NIOSH Oil & Gas Extraction Safety &

Health Program

Exposure Assessment and Research Gaps

John Snawder, NIOSH, Cincinnati OHJohn Snawder, NIOSH, Cincinnati OH

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally

disseminated by NIOSH and should not be construed to represent any agency determination

or policy.

NIOSH Oil & Gas Extraction Sector Program

The goal of the NIOSH Oil and Gas Extraction Safety and Health Program is to reduce the rate of injury and disease among workers in the oil and gas and disease among workers in the oil and gas extraction industry.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/oilgas/goals

The program seeks to fulfill its goals through the

following:

• High Quality Research and Prevention Activities

NIOSH Oil & Gas Extraction Sector Program

• High Quality Research and Prevention Activities

• Practical Workplace Solutions

• Partnerships

• Research to Practices (r2p)

Spokane, WA

Oil and Gas Program Staff and Field

Research Locations

Denver, COCincinnati, OH

Anchorage, AK

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-130/pdfs/2010-130.pdf

Web search: NIOSH, oil and gas field effort

1° Objectives (Health)

• Develop partnerships with oil and gas industry

• Review the work processes

• Identify potential chemical hazards• Identify potential chemical hazards

• Characterize risks for exposure (Exposure

assessment work)

• Evaluate significance of risks (> Occupational

Exposure Limits [OEL’s])

• Communicate findings

2° Objectives (if necessary)

• Identify potential / possible controls for

exposures

• Evaluate possible controls for exposure

• Trial proposed controls, reevaluate

Pumper trucks Blender and Sand trucks

Well head

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Real-time VOC Flow-back Pond

VOCs Detected above Flowback Pond• Air/CO2*

• Sulfur dioxide*, formaldehyde

• Butane

• Isopentane

• Pentane

• Propanol

• C6 aliphatic hydrocarbons

• Heptane

• Methyl cyclohexane

• C8 aliphatic hydrocarbons

• Toluene

• Octane

• Ethyl cyclohexane

• Ethyl benzene/xylene isomers

• Decahydronaphthalene

• Undecane

• Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane*

• Naphthalene

• Dodecane

• Methyl naphthalenes

• Diethyl phthalate*

• Butanal

• Hexane

• Isobutanol

• C7 aliphatic hydrocarbons

• 2-methyl hexane, 3-methyl

hexane

• Methyl cyclopentane

• Benzene

• Cyclohexane

• Ethyl pentane

• C9 aliphatic hydrocarbons

• C9-C12 aliphatic hydrocarbons

• including branched alkanes,

• alkenes, plus decahydro alkyl

• naphthalenes

• C9 & C10 alkyl benzenes

• Nonane

• Propyl benzene

• Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane*

• Decane

VOCs Collected above Flow Back Pond

Respirable Silica

Respirable Silica Results by Location

Site > ACGIH TLV* > NIOSH REL* > OSHA PEL* Total # samples

A 24 (92.3%) 19 (73.1%) 14 (53.9%) 26

B 16 (84.2%) 14 (73.7%) 12 (63.2%) 19

C 5 (62.5%) 5 (62.5%) 4 (50.0%) 8

D 19 (90.5%) 14 (66.7%) 9 (42.9%) 21

E 25 (92.6%) 23 (85.2%) 18 (66.7%) 27

F 4 (40%) 1 (10%) 0 10

Total 93 (83.8%) 76 (68.5%) 57 (51.4%) 111

* Number of samples/%

Respirable Silica Results by Job Title

Job Title >ACGIH TLV* >NIOSH REL* >OSHA PEL* Total # samples

Blender Operator 15 (93.8%) 13 (81.3%) 8 (50%) 16

Chemical Truck Operator 3 (100%) 2 (66.7%) 2 (66.7%) 3

Fueler 2(100%) 0 0 2

Hydration Unit Operator 4 (80%) 2 (40%) 2 (40%) 5

Mechanic 2 (66.7%) 2 (66.7%) 0 3Mechanic 2 (66.7%) 2 (66.7%) 0 3

Operator, Data Van 1 (100%) 0 (0%) 0 1

Pump Truck Operator 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 1

Q.C. Tech 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 1

Roving Operator 2 (50%) 1 (25%) 0 4

Sand Coordinator 7 (70%) 5 (50%) 1 (10%) 10

Sand Truck Driver 1 (100%) 0 (0%) 0 1

Sand Mover Operator 46 (92%) 42 (84%) 37 (74%) 50

T-belt Operator 5 (83.3%) 5 (83.3%) 5 (83.3%) 6

Water Tank Operator 5 (71.7%) 4 (57.1%) 2 (28.6%) 7

Wireline Operator 0 (0%) 0 0 1

Total 93 (83.8%) 76 (68.5%) 57 (51.4%) 111

* Number of samples/%

Real-time Respirable Silicag

/m3

mg

/m

Diesel Particulate

Midday: Early a.m.

Diesel Particulate Exposure

• Exposures are episodic. Ultrafine particulates were

found to increase during periods of heavy pumping;

i.e., during hydraulic fracturing operations.

• Traffic and idling equipment are not major • Traffic and idling equipment are not major

contributors to exposure.

• Ambient wind and location in relation to the source

are major determinants of exposure.

mg

/m3

Diesel Particulate (ultrafine)m

g/m

Diesel Particulate as Elemental Carbon

Typical Sampling Week: 3/13 PBZ Samples Exceeded 20 µg/m3 EC

• Day 1: Samples collected = 4, 2 PBZ samples Exceeded 20 µg/m3; 26 and

41 µg/m3 (Sandmover operator and chemical hand)

• Day 2: Samples collected = 4, no PBZ samples Exceeded 20 µg/m3.• Day 2: Samples collected = 4, no PBZ samples Exceeded 20 µg/m3.

• Day 3: Samples collected = 4, 1 PBZ sample Exceeded 20 µg/m3; 52 µg/m3

water transfer operator downwind of pump.

• 2 Area Samples were taken in cab/operator area of a blender and water

unit. Both samples exceeded 20µg/m3; 40 and 42 µg/m3.

Chemicals

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Boric Acid Heptahydrate Polyethoxylated Alkanol (1)

1,3,5 Trimethylbenzene Boric Oxide Glutaraldehyde Polyethoxylated Alkanol (2)

2,2-Dibromo-3-Nitrilopropionamide Butan-1-01 Guar gum Polyethylene Glycol Mixture

2.2-Dibromo-3-Nitrilopropionamide Citric Acid Hemicellulase Enzyme Polysaccharide

2-butoxyethanol Crystalline Silica: Cristobalite Hydrochloric Acid Potassium Carbonate

2-Ethylhexanol Crystalline Silica: Quartz Hydrotreated light

distillate

Potassium Chloride

2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one Dazomet Hydrotreated Light

Distilled

Potassium Hydroxide

5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazotin-3-one Diatomaceus Earth Iron Oxide Prop-2-yn-1-01

Acetic Acid Diesel (use discontinued) Isopropanol Propan-2-01

Acetic Anhydride Diethylbenzene Isopropyl Alcohol Propargyl AlcoholAcetic Anhydride Diethylbenzene Isopropyl Alcohol Propargyl Alcohol

Acie Pensurf Doclecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid Kerosine Propylene

Alchohol Ethoxylated E B Butyl Cellosolve Magnesium Nitrate Sodium Ash

Alphatic Acid Ethane-1,2-diol Mesh Sand (Crystalline

Silica)

Sodium Bicarbonate

Alphatic Alcohol Polyglycol Ether Ethoxlated Alcohol Methanol Sodium Chloride

Aluminum Oxide Ethoxylated Alcohol Mineral Spirits Sodium Hydroxide

Ammonia Bifluoride Ethoxylated Octylphenol Monoethanolamine Sucrose

Ammonia Bisulfite Ethylbenzene Naphthalene Tetramethylammonium

Chloride

Ammonium chloride Ethylene Glycol Nitrilotriacetamide Titaniaum Oxide

Ammonium Salt Ethylhexanol Oil Mist Toluene

Ammonia Ferrous Sulfate Petroleum Distallate

Blend

Xylene

Aromatic Hydrocarbon Formaldehyde Persulfate Petroleum

Distillates

Aromatic Ketones Glycol Ethers (includes 2BE) Petroleum Naphtha

Real-time Exposures in Chemical Trailer

Airborne Aldehydes

• At ground level near “frac” tank: < 0.2 ppm (<0.82 mg/m3)

• At top of “frac” tank near opening: 0.21 ppm (0.85 mg/m3)**

• “Frac” tank head space: 0.44 ppm (1.76 mg/m3)

• ** NIOSH Ceiling 0.2 ppm (0.8 mg/m3)

Challenges • Large numbers of sub-contractors

• Constantly changing workforce

– hard to reach/track

– transient

• Rapidly evolving technology • Rapidly evolving technology

– drilling and completions

• Small companies

– little OH&S expertise

• Lack of baseline exposure data e.g., DPM, VOC’s, lead,

NORM, noise, thermal stress, biological monitoring, multiple exposure routes

DPM = diesel particulate matter, NORM = naturally occurring

radioactive materials VOCs = volatile organic compounds

Data Gaps (injuries, illness)

• Lack of specific injury or illness surveillance data

– Currently rely on BLS/CFOI/SOII data

• Does not include injury or illness rates specific to oil and gas

activities such as hydraulic fracturing

– young, transient workforce

– evolving technology

• Incomplete reporting of non-fatal injuries

– No mechanism for consistent and systematic collection

– Disincentives to reporting

Data Gaps (health hazards )

• Degree of physical hazard risks?

– noise, thermal stress, naturally occurring radioactive

materials (NORM) multiple exposure routes

• Biological monitoring?

• Extended work shift implications (fatigue)?• Extended work shift implications (fatigue)?

• Extent of chemical hazard exposure risks?

– mixed exposures (silica, DPM, VOCs, etc.)

– multiple exposure routes (inhalation, ingestion)

– dermal exposures (Pb, Solvents, PAH’s)

– take home exposure/transfer risks

PAHs = Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Thank You. Questions?

John Snawder513.533.8496 /jts5@cdc.gov

Michael Breitenstein

Eric Esswein303.236.5946 / eesswein@cdc.gov

Michael Breitenstein513.533.8290/mjb1@cdc.gov