| Title: | Effect of drilling fluid systems and temperature on oil mist and vapour levels generated from shale shaker |
| Author(s): | Steinsvag K; Galea KS; Kruger K; Peikli V; Sanchez-Jimenez A; Saetvedt E; Searl A; Cherrie JW; van Tongeren M; |
| Address: | "Statoil ASA, Oslo, Norway. kjeste@statoil.com" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1475-3162 (Electronic) 0003-4878 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Workers in the drilling section of the offshore petroleum industry are exposed to air pollutants generated by drilling fluids. Oil mist and oil vapour concentrations have been measured in the drilling fluid processing areas for decades; however, little work has been carried out to investigate exposure determinants such as drilling fluid viscosity and temperature. A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of two different oil-based drilling fluid systems and their temperature on oil mist, oil vapour, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) levels in a simulated shale shaker room at a purpose-built test centre. Oil mist and oil vapour concentrations were sampled simultaneously using a sampling arrangement consisting of a Millipore closed cassette loaded with glass fibre and cellulose acetate filters attached to a backup charcoal tube. TVOCs were measured by a PhoCheck photo-ionization detector direct reading instrument. Concentrations of oil mist, oil vapour, and TVOC in the atmosphere surrounding the shale shaker were assessed during three separate test periods. Two oil-based drilling fluids, denoted 'System 2.0' and 'System 3.5', containing base oils with a viscosity of 2.0 and 3.3-3.7 mm(2) s(-1) at 40 degrees C, respectively, were used at temperatures ranging from 40 to 75 degrees C. In general, the System 2.0 yielded low oil mist levels, but high oil vapour concentrations, while the opposite was found for the System 3.5. Statistical significant differences between the drilling fluid systems were found for oil mist (P = 0.025),vapour (P < 0.001), and TVOC (P = 0.011). Increasing temperature increased the oil mist, oil vapour, and TVOC levels. Oil vapour levels at the test facility exceeded the Norwegian oil vapour occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 30 mg m(-3) when the drilling fluid temperature was >/=50 degrees C. The practice of testing compliance of oil vapour exposure from drilling fluids systems containing base oils with viscosity of |
| Keywords: | "Air Pollutants, Occupational/*analysis/chemistry Environmental Monitoring *Extraction and Processing Industry Humans Occupational Exposure/*analysis Petroleum/*analysis Temperature Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Volatilization;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSteinsvag, Kjersti Galea, Karen S Kruger, Kirsti Peikli, Vegard Sanchez-Jimenez, Araceli Saetvedt, Esther Searl, Alison Cherrie, John W van Tongeren, Martie eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/01/21 Ann Occup Hyg. 2011 May; 55(4):347-56. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/meq097. Epub 2011 Jan 19" |
