Hydrogen

Sulfide
Where can you find H2S?

• Oil and Gas Wells

• Refinery
• Petrochemical Plants
• Underground Mines
• Commercial Laboratories
WHAT IS H2S
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is
a highly toxic, colorless,
transparent gas which is
heavier than air. It can
paralyze your breathing
system and can kill a
person in a minute.
Properties of H2S
1. Extremely deadly toxic gas
2. Colorless
3. Heavier than air so it tends to settle in low lying areas
4. Readily dispersed by wind movement of air currents
5. Burns with a blue flame producing SO2
6. Highly corrosive in certain metals
7. More deadly than Carbon Monoxide (CO) and almost
as toxic as Hydrogen Cyanide
8. Flammable and forms explosive mixtures
with air or oxygen
9. Explosive limits – 4.3 to 4.6 percent by volume air
Concentration

• Low Concentration- offensive odor similar to

rotten eggs
• Slightly High Concentration- may have a sick,
sweet odor.
• High Concentration- no smell can be
detected, deadens the sense
of smell by paralysis of the
olfactory nerve.
 TOXICITY TABLE
Concentration in (ppm) Effects

0.13 Minimal perceptible odor

4.6 Easily detectable, moderate odor

10 Eye irritation

27 Strong unpleasant odor

100 Coughing, eye irritation, loss of sense of

200-300 Marked conjunctivitis (eye inflamation) and
respiratory tract irritation after one hour of
exposure

500-700 loss of consciousness and possible death

. 700-1,000
in 30 minutes to one hour
Rapid unconciousness, cessation (stopping
or pausing) of respiration and death.

Unconsciousness at once with early

1,000-2000 cessation of respiration and death in a few
minutes. Death may occur even if individual
is removed to fresh air at once.
Precautions Against H2S
• Drilling mud must be heavy enough to contain any H2S gas
kick.
• An H2S neutralizer added to the mud can help prevent the gas
from reaching the surface.
• Detectors can be placed at the shale shaker, bell nipple, tanks
or other places where H2S is likely to be first noticed.
• The crew should know the location of all breathing apparatus
and these must be checked periodically.
• A designated safe area should be established where the crew
can assemble for instruction/s during an H 2S emergency.
Flag System
• Green- normal
operations

• Yellow- moderate
amount of H2S

• Red - Extreme
hazardous conditions.
H2S is present.
Ways To Detect H2S

• Laboratory test using lead

acetate, ampoules, or
coated strip
• Electronic Portable
Detectors
• Air Sampling Gas
Detector Tubes
• Fixed Electronic H2S
Sensors
 2 Types of Breathing Apparatus
1. SELF CONTAINED APPARATUS - supplies air from a
cylinder worn on the back. It can supply a person air for 30
minutes.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
A crew who is required to work inside a vessel
or tank wearing breathing apparatus must always
have an attendant or helper who will have a rescue
equipment available and ready for use.
2. SUPPLIED AIR BREATHING APPARATUS - a breathing
apparatus where the back mounted tank is replaced by a
large cylinder connected by a hose line to a demand
valve on the wearer’s body.
SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN
RESPIRATOR USE
• Facial Hair
• Contact Lenses
• Corrective Spectacles
• Psychological
Disturbance
• Miscellaneous Sealing
Problems
How Does H2S Affect Individuals ?
 Factors affecting individuals
physically
• DURATION- the length the individual is
exposed
• FREQUENCY-how often the individual had
been exposed
• INTENSITY - How much (conc.) the
individual was exposed to.
• INDIVIDUAL SUSCEPTIBILITY- the
individual physiological makeup
• When the person breathes
in H2S it goes directly
through the lungs and into
the bloodstream. When the
amount of gas breathed in
exceeds the amount the
body can break down, the
H2S builds up in the blood,
and the nerve centers in the
brain that control breathing
are paralyzed; the lungs
stop working and the
person is asphyxiated.
Rescue Procedures
Rescue Procedure
1. Put on your full rescue unit
(minimum of 30 seconds for
breathing apparatus) before
attempting a rescue
2. Transfer the victim immediately
to a place with fresh air
3. If the victim is breathing,
maintain him at rest and
administer oxygen, if available
4. If the victim is not breathing,
immediately start artificial
respiration
5.Call an ambulance and get the
victim medical treatment
6. Keep the victim lying down with
blanket, coat, etc. under
shoulders to keep airway
passage open. Do not leave the
victim unattended.
7. If his eyes are affected by H2S,
wash them thoroughly with
water. For slight irritation, cold
compresses are helpful.
8. In case of minor exposure and
the victim totally loses
consciousness, it is best if he
does not return to work until the
following day
Safety Measures
1.Necessary Precautions for
Safe Jobsite entry.
a. Observe conditions
signs and audio visual
alarm

b. Check for wind direction

c. Look for personnel and

their activity/ies

d. Enter the job site slowly

2. Minimum of 2 defined alternate
escape routes preferably roads

3. Continuous use of atmosphere

monitoring/detection equipment ,
portable detectors and combustible
gas meters for safety.

4. Gas ignition hazard must be

eliminated and no smoking must be
enforced

5. Strategically placed explosion-proof

mechanical ventilators reduce H2S
exposure risks.
6. An H2S training program and
regular drills are a must
7. H2S is heavier than air,
therefore avoid low lying areas
8. Select a partner and use the
buddy system for mutual
safety.
9. Post emergency numbers in
conspicuous places and
maintain reliable
communication systems
10. Locate emergency stations at
a minimum of 250 feet or as
far from the H2S source as
possible.
11 Know your company’s H2S
emergency procedures
Do Not Panic
1. Hold your breath

2. Don breathing apparatus.

Do not attempt a rescue
until you have donned
the breathing apparatus
properly

3 Help anyone in distress

4. Report to the emergency

station the incident