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Mercury

Mercury. Mercury in PDO Gas Processing. Mercury Technology Services. Types of Mercury. Elemental Hg 0 Organic CH 3 HgCH 3 Inorganic HgCl 2 Suspended HgS. Mercury Metal. Hg 0. Elemental Mercury. Found in gas and condensate Volatile (evaporates) Can be inhaled

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Mercury

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  1. Mercury Mercury in PDO Gas Processing Mercury Technology Services

  2. Types of Mercury • Elemental Hg0 • Organic CH3HgCH3 • Inorganic HgCl2 • Suspended HgS

  3. Mercury Metal Hg0

  4. Elemental Mercury • Found in gas and condensate • Volatile (evaporates) • Can be inhaled • Adsorptive (sticks to surfaces) Hg0

  5. Mercury is Volatile Mercury evaporates like water

  6. Mercuric Sulfide HgS Cinnabar

  7. Ionic Mercury HgCl2 • Sometimes found in produced water • Not volatile (does not evaporate) • Cannot be inhaled • Can be ingested (drinking or eating contaminated food or water) Ionic mercury is a salt

  8. Mercury Amalgam Mercury reacts with metals

  9. Organic Mercury CH3HgCH3 • Almost never found • Less volatile • Can be absorbed through the skin • Adsorptive (sticks to surfaces)

  10. Concentrations • Gas 0.1 to 1000 ug/m3 • Condensate 0.1 to 2000 ppb • SE Asia 500 ug/m3, 800 ppb condensate • South America 100 ug/m3 wellhead, 40 ug/m3 export; 100 ppb condensate • Algeria, Offshore Holland, Indonesia, China, Argentina, Venezuela

  11. Measuring Mercury in Air

  12. Jerome Mercury Analyzer Mercury in air

  13. Jerome Detector Gold wire detector

  14. Measuring Mercury in Gas Mercury traps

  15. Measuring Mercury in Solids and Liquids Combustion Method

  16. PDO CPP

  17. Why worry? • Mercury and mercury compounds are in natural gas, condensate and crude oil. • You cannot smell, see or taste mercury. • Mercury and its compounds are neurotoxins meaning they are poisonous to the brain.

  18. Risk Analysis Mercury is successfully dealt with in virtually all gas production and processing facilities without risk to workers or negative impact on efficient operations.

  19. How can I be exposed? • Mercury is volatile and you can absorb it through your lungs if it is in the air you breathe. • Some forms in condensate can be absorbed into the body through the skin. • Mercury and its compounds are neurotoxins meaning they are poisonous to the brain.

  20. Where can I be exposed? • Cleaning tanks, vessels and equipment • Hot work on corroded metals • Maintenance, changing filters • Glycol unit

  21. Avoiding Exposure • Follow safety policy and procedures • Ask the Safety Officer • Monitor the worksite • Use Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) • Stay clean (good hygiene) Safety

  22. Avoiding Exposure • Training • Wear PPE when required • Cartridge Respirators (Hg0 < 0.5 mg/m3) • BA (Hg0 > 0.5 mg/m3) • Gloves • Chemical suits in some situations

  23. Avoiding Exposure Chemical Suits • Barricade • 4H • Responder • Tyvek

  24. Worker Hygiene Shutdown Procedures • Wash hands and shower after working • Use disposable clothing or segregate laundry • Do not eat in work area

  25. Respirators NIOSH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MERCURY IN AIR: • UP TO 0.5 mg/m3: Chemical cartridge respirator or SAR. • UP TO 1.25 mg/m3: SAR operated in a continuous-flow mode; or powered air- purifying respirator with cartridge(s) to protect against mercury compounds (canister)*. • UP TO 2.5 mg/m3: Full-facepiece chemical cartridge respirator with cartridge(s) to protect against mercury compounds*; or SAR with a tight-fitting facepiece operated in a continuous-flow mode; or full-facepiece SCBA; or full-facepiece SAR. • UP TO 10 mg/m3: Positive pressure SAR. Abbreviations: SAR = supplied-air respirator; SCBA = self-contained breathing apparatus; IDLH = immediately dangerous to life or health.

  26. Symptoms of Acute Exposure • Shortness of breath • Nausea • Chest pain • Blurred vision

  27. Symptoms of Chronic Exposure • Loss of memory • Depression • Confusion • Personality change • Dementia

  28. Mercury Waste • Used PPE • Sludge • Debris • Sorbents • Filters Solid Waste

  29. Mercury Waste • Glycol • Decon Solutions • Condensate Liquid Waste

  30. Mercury Waste Flow

  31. Mercury Sludge • Mercury is a hazardous waste above 200 ppb.  • Keep mercury wastes separate from other wastes

  32. Disposal of Mercury Waste Storage • Double bag • Add sulfur • Drum • Label

  33. Waste Handling and Storage • Store mercury in metal containers in a secure area. • Exercise caution when decanting liquid mercury.  • Mercury is incompatible with bleach and other oxidizers • Mercury is incompatible with acids

  34. Decontamination

  35. Decontamination • Metals - degrease • Metals - chemical clean • Plastics - throw away

  36. Decontamination Vapor Test Test for contamination

  37. Corrosion

  38. Corrosion

  39. Next Steps • Review safety policy • Review PPE requirements • Know action levels • If you have questions, ask the Safety Officer

  40. Risk Analysis Mercury is successfully dealt with in virtually all gas production and processing facilities without risk to workers or negative impact on efficient operations.

  41. smw@hgtech.com

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