Colorado Officials Investigating Hydrogen Sulfide Reports At Oil And Gas Drilling Sites

When it comes to oil and gas news, it's hard to beat 'fracking' for a more buzz-worthy topic. Add 'hydrogen sulfide gas' to the headline, though, and and expect eyebrows to rise.

A Sunday report in the Glenwood Springs Post Independent presented evidence the toxic gas, which can cause severe respiratory distress and death, has been documented in various concentrations at oil and gas drilling sites in Colorado.

Exposure to the gas at low concentrations can cause headache, dizziness, and upset stomach. At higher concentrations, gas inhalation triggers unconsciousness and death through respiratory paralysis.

A 2006 study titled 'Hydrogen Sulfide, Oil and Gas, and People's Health,' notes hydrogen sulfide develops naturally in conjunction with crude oil and natural gas, with 15 to 25 percent of U.S. gas wells likely 'soured.'

Established processes for removing the gas in processing facilities have been demonstrated effective, though homeowners near wells report feeling ill. Additionally, several workers have also grown ill after documented safety violations.

The reports have triggered Global Community Monitor to launch the 'Bucket Brigade' project, a community-led air monitoring program. Residents who live near oil and gas operations in Colorado and New Mexico gather air samples and submit them for lab analysis. A report published in July tested nine of the samples and found 22 toxic chemicals, including four carcinogens at levels ranging from 3 to 3,000 times higher than established safety limits.

A sample by the Bucket Brigade contained hydrogen sulfide gas at levels 185 times higher than a threshold set by the EPA as posing long-term health risks to humans.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is tasked with investigating reports of hydrogen sulfide gas. Officials are expected to report their findings Monday in Denver.

Watch a KREX report on hydrogen sulfide at oil and gas sites.

Comments

[sglahn817]

11:02 AM on 08/10/2011

coverup? what a headline. H2S has been around the oil and gas industry since day 1. ever see the wind socks on tank batteries? they're not there because they are pretty. the industry is also probably covering up the fact that oil is not healthy to drink.

[coreten]

10:49 AM on 08/10/2011

I am not about to defend oil and gas producers, they'll try to get away with anything if they could. But, there is always a risk factor involved with everything we do. The idea is to contain the threats to their minimum levels as much as humanly possible.

[InYourWorld]

11:22 AM on 08/09/2011

While I am quite leary of the Oil/Gas industry it should be noted that many places in CO have naturally occurring levels of Hydrogen Sulfide that leak from the ground. I live near a place where it is quite abundant in the air as it seeps from the underlying shale naturally as it has for as long as anyone can remember.

[Dr Scott]

09:35 AM on 08/09/2011

If you've never lived next to a crude oil pump (or hundreds), then you can't appreciate the stench produced by this industry. Everybody who says "Drill, baby, drill" should be required to spend a couple of weeks in Post, Texas. It may be the most odiferous town in the US.

[larryk70]

06:17 AM on 08/09/2011

I guess we need to "knock off" all of the cows, cap off all of the sewers, and apply rear end plugs to just about every person in Colorado(these are also sources of h2s gas in case you did not know).

[mjt218]

07:56 AM on 08/09/2011

except this is the kind that builds up in your body over time, and once you smell it, it's too late

[1differentdrummer]

06:15 AM on 08/09/2011

Come on, why pick on the oil and gas boys? What's a little sour gas among friends?

[AbstractImp]

06:57 PM on 08/08/2011

Why would that surprise anyone?

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/08/289553/companies-sponsor-alec-climate-denial/