Workers in all operations during oil and natural gas exploration and production may be exposed to H 2S. Hydrogen sulfide is naturally present in some oil and gas deposits and may be produced as a by-product of the desulfurization process of these fuels. In addition to HGVs, hydrogen sulfide (H 2S), a widely recognized hazard in the oil and gas extraction industry, continues to persist as a cause of death among workers 2. The simultaneous exposure of HGVs combined with a low oxygen atmosphere may also pose a risk for sudden cardiac death, especially in individuals with pre-existing coronary artery disease. dizziness, disorientation) as well as affect the eyes, lungs, and central nervous system. Acute exposure to HGVs can have narcotic effects on workers (i.e. It has been demonstrated that HGVs can build up under pressure and rapidly escape when thief hatches of production, flowback, and other tanks are opened, creating a highly flammable and oxygen-deficient environment, even in areas not considered to be a confined space. Additionally, wellsite exposure assessments conducted by OSHA and NIOSH identified HGVs at open thief hatches in concentrations that were immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) and in excess of the lower explosive limit (LEL), creating a chance for fires and explosions. Hydrocarbon gases and vapors (HGVs) and associated oxygen displacement were the primary or contributory factors in these fatalities. Photo courtesy of OSHAĪ previous NIOSH report (2016) 1 described the death of nine oil and gas extraction workers that occurred during gauging or sampling activities at open thief hatches on crude oil storage tanks. 4) The windsock is a visual indicator for the worker to stay positioned upwind while gauging. Equalization of tanks can result in a high volume of off-gassed vapors when a tank hatch is opened. 3) As commonly designed, fixed oil tanks often are interconnected for both liquid and vapor, allowing contents to equalize over multiple tanks. 2) In some regions, workers gauge oil tanks by opening tank hatches, visually observing liquid levels, and then manually measuring liquid oil levels.
Background 1) The worker peers down an open hatch of the oil tank.
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