NATURAL GAS CONDENSATE - hselifenl.com

HSE guidelines

May 2012

SNATURAL GAS CONDENSATE

HSE LIFETHE NATIONAL OIL&GAS INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONALS

NATURAL GAS CONDENSATE

Work safely or don’t work at all There are strict procedures when working on installations and systems. After all, there’s a risk for noxious substances to be released. Therefore read the Permit to Work carefully and check if the described control measures have been taken. Then take the precautionary measures which belong to your job.

Always be alert to prevent highly concentrated noxious substances from being released. When in doubt: always ask or stop working!

Speaking the same clear language regarding Health, Safety and Environment,and harmonisation of regulations by focusing primarily on agreements between companies and contractors.

That’s the goal the member parties of HSE Life Unio pursue.


Natural gas condensate is a by-product of gas extraction and gas productionand contains benzene, among other things. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons that occurs at every production installation. Natural gas condensate is comparable to petrol. Natural gas condensate, derived from sour gas locations, has a different structure than that of fresh gas sites. In both cases it is flammable and explosive. It’s also harmful to health and to the environment. This means that maximum care and alertness are required at all times!



WHAT ARE THE PROPERTIES OF NATURAL GAS CONDENSATE?

• extremely flammable • harmful to the environment• poisonous• oxygen displacing• asphyxiating/anaesthetizing *)• the vapour is explosive and carcinogenic

*) Natural Gas Condensate vapor (hydrocarbon) has an anaesthetizing effect from a certain concentration. The effect depends on the dose and concentrations an may occur very quickly (within two to three breaths). This may result in confusion and the inability to make the right decisions and eventually loss of consciousness and death. Using only an oxygen meter is not sufficient. Alarm of the gas meter (at 10% Lower Explosion Limit) must lead to the correct action: immediate evacuation / use of independent respiratory protection.


PERSONALPROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Always use the correct personal protective equipment. Use them in the prescribed way and keep them in good condition.

Basic personal protective equipment:

• flame retardant, antistatic coverall• safety footwear• safety helmet• safety glasses• work gloves (correct type)• LEL/oxygen meter• H2S-detector (sour gas locations) • Respiratory protection, escape mask (sour gas locations)


PERSONALPROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Extra protective equipment may be required for work that entails a specific risk. This equipment is recorded in the Permit to Work. Everyone is required by law to use/wear the prescribed protective equipment.


WHAT TO DO DURING THE WORK?

For every drum or tank on which you are going to work, a statement is present to ensure that they are free of gas and pressure. Ensure that, before opening parts of the installation, pipes, drums or tanks on which you are going to work are free of pressure and liquid, and that they are inerted and ventilated.

Before and during work, the presence and concentration of relevant dangerous substances (e.g. Benzene, H2S, Hg etc.), and the percentage of LEL, should be measured. These substances may not exceed the limits. Measurements should be recorded. In the Permit to Work is recorded which substances are to be measured. If the presence of a fire watch and/or manhole guard is compulsory, then this will be recorded in the Permit to Work.


WHAT TO DO DURING THE WORK?

Take care:

• not to eat or drink during work• to avoid open flames or sparks• to ensure that the equipment and lighting you use complies with the requirements for the specific hazardous area• to ensure an adequate ventilation

Report all leakages directly to your sitemanager/supervisor. Never touch a leakageand never undertake independent action.


RISKS OFNATURAL GAS CONDENSATE

• severely irritating to eyes, skin and respiratory• drowsiness, dizziness, stupor• permanent injury• cancer• explosive• death


WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CONTACT WITH NATURAL GAS CONDENSATE?

Inhalation of vapours drowsiness, dizziness, stupor, severely irritating, cancer, death

Skin contact irritating, permanent injury

Eye contact severely irritating, permanent injury

Swallowing severely irritating, permanent injury


WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF INHALATION, SWALLOWING OR CONTACT?

IInhalation of vapours get into fresh air; resuscitate if necessary

Skin contact take off contaminated clothing and wash the skin with plenty of water and soap

Eyes (contact) rinse out with plenty of water or with eye fluid; if possible remove contact lenses

Swallowing rinse mouth out with water or have it rinsed out; DO NOT induce vomiting

Severe exposure immediately notify the medic Be responsible: in all cases notify the medic immediately (offshore) or call 112/doctor (onshore).


WHAT TO DO IN CASEOF FIRE OR EXPLOSION?

Raise alarm. Report the incident to the site manager/supervisor using the emergency number given beforehand.

Go to the muster point and await further instructions.


QUESTIONS? MORE INFORMATION?

You can always approach the site manager/supervisor.

HSE LIFE

The member parties of HSElife Unio are:

SHELL/NAMTAQA Energy

Centrica Energy UpstreamOranje-Nassau Energie

CASOS

ChevronGDF SUEZ

Vermilion EnergyDana Petroleum

TOTAL

HSE LIFEHSE LIFE

LMRA Last Minute Risk AnalysisASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: Do I know what I need to do? Is the workplace safe? Are all safety procedures explained to me? Am I familiar with the hazards of my work (assignment)? Do I have proper safety equipment (PPE)? Do I have the right tools? Are my tools certified? Have I done everything possible to minimise the risk? If anything goes wrong, do I know what I’m supposed to do?

All YES: start (of continue) the activity.If NO or in doubt: go to your supervisor and discuss the situation.


QUESTION

1. What is natural gas condensate?

A) Natural gas condensate is a by-product of oil and gas extraction and oil and gas production. It primarily contains benzene.

B) Natural gas condensate is a by-product of gas extraction and gas production and generally contains a mixture of hydrocarbons such as methane, pentane, and benzene.

C) Natural gas condensate is a liquid by-product of gas extraction and gas production and it’s a mixture of nitrogen and benzene.


ANSWER

1. What is natural gas condensate?

A) Natural gas condensate is a by-product of oil and gas extraction and oil and gas production. It primarily contains benzene.

B) Natural gas condensate is a by-product of gas extraction and gas production and generally contains a mixture of hydrocarbons such as methane, pentane, and benzene.

C) Natural gas condensate is a liquid by-product of gas extraction and gas production and it’s a mixture of nitrogen and benzene.


QUESTION

2. When is natural gas condensate flammable and explosive?

A) Natural gas condensate is only flammable and explosive if the precipitated condensate evaporates.

B) Natural gas condensate is always flammable and explosive.

C) Only natural gas condensate derived from sour gas locations is flammable and explosive.


ANSWER

2. When is natural gas condensate flammable and explosive?

A) Natural gas condensate is only flammable and explosive if the precipitated condensate evaporates.

B) Natural gas condensate is always flammable and explosive.

C) Only natural gas condensate derived from sour gas locations is flammable and explosive.


QUESTION

3. What are the properties of natural gas condensate?

A) Explosive, carcinogenic, extremely flammable, harmful to the environment, poisonous, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, anaesthetizing.

B) Explosive, carcinogenic, slightly flammable, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, damage to the installation and the pipes, lethal.

C) Explosive, highly corrosive, flammable, poisonous, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, anaesthetizing.


ANSWER

3. What are the properties of natural gas condensate?

A) Explosive, carcinogenic, extremely flammable, harmful to the environment, poisonous, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, anaesthetizing.

B) Explosive, carcinogenic, slightly flammable, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, damage to the installation and the pipes, lethal.

C) Explosive, highly corrosive, flammable, poisonous, oxygen displacing, asphyxiating, anaesthetizing.


QUESTION

4. What should you do before and during work?

A) You must ensure that there is no ventilation in order to prevent hazardous substances from ending up in the environment.

B) You must verify if the Permit to Work states the name of the person who ensures that the parts of the installation, pipes, drums or tanks on which you are going to work are free of pressure and liquid.

C) You should measure the presence of relevant dangerous substances (for example benzene, hydrogen sulfide, mercury). Additionally you should measure the concentration of these substances and the percentage of LEL.


ANSWER

4. What should you do before and during work?

A) You must ensure that there is no ventilation in order to prevent hazardous substances from ending up in the environment.

B) You must verify if the Permit to Work states the name of the person who ensures that the parts of the installation, pipes, drums or tanks on which you are going to work are free of pressure and liquid.

C) You should measure the presence of relevant dangerous substances (for example benzene, hydrogen sulfide, mercury). Additionally you should measure the concentration of these substances and the percentage of LEL.


QUESTION

5. What do you do when someone is severely exposed to natural gas condensate?

A) You immediately get the victim into fresh air and resuscitate him.

B) You immediately notify the medic.

C) You raise alarm and immediately report the incident to the site manager or supervisor.


ANSWER

5. What do you do when someone is severely exposed to natural gas condensate?

A) You immediately get the victim into fresh air and resuscitate him.

B) You immediately notify the medic.

C) You raise alarm and immediately report the incident to the site manager or supervisor.

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