Safety officials in Alberta are undertaking an investigation after one worker was killed and two others injured by a hydrogen sulfide leak at a northern Alberta oil well site.
“Preliminary reports indicate that workers were steaming a pipeline, when there was release of hydrogen sulfide gas,” said Sorcha Thomas, spokesperson of Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. “As a result, three workers were overcome by the gas, including a 49-year old man, who was deceased at the scene.”
The oilfield maintenance workers were using a tool called a steam wand to clear out a gas line or get it moving again, at a site off Highway 47 near Fox Creek on April 30.It is believed workers were attempting to melt an ice chunk in the pipeline.
According to reports, two of the workers were overcome by a leak of hydrogen sulfide gas. The third worker was further away, and was able to get help.
Firefighters from Fox Creek had to use breathing packs to enter the site and get the two workers out. These workers were transported to hospital and later released.
The site is operated by Celtic Exploration Ltd and the deceased worker was employed by Respond Oilfields Consulting Inc. The other two workers were employed by Enermax and Vencor.
An RCMP s officers conducting a road block a distance from the scene inhaled some of the gas and was also treated in hospital.
“The site is currently shut down and secured, while OHS is conducting their investigation,” said Thomas. “The OHS workers were at the site to look at what workers were doing at the time of the incident and speaking to other workers to get a better idea of what happened.”
Hydrogen sulfide is extremely toxic and occurs in natural gas as a result of decaying organic matter that contains sulphur. Its rotten-egg smell is easily detected at low concentrations, but at higher levels can paralyse the nerves responsible for a persons sense of smell. This means a person is in the most danger, when they cannot smell it.
The Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta Occupational Health and Safety, and the RCMP are investigating the incident.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed