Factors affecting hydrocarbon gas and vapor exposure of upstream oil and gas workers during completion and production activities at unconventional shale oil and gas wells

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alexander-Scott M ; Breitenstein, Michael J. ; Esswein, Eric J. ; Johnson BC ; King, Bradley S. ; Snawder, John E. ; Striley CA ; Toseski J
• Description:
  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is conducting research to assess chemical exposure hazards to upstream oil and gas workers. Activities in each segment may present chemical exposure hazards inherent to that activity and vary based on well type, geologic basin and the age of the producing well. Worker exposures were determined by personal breathing zone (PBZ) sampling during the full-shift or for specific tasks. Exposure assessments included: low molecular weight gas and vapors, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Identification of exposure sources and patterns of exposure were evaluated through collection of whole air samples (grab and time integrated samples), direct reading instruments including flame and photoionization detectors, colorimetric methods and infrared videography. Predictably, alkanes, alkenes, BTEX and PAHs (particularly naphthalene) were detected in many PBZ samples; however, the composition and concentration of different hydrocarbons varied greatly. Well completion activities presenting the greatest hydrocarbon exposures included flowback, production testing and produced water management; production activities included tank gauging and sample collection during fluid transfers, well inspection and maintenance. Geologic basin, well type, age or stage of production were determined to be predictors of both the composition and concentration of hydrocarbon exposures. Higher concentrations of BTEX were detected in worker samples from oil and gas wells in DJ, Piceance, San Juan, and Bakken formations, followed by wet gas wells in Utica and Marcellus basins. Worker samples from dry gas wells in Fayetteville and Marcellus basins had low concentrations of the measured hydrocarbons and, when detected, were often from sources other than the well. Geologic formation, worker activities, age of the well and design of the production equipment were all factors that effected exposures. Greater understanding of where, when and how exposures occur can allow for better risk assessments and targeted interventions and controls to improve worker safety and health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Alkanes Benzene Chemistry Colorimetry Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Hydrocarbons Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Oil And Gas Industry Petroleum Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Safety Solvents Toluene Toxicology Xylenes

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• Keywords:
  Air Sampling Alkenes Analytical Instruments Benzenes Breathing Zone Chemical-agent-detectors Chemical Agents Chemical Composition Chemical Hazards Detectors Direct-reading Methods Emission Sources Employee Exposure Environmental-technology Ethyl Benzene Exposure Assessment Flame Ionization Methods Gas Detectors Gases Gas Industry Geologic Formations Geologic Strata Molecular Structure Naphthalene Oil Industry Oil Shale Oil Vapors PAC Petroleum Oils Polyaromatic Compounds Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Sampling Toluenes Vapors

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Louisiana ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology ; WSD - Western States Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  150
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20047632
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2016 Mar; 150(1):161
• CAS Registry Number:
  Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Ethylbenzene (CAS RN 100-41-4) ; Naphthalene (CAS RN 91-20-3) ; Toluene (CAS RN 108-88-3) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Oil and Gas Extraction
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 55th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 13-17, 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f12e171393ec126580f55267ab83b75f8811a1c66be28c30ad003c667d444ca248e7d84656d9bb0bf1ce551979f5f3ac24a61a817231c0fdc35e03d7f5d8311b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/202647/cdc_202647_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 441.40 KB ]