H2S OPERATIONS

The location, source, and concentration of H2S when detected are important in determining the potential H2S hazard condition and resulting actions. The following guidelines address the various locations and activities where H2S might be encountered. H2S Monitoring Responsibilities Bridge The ship's officers provide 24-hr monitoring of the central H2S alarm panel while operating on a H2S site. hen an alarm goes off on this panel, it is the responsibilit! of the ship's officer to ta"e the appropriate action. Table T2 is provided for guidance only and ma! be modified b! the offshore installation manager and the ship's master as the situation and e#perience with the local H2S environment dictates.
Table T2. H!drogen sulfide alarm locations.
Alarm area Action

$ore laborator! $ore receiving platform& $ore entr! $ore catcher bench& 'ower 'tween dec" landing Hold 'tween dec" landing (resh air inta"e plenum& )ig floor&

%otif! H2S safet! technician %otif! H2S safet! technician %otif! H2S safet! technician %otif! H2S safet! technician %otif! laborator! officer and investigate %otif! laborator! officer and investigate Shut down inta"e fans and investigate %otif! core technician

Sound alarm using coded bell signals and *ultiple alarms on +&+ announce H2S ,*,)-,%$. via public address detectors above s!stem /ossible blowout0

Rig Floor The two core technicians are responsible for monitoring H2S levels on the rig floor during their shift to provide 24-hr coverage. The core technician wor"s under the authorit! of the offshore installation manager and the night tool pusher. %ote that in the following instructions, references to the offshore installation manager include the night tool pusher or other offshore installation manager designee. ore Recei!ing Plat"orm# Areas ore $aborator%# and ore Storage

The H2S safet! technicians are two marine specialists assigned the responsibilit! for monitoring H2S levels on the core-receiving platform and in the core laborator!. There is an H2S safet! technician assigned to each shift for 24-hr coverage. The H2S safet! technicians wor" under the authorit! of the laborator! officer and assistant laborator! officer. &o'n(ole and $ogging Tools The technicians operating these tools are responsible for monitoring an! H2S that ma!be trapped inside the tool.

)eneral Sa"et% Practices

1se fans to ventilate wor" areas. (ans can "eep the H2S concentration low enough so that 23s are not re4uired5 6f station"eeping permits, head the ship so that the wind hits the ship 7ust off the port bow, blowing across the core-receiving platform and through the rig floor5 Always use the budd! s!stem when wor"ing in potentiall! hazardous areas5 Always chec" //, at the beginning of the wor" shift. %ever assume that someone has left it in wor"ing order5 and 8o not let materials pile up around fi#ed H2S sensors.

Opening t(e &rill String on t(e &rill Floor

The following guidelines appl! when retrieving a core barrel or other tools deplo!ed through the drill string. H2S Monitoring The core technician is responsible for monitoring H2S levels on the drill floor with a portable detector. The drill pipe opening 9while opening:, upper drill string connection, top of inner core barrel, and bottom of core catcher sub are areas that should be monitored.

Preca*tions and Special Proced*res Table T+ gives guidance on who must wear a 23 before opening the drill string and measuring the H2S levels. Table T+. 2reathing apparatus re4uired before opening drill string.
H2S (a,ard ore Rig "loor condition tec(nician cre' &riller -driller.s s(ac/0

atch 3lert 8anger

%o %o .es

%o %o .es .es

%o %o %o .es

,mergenc! .es H2S Response

hen H2S is detected at the drill pipe, the following procedures must be implemented, depending on the concentration detected and how it was measured.
119 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the Drill Pipe

3fter a positive reading, the core technician notifies the offshore installation manager, who ma! change the H2S hazard condition to 3',)T.
2049 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the Drill Pipe

The rig floor crew wor"ing around the drill pipe put on 23s. The drill pipe is reconnected and circulation begins. The core technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager. 3fter the drill string has been completel! flushed, the pipe is reopened and H2S levels are chec"ed. 6f the! are still ;2< ppm, steps 2 through 4 are repeated unless otherwise instructed b! the offshore installation manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to 83%-,).
10 ppm at

>50 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the Drill Pipe or Rig loor!s i"ed #tatio$

The rig floor crew, including the driller, put on 23s. /ersonnel on the core-receiving platform put on 23s or evacuate the area. The drill pipe is reconnected and circulation begins. The core technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager of the situation.

/ersonnel wait for instructions from the offshore installation manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to ,*,)-,%$. and notif! the ship's master to sound alarms and evacuate ship personnel to safe areas. oncerns

Special

%2# &lowout

3lthough unli"el!, a set of circumstances could occur that would cause an H2S blowout to discharge gas up the drill string. The first sign that this situation is occurring would be bac"flow when the drill string is opened. There are man! situations other than a blowout that can cause bac"flow, but while drilling in an environment where H2S is present the following steps should be ta"en if bac"flow is detected unless otherwise instructed b! the offshore installation manager=

The drill string is reconnected as 4uic"l! as possible. The core technician chec"s atmosphere for H2S. The core technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager of situation. Technicians await instructions from the offshore installation manager.

Remo!ing

ore "rom

ore Barrel on t(e &rill Floor

H2S Monitoring The core technician is responsible for monitoring H2S levels on the drill floor with a portable detector. The bottom of the core catcher sub and bottom of the core barrel 9after removing the core catcher: should be monitored. Preca*tions and Special Proced*res Table T1 provides guidance to determine who must wear a 23 before the removing the core catcher and measuring the H2S levels. Table T1. 2reathing apparatus re4uired before removing core catcher.
H2S (a,ard condition ore Rig "loor tec(nician cre' ore (andlers

atch 9potential: 3lert 9>?>@ ppm: 8anger 92<?4@ ppm:

%o %o .es

%o %o .es .es

%o %o .es .es

,mergenc! 9;A< ppm: .es

H2S Response 6f H2S is detected from the core barrel, the following procedures are implemented.
119 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the 'ore &arrel

The core technician notifies the H2S safet! technician. The core technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to 3',)T.

>20 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the 'ore &arrel

The rig floor crew opening the core barrel and the core handlers put on 23s. The core technician notifies the H2S safet! technician. The core technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to 83%-,).

10 ppm, Measured at the Rig loor!s i"ed #tatio$

The rig floor crew, including the driller, put on 23s. /ersonnel on the core-receiving platform put on 23s or evacuate the area. The core technician locates the source of the H2S and notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager of the situation. Technicians wait for instructions from the offshore installation manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to ,*,)-,%$. and then notifies the ship's master to sound alarms and evacuate ship's personnel to safe areas.

ore Processing on t(e

H2S Monitoring

ore2Recei!ing Plat"orm

The H2S safet! technician is responsible for monitoring H2S levels on the core-receiving platform with a portable detector. The core 9vent holes and cut ends:, >2 in above the core, the core catcher, and core storage rac"s 9outside the laborator!: should be monitored. Preca*tions and Special Proced*res
Mo(i$g 'ore )rom Rig loor to 'ore Rac*

2efore the core handlers receive the core from the rig floor, the H2S level is measured, as described in the section above. 6f H2S levels are ;2< ppm at the core barrel, core handlers wear 23s while transferring the core from the rig floor to the core rac". $ore handlers should hold the core at waist level when moving it to the core rac". The core should not be placed on the shoulder or held an!where near the face. 6f the core liner ruptures, the face will have more protection from sharp core liner fragments and direct e#posure to H2S. hen wor"ing with ver! gass! cores, face shields and Bevlar aprons, sleeve protectors, and gloves should be worn. The H2S safet! technician determines when this special protection is needed.

'urati$g 'ore o$ the 'ore Rac*

3fter the core is placed in the core rac", -in diameter holes are drilled through the liner to depressurize the core. The holes should not be drilled in a straight line, as this can cause a core liner to rupture. )ather, the holes should be staggered around the circumference and spaced apart as necessar!. 3s gas vents, H2S levels are monitored. Cent holes are chec"ed to see if H2S is present. H2S levels at the surface of the core liner determine if core handlers and other personnel wor"ing on the core-receiving platform need to wear 23s 9See 3H2S Emergenc% ondition3:. The core is not cut into sections until after depressurization, to "eep material from being e#truded out of the liner. 6f an! part of a core contains H2S, the core liner of each section and all whole-round samples are mar"ed with +H2S.+ H2S warning stic"ers ma! be used, as well.

Mo(i$g 'ore #ectio$s i$to the 'ore +$tr, -rea o) the 'ore .aborator,

Sections of whole cores ma! be brought into core entr! area provided that the core has depressurized and is no longer activel! venting gas 9i.e., causing core e#pansion gaps: and an! remaining H2S diffusing from the core is D2< ppm when measured >2-in above the core. Sections of core that do not meet the above criteria remain outside until the! do. Cent holes and end caps are sealed with tape if the H2S level is ;>< ppm measured >2-in above the core.

H2S Response hen H2S is detected above the core liner during venting, the following procedures are followed.

19 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector at the #ur)ace o) the 'ore .i$er

23s are not re4uired. The H2S safet! technician continues monitoring until the core has depressurized 9as defined above:. The H2S safet! technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to 3',)T.

>10 ppm, Measured with a Portable Detector 12 i$ abo(e the 'ore

23s are re4uired for core handlers. All other individuals on the core-receiving platform MUST leave the area. The H2S safet! technician continues monitoring until core has depressurized 9as defined above:. The H2S safet! technician notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to H3E3)8 or higher.

10 ppm, Measured at the 'ore/Recei(i$g Plat)orm!s i"ed #tatio$

23s are re4uired for core handlers. All other individuals on the core-receiving platform MUST leave the area. The H2S safet! technician identifies the source of H2S and notifies the offshore installation manager and operations manager of the situation. ait for instructions from the offshore installation manager. The offshore installation manager ma! change the H2S hazard condition to ,*,)-,%$. and notif! the ship's master to sound alarms and evacuate ship's personnel to safe areas. oncerns

Special

%2# 'lathrates

$lathrates 9gas h!drates: are cr!stalline substances composed principall! of three-dimensional cages of water in which various gases 9e.g., $H4 and H2S: can enter and stabilize the structure. 3t room temperature and pressure, a clathrate will disassociate, releasing a volume of H2S gas that can be greater than the original volume of the clathrate. 6f a clathrate is recovered from a site where H2S is e#pected, the following steps should be ta"en=

$ore Handlers wear 23s.

/ersonnel not handling core leave the core-receiving platform. The section of the core containing the clathrate is cut out. H2S is 4uic"l! measured while the clathrate is being removed. The clathrate is processed according to the scientist's instructions. 1suall! this involves placing the clathrate in a pressure container or into li4uid %2. 6f H2S is detected, place an H2S warning label on the container. The H2S safet! technician notifies the offshore installation manager the first time a clathrate is recovered at a particular site.

3n H2S clathrate ma! onl! be brought into the laborator! in a sealed pressure container. 'i4uid %2 dewars holding H2S clathrates are stored outdoors, awa! from suppl! ventilations and sources of ignition, and are mar"ed with warning signs.

ore Processing in t(e

H2S Monitoring

ore $aborator%

The marine specialists and the H2S safet! technicians are responsible for monitoring H2S levels in the core laborator! with a portable detector. $ore storage rac"s 9inside the laborator!:, air in the core splitting room, the cut surface of split cores after splitting, and the cut surface of split cores while la!ing out in the core laborator! are monitored. Preca*tions and Special Proced*res hile cores are waiting to be split or measured on the multisensor trac" 9*ST:, the! continue to warm up and ma! possibl! resume degassing. Should this happen, the marine specialists remeasure the H2S levels. 6f the H2S level is D>< ppm, the core ma! remain in the laborator!. 6f it is ;>< ppm, the core is removed from the laborator! until it can be sealed as mentioned in the previous section. Warning: cores that are no longer activel! emitting H2S ma! release additional H2S during the core splitting process 9especiall! if the super saw is used:. The H2S levels from split cores are often greater than the levels measured in the whole round. /rior to splitting cores two 23s must be available and ready for use. There must be at least two marine specialists in the splitting room when a core is split. 8uring the splitting process the H2S levels are continuousl! monitored with a handheld detector. 6f the H2S level in the splitting room is ;2< ppm, core splitting stops and the two the marine specialists cutting the core put on their 23s5 all others leave the room.

$ores ma! be ta"en bac" outside the laborator! to finish degassing or left on the splitting table, covered, and vented using the fle#ible e#haust duct provided in the splitting room 9(ig. F4:. $ore halves do not leave the splitting room until all signs of active degassing have stopped and the remaining H2S concentration from the core is D>< ppm. %ote= some individuals ma! be ver! sensitive to low levels of H2S. The ><-ppm level ma! have to be set lower for these individuals or a 23 provided for them to use. 3ll 8-tubes and core bo#es holding cores that have emitted H2S are tagged with H2S warning labels. H2S warning signs are placed on core refrigerators where these cores are stored. To "eep the air fresh in the core laborator!,

(ull! open the fresh air suppl! to the core laborator! and top dec" air handlers5 Fpen doors and windows, if weather permits5 and 1se fans to force additional fresh air into the laborator!.

H2S Response hen H2S is detected in the core 'aborator!, the following procedure must be followed.
10 ppm at a$, i"ed #tatio$ i$ the 'ore .aborator,

The immediate area is evacuated. The H2S safet! technician identifies the source of H2S and notifies the laborator! officer of the situation. Technicians wait for instructions from the laborator! officer.

Handling &o'n(ole and $ogging Tools at 5ario*s $ocations

H2S Monitoring 2ecause each tool is uni4ue, it is the responsibilit! of the technician operating the tool to carefull! chec" for H2S in sampling chambers or for H2S trapped inside the tool's housing. Preca*tions and Special Proced*res 6f the H2S hazard condition is 3',)T 9>?>@ ppm: or higher, then the tool's sampling chambers are vented outside or in a controlled manner such that there is no chance of H2S escaping into the wor" area. The laborator! officer will approve such controls prior to tool's operation.

Should the technician suspect the tool's housing has been compromised and ma! possibl! contain fluids or materials with H2S, the technician opens the housing in an open-air location. 6f samples collected are transferred to another container, that container must have an H2S warning tag 9see 3Press*re ore Samplers# A*tocla!es# Trans"er6Storage6$ogging ontainers# and Sampling Mani"olds3:. H2S Response 6f H2S is released, the immediate area is evacuated until the air is tested. Press*re ore Samplers# A*tocla!es# Trans"er6Storage6 $ogging ontainers# and Sampling Mani"olds 8ownhole tools that return coreGgasGli4uid under pressure must compl! with the following. 3ll pressure corers and pressurized transferGstorageGlogging containers must have a written operator's manual that has been submitted to and approved b! F8/ and the ship operator's management prior to deplo!ing the tool on the J !"#S $esolution. The manual must not onl! instruct the user on safe operation of the tool but also clearl! state the t!pes of hazards the tool presents to the operator. 6n regard to the potential release of H2S, the operator must be informed of all potential locations on the tool where pressure containment could fail 9seals, valves, rupture dis"s, etc.:. hen a pressure sampler is retrieved on the rig floor, all potential locations for containment failure must be surve!ed with a handheld detector. 6f the contents of the pressure sampler are transferred to secondar! sample chamber or into a manifoldGcollection s!stem, a handheld detector must be used to monitor the transfer operation. hen operating in a 3T$H 9H2S potential: or higher H2S hazard condition, then it must be assumed that the pressure sampler or transferGstorageGlogging container contains H2S until the trapped gases can be sampled and determined otherwise. The following applies to both pressure samplers and transfer containers=

/ressure samplers and transferGstorageGlogging containers are tagged with an H2S hazard label.

/ressure samplers and transferGstorageGlogging containers are surve!ed with a handheld detector each time the! are relocated to a new storage area. /ersonnel handling pressure samplers and transferGstorageGlogging containers indoors wear a personal detector. H2S warning signs are posted in areas where the pressure samplers and transferGstorageGlogging containers are stored. /ressure samplers and transferGstorageGlogging containers are vented outdoors in a location where personnel downwind are not affected.

SPE IA$ SITES

)*idelines

ORIN) PRO E&7RES FOR H2S

The following guidelines should be used unless otherwise instructed b! the offshore installation manager.

*aintain circulation while a core barrel is dropped or wirelined into and out of the hole. $ontrol wireline speeds to preventGminimize swabbing of H2S-bearing fluids into the drill string from the well bore. ,ngage the core barrel with the overshot. Stop the pumps, if necessar!, while unseating the core barrel from the outer core barrel assembl! 9F$2:. /ull the core barrel up slowl! above the top of the bottom-hole assembl! 92H3:. Stop the wireline winch once the core barrel is pulled above the top of the 2H3. /ump three volumes of fluid 9e4ual to the volume re4uired to fill the inside of the 2H3: to clear an! H2Sbearing fluid that ma! have been swabbed into the 2H3 when the core barrel was unseated.

See 3Opening t(e &rill String on t(e &rill Floor3 for additional operational safet! information. Rig Floor &rill Pipe Sa"et% 5al!e

3 drill pipe safet! valve is "ept on the rig floor. The valve can be used to prevent e#cessive bac"flow of fluid through the drill string. Such bac"flow could be the result of a h!drocarbon or h!drothermal fluid +"ic".+ ,ither could possibl! carr! H2S to the surface. 6nstall the valve in the drill string if e#cessive bac"flow occurs and the top drive is not readil! available 9i.e., rac"ed bac": for immediate ma"eup to the drill string. Ba/er Float 5al!e Fnce the safet! valve is in place and closed, a second sub containing a float valve assembl! can be made up on top of the safet! valve. The 2a"er model - 9A(-H): float valve acts as a chec" valve allowing drilling fluid to be pumped down the drill string while preventing hot or H2S-contaminated well bore fluids from bac"flowing up the drill string. The drill pipe safet! valve and 2a"er float valve assemblies are to be used under special circumstances onl! 9i.e., when the top drive is not installed or is otherwise inoperable for circulation:. %ote that if the 2a"er float valve is installed, no downhole tools can be deplo!ed. &o'n(ole BHA Installed Float 5al!es The rotar! core barrel 9)$2: 2H3 is e4uipped with a float 9flapper: valve that is compatible with the )$2 wireline coring s!stem. The advanced piston corerGe#tended core barrelGpressure core sampler 93/$GI$2G/$S: 2H3 can be e4uipped with a loc"able float 9flapper: valve 9'(C:. ,ach of these float valves serves to prevent e#cessive drill cuttings from +1-tubing+ or being swabbed up into the 2H3 during core barrel retrieval. hen functional, these flappers seal the throat of the core bit and prevent bac"flow into the drill string via that path. 6t should be noted, however, that neither of the 2H3 float valves seal the bit 7ets, and therefore

the! do not completel! seal off the lower end of the drill string from the well bore. The H -in drill collarG2H3 used with the advanced diamond coring barrel 938$2: coring s!stem is not compatible with either of the float valves used with the )$2 or the 3/$GI$2G/$S coring s!stems. 6t has been suggested, therefore, that use of the 38$2 coring s!stem be avoided in formations where H2S might be present.

SPE IA$ $O))IN) PRO E&7RES FOR H2S SITES

The following guidelines should be used unless otherwise instructed b! the offshore installation manager=

*aintain circulation while wireline tools are run into and out of the hole. $ontrol wireline speeds to prevent swabbing H2S fluids into the drill string from the well bore. Stop the tool above the top of the 2H3 once sampling or measurements are completed and the wireline tool9s: isGare retrieved inside the 2H3. /ump three volumes of fluid 9e4ual to the volume of fluid re4uired to fill the inside of the 2H3: to clear an! H2S-rich fluid that ma! have been swabbed into the 2H3 as the tool was pulled inside it.

See 3Handling &o'n(ole and $ogging Tools at 5ario*s $ocations3 for additional safet! information. 8o not use e#cessive flow rates that ma! be sufficient to fail cablehead wea" points and pump the wireline tools off the wireline 9this has happened in the past:. $omponents that are not designed for operation in H2S and $F2 environments are susceptible to sulfide and stress corrosion crac"ing. The crac"ing ma! occur downhole or at the surface over relativel! short periods of time.

H2S EMER)EN 8

ON&ITION

Instr*ctions hen an H2S ,mergenc! 9;A< ppm: condition has been called b! the offshore installation manager, implement the following procedure= >. 3ll rig floor personnel put on 23s and remain on the rig floor unless otherwise instructed b! the offshore installation manager. 2. 3ll drillingGcoring operations stop and the driller ma"es the string bac" up 9if open:, pic"s up off bottom, and maintains circulation. J. The offshore installation manager notifies the ship's officers and operations manager of the situation.
4.

The ship's officers sound the alarm using coded bell signals and verball! announce to all personnel via the public address s!stem that an H2S ,*,)-,%$. e#ists and to report to a safe-briefing area.

A. The ship's officers shut down the ventilation s!stems. H. The ship's officers notif! an! nearb! vessels to go upwind and maintain a radio and visual watch. K. 3t the safe briefing the ship's officers 9or designees: ta"e roll and account for all ship personnel.
8.

The ship's emergenc! response team, using 23s, ma"e ma#imum effort to determine the source of the H2S and suppress the H2S as 4uic"l! as possible.

@. 3ll personnel not assigned to emergenc! duties or wor"ing on the rig floor report to the upwind safe-briefing area for further instructions.
10. 8rillingGcoring

operations remain suspended until the source of H2S is located and the atmospheric level falls to a level D>< ppm.

>>. The budd! s!stem is utilized for all personnel remaining in the potential danger area.

12. The

hole ma! be terminated, depending on the source of the H2S, b! the offshore installation manager.

>J. The operations manager notifies the appropriate personnel on shore as soon as possible of the situation and the actions ta"en.
14. The

driller is notified if the e#haust fans in the laborator! stac" are turned on to e#haust H2S because the e#haust fans discharge air above the rig floor.

Sa"e2Brie"ing Area The primar! safe-briefing areas are the port and star%oard life%oat stations located forward on the fo'c'sle dec". The port and starboard lifeboat stations are the safe-briefing areas because when the drillship is in d!namic-positioning 98/: mode, the bow of the ship is nearl! alwa!s oriented into the prevailing wind. The routes to the safe-briefing area are determined b! the master and reviewed in safet! meetings held with personnel wor"ing in each area of the ship. The best route from each location on the ship is dictated b! rig floor activit!, weather, and sea conditions. 3ll personnel not assigned emergenc! duties who are aft 9i.e., bac" b! the helidec": of the rig floor proceed forward to the safe-briefing stations along the mezzanine or main dec" on the windward side of the ship. /ersonnel must avoid entering areas designated as potential H2S danger areas as the! proceed forward to the safe-briefing areas. 6f, for some reason, the stern of the ship is oriented into the wind, the master announces to all ship personnel that the safebriefing area is the helidec". The location of the designated safe-briefing area is posted b! the master or mates ne#t to the ship's station bills 9where lifeboat assignments are posted: on each dec".

PERSONNE$ RES 7E

6t is possible that gases other than H2S ma! be encountered, but the! pose a much lower hazard 9see 3Appendi9 &3 and 3Appendi9 E3:. 6n general, the measures ta"en to protect against H2S e#posure will also be effective against other gases. hen H2S levels are above 2< ppm, use a detector...don't assume0 3lwa!s use a portable H2S detector to monitor H2S levels in a confined space. 'ow o#!gen levels can be 7ust as lethal as H2S. The ship's officers have o#!gen meters to determine if a space has enough o#!gen, but the o#!gen metersdo not measure H2S levels. 6n some cases it is necessar! to use both t!pes of meters. H2S levels ma! be safe at the entrance to a confined area but can change 4uic"l! to lethal levels, depending on the source. H2S is denser than air and will settle into low areas. 8o not enter a confined space without using a 23 to rescue someone who has passed out. The following procedures describes implementing personnel rescue= >. /ut on a 23 before proceeding to assist an!one affected b! the gas. 2. /ut on a safet! belt with A< ft of tail line and obtain standb! assistance before entering the area if the person is in a high-concentration area. J. 1tilize the budd! s!stem when entering possible contaminated areas. 4. *ove the victim to fresh air.
5.

3dminister resuscitation or o#!gen as needed. $all the Ship's 8octor. 6f the person is in7ured because of e#posure to H2S, arrange for evacuation to a shore-based medical facilit!.

6.

:.

REFEREN ES

(oss, -.%., and Lulson, 2.8., >@@J. )evised h!drogen sulfide drilling contingenc! planMJ !"#S $esolution. "& Tech. 'ote( >@. 9. Howard, S./., and )eudelhuber, 8.H., >@@>. H!drogen sulfideMhigh temperature drilling contingenc! plan. "& Tech. 'ote( >H. 10.
8.

APPEN&I; A
$ocation o" Fi9ed Area &etectors ,ach detector station can support two sensors. The sensors should be mounted H?>2 in above the dec". 8etector areas and number and position of fi#ed sensors follow= ore Processing Area Sensor >= 2elow the sampling table ne#t to the wor"ing half storage rac". Sensor 2= 2elow the description table. ore Recei!ing Plat"orm Sensor >= *ount on handrail at the forward end of the platform ne#t to the outdoor storage rac". Sensor 2= *ount on the handrail at the midpoint of the platform. ore Entr% Sensor >= *ount at the base of the aluminum core rac". Sensor 2= *ount beneath the splitting table. ore atc(er Benc(

Sensor >= *ount on the handrail at the aft end of the core receiving platform. Sensor 2= *ount beneath core catcher bench. $o'er .t'een &ec/ $anding Sensor >= *ount inside the lower 'tween core refrigerator at the base of the unistrut shelving.

Hold &ec/ $anding Sensor >= *ount inside the hold core refrigerator at the base of the unistrut shelving. Sensor 2= *ount at the bottom of the stairwell. Fres(2Air Inta/e Plen*m Sensor >= *ount inside the fresh air inta"e plenum where the air enters the 3G$ on the main dec". Sensor 2= *ounted on the forward end of the core receiving platform. Rig Floor Sensor >= *ount at the base of forward starboard tugger. Sensor 2= *ount at the base of aft starboard tugger. <arning Signs /ost warning signs at the entrance9s: to potential H2S areas during operations at sites where H2S ma! be encountered. 1se the following te#t on the warning signs= 3)%6%---H3E3)8F1S 3),3 H.8)F-,% S1'(68, H2S 1%31THF)6E,8 /,)SF%%,' B,,/ F1T %F S*FB6%arning signs are to be posted in the following areas=

)ig floor, $ore receiving platform, $ore laborator!Min all areas where cores will be processed, $ore storage reeferMincluding reefer entrance9s:, 2ottom of core laborator! stairwellMH2S gas ma! accumulate in that area, and 'iving 4uarter e#its that are entrances into designated H2S danger areasMall dec" levels.

<ind &irection Indicators ind soc"s are mounted on the following areas=

Ship's bow, $rane no. >, $rane no. 2, and $rane no. J.

2right color streamers are located in the following areas=

3long the catwal" aft of crane no. 2, 1nder the rig floor on the mezzanine dec", and 3long the port side of the core-receiving platform.

APPEN&I; B
Origin o" H2S Formation and ons*mption in Sediments

6n most cases where F8/ is coring, H2S forms as a b!product of the degradation of organic matter. 2ecause sulfate is plentiful in the ocean, sulfate reduction and, hence, h!drogen sulfide production is common in marine sediments. Specificall!, H2S forms during sulfate reduction via the generalized formula 2$H2F N SF42? where $H2F O organic matter, SF42? O sulfate, and H$FJ? O bicarbonate or al"alinit!. 8espite their common presence in marine sediments, H2S concentrations do not usuall! reach ver! high levels. )elativel! low concentrations of H2S are maintained primaril! because either the reactants 9organic matter andGor sulfate: ma! be limited or iron combines with the sulfide to form iron sulfide minerals 9e.g., p!rite:. H2S N 2H$FJ?

The highest H2S concentrations encountered during 8eep Sea 8rilling /ro7ect 98S8/:GF8/ operations were located in the carbonate-rich sediments of the south 3ustralian margin 9'eg >P25 >A<,<<< ppm in a single core:. High sedimentation rates, low iron content, and sulfate-rich pore fluids led to e#tensive production of H2S. T!picall!, diffusion from overl!ing seawater is the main source of sulfate. However, on some continental margins brines ma! provide an additional source of sulfate for sulfate reduction and production of H2S. 6n areas where overl!ing seawater is the main source of sulfate, H2S concentrations will eventuall! decrease with depth. ,ven when there is high organic matter content, sulfate eventuall! becomes depleted with depth. Thus, H2S ma! be encountered over several cores but, li"e sulfate, H2S should also decline with depth. En!ironments T!pical environments where H2S ma! be present are terrigenous continental margins, carbonate-rich continental margins or carbonate ban"s, gas h!drate sediments, and h!drothermal s!stems. H2S ma! be present in terrigenous continental margin environments, especiall! where coastal upwelling results in sediments with high organic matter content. T!picall! in this setting, the sedimentar! components often provide plent! of available iron, resulting in the removal of H2S via iron sulfide precipitation. Slopes of carbonate-rich continental margins or carbonate ban"s with high sedimentation rates ma! be a source of H2S. 3lthough carbonate-rich sediments are t!picall! not rich in organic matter, the slopes can be characterized b! high sedimentation rates. High accumulation rates bur! organic matter, creating an increased potential for organic matter availabilit! for sulfate reduction. $arbonate-rich sediments also have low iron contents, so H2S is rarel! 4uantitativel! precipitated as iron sulfides.

3nother potential point source of H2S on continental margins is gas h!drates 9clathrates:. 3lthough most natural marine h!drates are dominated b! methane, H2S-methane h!drates have been encountered 9e.g., $ascadia margin, 'egs >4H and >P2:. 6ncorporation of H2S into the h!drate structure shifts the h!drate stabilit! field5 hence, H2S-rich h!drates are found at shallower depths than methane hydrates. H2S ma! be encountered in h!drothermal s!stems 9e.g., massive sulfide deposits:. $onse4uentl!, appropriate precautions should be in place when recovering such fluids or coring sediments whose pore fluids ma! contain a h!drothermal component.

APPEN&I;
Properties o" H2S H!drogen sulfide is colorless, transparent, and flammable, smells li"e +rotten eggs+ at ver! low concentrations, and is denser than air and thus ma! accumulate in low places. The slightest presence of H2S in the air is normall! detectable b! its characteristic +rotten-egg+ odor5 however, it is dangerous to rel! on odor as a means of detecting lifethreatening concentrations because the sense of smell is lost rapidl!, allowing lethal concentrations to accumulate without warning. Table AT4 describes the poisonous nature of h!drogen sulfide.
Table AT4. ,ffects of h!drogen sulfide.
oncentration o" H2S -=0 -ppm0 -g64>> "t+0 E""ect

<.<<> >< <.<<2 2< <.<> <.<2 ><< 2<<

<.HA >.J H.4P >2.@H

Fbvious and unpleasant odor5 safe for P hr Safe for 4 hr e#posure Bills sense of smell in J?>A min5 ma! sting e!es and throat Bills sense of smell5 stings e!es and throat

<.<A <.<K <.>

A<< K<<

J2.@H 4A.2H

8izziness5 breathing ceases in minutes5 need prompt artificial respiration 1nconscious 4uic"l!5 death will result if not rescued promptl! 1nconscious immediatel!, followed b! death within minutes

><<< H4.P

APPEN&I; &
Ot(er Ha,ardo*s )ases arbon &io9ide $arbon dio#ide 9$F2: is commonl! found dissolved in h!drothermal fluids and could be released from pore water when cores are recovered. $F2 is usuall! considered inert and is heavier than air 9>.A times:, concentrating in low areas of 4uiet air. $arbon dio#ide gas is to#ic in higher concentrations but much less so than H2S 9see Table AT2:. The threshold limit of $F2 is A<<< ppm. Short-term e#posure to A<,<<< ppm 9AQ: is reasonable. This gas is colorless and odorless and can be tolerated in relativel! high concentration. 3ir containing AQ $F2 will cause disorientation in a few minutes. $ontinued e#posure to $F2 after being affected will cause convulsions, coma, and respirator! failure. 6f a massive flow of $F2 from the well bore should occur 9highl! unli"el!:, the principal danger would be from asph!#iation due to lac" of air. 1sing a 23 will provide ade4uate o#!gen until the emergenc! can be controlled.
Table AT2. $hemical vapor to#icit!.
ommon name Speci"ic T(res(old@ Ha,ardo*sA (emical gra!it% $et(alB concentration limit limit "orm*la -air ? -ppm0 -ppm0 -ppm6(r0 40

H!drogen H$%

<.@4

><

>A<

J<<

c!anide H!drogen H2S sulfide Sulfur dio#ide $hlorine SF2 $l2 >.>P 2.2> 2.4A <.@K >.A2 <.AA >< 2 > A< A,<<< @<,<<< 2A< M 4 4<< AQ H<< >,<<< >,<<< >,<<< ><<,<<<

$arbon $F mono#ide $arbon dio#ide *ethane $F2 $H4

;AQ in air M

%otes= & O concentration at which it is believed that all wor"ers ma! repeatedl! be e#posed, P hrGda!, ever! da!, without adverse effect. R O concentration that ma! cause death. S O concentration that will cause death with short-term e#posure. H%drocarbon )as H!drocarbon compounds are "nown to be present in sediments and potentiall! in h!drothermal fluids. These h!drocarbons are primaril! in the form of methane gas, but some heavier gases and even li4uids are possible. The to#icit! of methane is ver! low 9see Table AT2:, but it is often a +carrier+ of H2S. 2ecause h!drocarbon gas is lighter than air, it does not tend to settle and is easil! dispersed. The ma7or threat from natural gas is its e#treme flammabilit! and e#plosivit!. H!drocarbon li4uids ma! be carcinogenic, so common sense should be used in handling them if the! are encountered. The blowout control measures specified in this document can be use to control h!drocarbon gas as well as H2S. Radon The barite precipitated in seafloor roc"s and sediments b! h!drothermal activit! has been found to contain measurable amounts of radioactive radium-22H, which is chemicall! similar to barium. Small amounts of radon ma! also be present in the pore water. The radium emits ver! small amounts of radon-222 gas through radioactive deca!, which also is radioactive. The radiation is in the form of alpha particles, which have e#tremel! limited abilit! to penetrate tissue. Thus, the principal danger comes from inhaling or

ingesting the radioactive material. (urthermore, the levels of radioactivit! are e#tremel! lowMon the nannocurie scale. F8/ has investigated the potential effect of that radiation on health and safet! on board the ship. %evertheless, cores will be monitored for radioactivit! if radioactive material is present. The following precautions are to be ta"en if radon is encountered=

1se e#tra ventilation around cores 9as with H2S: before pac"ing and when 8-tubes are opened. Seal 8-tubes to contain gas andGor ventilate storage areas. 3void eating and drin"ing in the immediate area of the cores. ash hands thoroughl! after handling barite-rich cores or samples.

S*l"*r &io9ide Sulfur dio#ide is produced during the burning of H2S. Sulfur dio#ide is colorless, transparent, nonflammable, heavier than air, but will be pic"ed up b! a breeze and carried downwind at elevated temperatures, and e#tremel! irritating to the e!es and mucous membranes of the upper respirator! tract. Table AT+ indicates the to#ic nature of the gas. Table AT+. ,ffects of sulfur dio#ide.
oncentration o" SO2 -=0 -ppm0 E""ect

<.<<<2 <.<<A <.<<>2 <.<>A <.<A

2 J?A >2 >A< A<<

Safe for P hr /ungent odor5 normall! a person can detect SF2 in this range Throat irritation, coughing, chest constriction, e!es tear and burn So irritating that it can onl! be endured for a few minutes $auses a sense of suffocation, even with first breath.

APPEN&I; E
Facial Hair <ai!er

<ai!erC H%drogen S*l"ide E9pos*reDFA IA$ HAIR $onditions ma! develop that re4uire air breathing mas"sGrespirators to be worn b! personnel wor"ing in designated hazardous areas. 3 proper seal between the surface of a respirator face piece and the wearer's s"in is imperative. (acial hair, such as beards, sideburns, moustaches, and even a few da!s' growth of stubble will prevent a good seal. (acial hair results in the respirator permitting negative air pressure inside the face piece during inhalation and causing e#cessive penetration b! an air contaminant. 6f the individual elects not to shave facial hair, he must sign the statement provided below. *! signature below 9with witness: indicates that 6 have been informed of the dangers associated with using a breathing apparatus that might not seal properl! because of interfering facial hair, and 6 choose not to hold the Fcean 8rilling /rogram?Te#as 3T* 1niversit!, Te#as 3T* )esearch (oundation, %ational Science (oundation, or the owners of the $)* J !"#S $esolution responsible for an! accidents, illness, or medical problems that might occur if it becomes necessar! for me to use a breathing apparatus during an H2S emergenc!. Signature=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU 8ate=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU itness=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU 8ate=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

APPEN&I; F
Per"orated Ear &r*m <ai!er <ai!erC H%drogen S*l"ide E9pos*reDPer"orated Ear &r*m 8ue to the nature of operations on 'eg UUUU, participants face potential e#posure to h!drogen sulfide 9H2S: gas. Situations ma! develop that re4uire air-breathing mas"sGrespirators to be worn b! personnel wor"ing in designated hazardous areas. Since the protective breathing apparatus does not cover the

ears, H2S ma! enter the bod! through a perforated or punctured eardrum. 6f an individual suspects or has been diagnosed to have a puncturedGperforated eardrum but elects to participate on F8/ 'eg UUUU, he or she must sign the statement provided below. *! signature below 9with witness: indicates that 6 have been informed of the dangers associated with h!drogen sulfide 9H2S: e#posure when a perforated or punctured eardrum condition e#ists. 6 choose not to hold the Fcean 8rilling /rogram?Te#as 3T* 1niversit!, Te#as 3T* )esearch (oundation, %ational Science (oundation, or the owners of the $)* J !"#S $esolution responsible for an! accidents, illness, or medical problems that might occur as a result of H2S e#posure via a punctured or perforated eardrum. Signature=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU 8ate=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU itness=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUU 8ate=UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

P7B$ISHER.S NOTES
*aterial in this publication ma! be copied without restraint for librar!, abstract service, educational, or personal research purposes5 however, this source should be appropriatel! ac"nowledged. *ills, .-., *alone, *.L., and -raber, B., 2<<A. H!drogen sulfide drilling contingenc! plan. "& Tech. 'ote( JJ VFnlineW. 3vailable from orld ide eb= Dhttp=GGwwwodp.tamu.eduGpublicationsGtnotesGtnJJG6%8,I.HT*;. V$ited ....-**-88W 8istribution= ,lectronic copies of this publication ma! be obtained from the F8/ /ublications homepage on the orld ide eb at http=GGwww-odp.tamu.eduGpublications. This publication was prepared b! the Fcean 8rilling /rogram, Te#as 3T* 1niversit!, as an account of wor" performed under the international Fcean 8rilling /rogram, which is managed b!

Loint Fceanographic 6nstitutions, 6nc., under contract with the %ational Science (oundation. (unding for the program is provided b! the following agencies=
3ustraliaG$anadaG$hinese TaipeiGBorea $onsortium for Fcean 8rilling 8eutsche (orschungsgemeinschaft 9(ederal )epublic of -erman!: ,uropean Science (oundation $onsortium for Fcean 8rilling 92elgium, 8enmar", (inland, 6celand, 6reland, 6tal!, The %etherlands, %orwa!, /ortugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland: 6nstitut %ational des Sciences de l'1nivers?$entre %ational de la )echerche Scientifi4ue 96%S1-$%)S5 (rance: *arine High-Technolog! 2ureau of the State Science and Technolog! $ommission of the /eople's )epublic of $hina Fcean )esearch 6nstitute of the 1niversit! of To"!o 9Lapan: %ational Science (oundation 91nited States: %atural ,nvironment )esearch $ouncil 91nited Bingdom:

&IS $AIMER
3n! opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations e#pressed in this publication are those of the author9s: and do not necessaril! reflect the views of the %ational Science (oundation, the participating agencies, Loint Fceanographic 6nstitutions, 6nc., Te#as 3T* 1niversit!, or Te#as 3T* )esearch (oundation.