration from which one could escape within 30 minutes without a respirator and without experiencing escape impairing or irreversible health effects. Deadens sense of smell in 3 to 15 minutes. May cause coughing, burning of the eyes and respiratory tract. Immediate loss of smell. Pronounced eye and respiratory tract irritation Respiratory disturbances after 30 minutes. Dizziness. Severe irritation to eyes and respiratory tract. Respiratory disturbances in 2 to 15 minutes. Dizziness, collapse and unconsciousness after 30 to 60 minutes Loss of consciousness quickly. Breathing will stop and death will result if not rescued promptly. Immediate unconsciousness. Death in 3 to 5 minutes.

100 ppm

200 ppm

300 ppm

500 ppm

700 ppm

1000 ppm
1.

Threshold limit value for eight hour time weighted average exposure

2. Thresholds limit value for 15 minutes. Short Term Exposure Limit 3. NIOSH defined Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health concentration

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Characteristics and Effects

PPM
0.3 / 24 hrs 0.3 1.0 / 3 hrs 2 3-5 5 8-12 6-50

Effects of SO2
VOLUNTARY EVACUATION OF SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS OR ANYONE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES. 8 hour occupational exposure limit Odor threshold - MUST EVACUATE IF LEVEL PERSISTS FOR 15 MINUTES 15-minute occupational exposure limit Throat irritation, coughing, constriction in the chest, tearing and smarting of the eyes Exposure 5-15 minutes: increased irritation of the eyes, throat, choking, coughing, and in some cases, wheezing as a sign of Short term endurance lost due to severe eye irritation and because of the effects on the membranes of the nose, throat and lungs Immediate feeling of suffocation, may be fatal with continued exposure

50-100

1000-2000

Characteristics of SO2
Colorless & non-flammable formed when H2S is burned. Odor smells like a match as it is ignited. Highly irritating dissolves in water to form sulfuric acid. Low concentrations irritates eyes, nose, throat and lungs. High concentrations causes fluid in the lungs may be fatal. Effects on heavy smokers are more severe.