1. (a)

   1. (1) Each operator who conducts operations in known areas of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) with minimum concentrations of fifteen parts per million (15 ppm) under atmospheric conditions or one hundred parts per million (100 ppm) or more in the gas stream shall provide safeguards to protect the general public from the harmful effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
   2. (2) The Director of Production and Conservation shall determine the areas covered by this section.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Operations shall include drilling, completion, workover, producing, gathering, and storage of:

      1. (A) Hydrocarbon fluids;
      2. (B) Natural gas; and
      3. (C) Fluids produced in association with bromine extraction.
   2. (2) These operations fall under these guidelines only if they contain gas in the system which has hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a constituent of the gas.

3. (c) Definitions. As used in this section:

   1. (1) “Area of exposure” means the area within a circle constructed with the point of escape as its center and the radius of exposure as its radius;
   2. (2) “Contingency plan” means a written document that shall provide an organized plan of action for alerting and protecting the public within an area of exposure following the accidental release of a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide;
   3. (3) “Public area” means a dwelling, place of business, church, school, hospital, school bus stop, governmental building, a public road, all or any portion of a park, town, city, village, or other similar area that can be populated at any given time;
   4. (4) “Public road” means any federal, state, county, or municipal street or road owned or maintained for public access or use; and
   5. (5) “Radius of exposure” means that radius constructed with the point of escape as its starting point and its length calculated as provided for in subdivision (d)(4) of this section.

4. (d) General provisions.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Each operator shall determine the hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentration in the gaseous mixture in an operation or system.
      2. (B) Test of vapor accumulation in storage tanks may be made with industry accepted colorimetric tubes.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Each operator shall immediately notify the Oil and Gas Commission of any accidental release of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas which measures fifteen parts per million (15 ppm) or greater from any point on a radius which exceeds one hundred feet (100’) from the point of release, or includes any portion of a public area.
      2. (B) Such notification shall be followed by a written report which shall be sent to the commission within ten (10) days of the incident.
   3. (3) Each operator shall notify the commission before conducting any well servicing activity on any well operated under the provisions of this section.

   4. (4)

      1. (A) For all operations subject to a radius of exposure (ROE), that radius shall be determined by the following Pasquill-Gifford Equations: 1. ROE = 100 ppm X = [(1.589)(mole fraction of H₂S)(Q)]^.6258 2. ROE = 500 ppm X = [(0.4546)(mole fraction of H₂S)(Q)]^.6258 Where X = radius of exposure in feet H₂S = mole fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the gaseous mixture established by an industry accepted method. Q =maximum volume of escapable gas in cubic feet per day.
      2. (B) For drilling of a well where insufficient data exist to calculate an ROE, but where hydrogen sulfide may be expected, then a radius of exposure shall be three thousand feet (3,000’).
      3. (C) A lesser-assumed radius may be considered upon written request setting out the justification for same.
   5. (5) Wind indicators shall be installed at strategic locations on or near the drilling, workover, or production facility to indicate the wind direction at all times and the safe upwind areas in the event hydrogen sulfide becomes present.

5. (e) Storage tank provisions. Storage tanks which are utilized as a part of a production operation, and which are operated at or near atmospheric pressure, and where the vapor accumulation has a hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentration in excess of one hundred parts per million (100 ppm), shall be subject to the following:

   1. (1) No determination of a radius of exposure shall be made for storage tanks as herein described;
   2. (2) A warning sign shall be posted on or within fifty feet (50’) of the facility to alert the general public of the potential danger;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) All tank hatches shall be kept closed at all times except for when it is necessary to inspect or gauge such tanks.
      2. (B) All storage tanks that are not fenced as required in subdivision (e)(4) of this section, below, are required to be kept secured by locks on the hatches on all such tanks when not being inspected or gauged;

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Entry should be restricted to essential personnel only.
      2. (B) As a security measure, fencing is required when storage tanks are inside the limits of a city, townsite, or are reasonably exposed to the public.
      3. (C) All means of entry shall be locked when the facility is unattended; and

   5. (5)

      1. (A) All hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) fumes and vapors shall be either recovered by a vapor recovery unit, flared through a flare stack with a permanent pilot attached thereon, or on a case-by-case basis vented by permit only.
      2. (B) Permits to vent will be reviewed with respect to the:

6. (i) Distance to the nearest public receptor;

   1. (ii) Concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas; and

      1. (iii) Volume to be released.

7. (f) Warning and marker provision.

   1. (1) A warning sign shall be maintained on all streets or roads which provide access to the facility.
   2. (2) Marker signs shall be installed along the pipeline when it is located within a public area and at each public road crossing or along a public road, at intervals frequent enough in the judgment of the operator so as to provide warning to avoid the accidental rupturing of line by excavation.
   3. (3) The marker sign shall contain sufficient information to establish the ownership and existence of the line and shall indicate by the use of the words, “Poison Gas”, that a potential danger exists.

   4. (4) In satisfying the sign requirement, the following will be acceptable:

      1. (A) A sign of sufficient size to be readable at a reasonable distance from the facility; and
      2. (B) Existing signs installed prior to the effective date of this section will be acceptable if they indicate the existence of a potential hazard.

8. (g) Control and equipment safety provision.

   1. (1) Operators subject to this provision shall:

      1. (A) Install safety devices and maintain them in an operable condition; and
      2. (B) Establish safety procedures designed to prevent the undetected continuing escape of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
   2. (2) Safety devices should be tested annually and a record of each test maintained.

9. (h) Drilling and workover provisions.

   1. (1) A certificate of compliance form (HS-1) must be filed with each intent to drill a well in an area and to a depth known to or that may contain hydrogen sulfide gas.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Drilling operations are required to be in compliance with the provisions of the section when the drilled depth is within one thousand feet (1,000’) of a zone known to or that may contain hydrogen sulfide.
      2. (B) A variance from the compliance depth may be approved upon written request setting out justification, however, the compliance depth will not be less than five hundred feet (500’).
   3. (3) Protective breathing equipment shall be maintained for all personnel at the site.
   4. (4) As a minimum, hydrogen sulfide sensors for drilling or workover rigs shall be located at the rig floor, bell nipple, shale shaker, and mud pits unless otherwise approved by the director.

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Blowout preventers and well control systems shall be pressure tested initially either to a minimum of three thousand pounds per square inch gauge (3,000 psig) or to seventy-five percent (75%) of the internal yield (burst) pressure taken from the API casing properties table for the size and grade of casing being used, whichever is less.
      2. (B) Thereafter, all well control systems shall be tested prior to reaching compliance depth.
      3. (C) The commission shall be notified at least four (4) hours prior to the initial Blowout Preventer and Well Control System Test.
      4. (D) The commission shall have the authority to vary test procedures as is deemed necessary.
   6. (6) Secondary remote control of blowout prevention and choke equipment shall be located away from the rig floor at a safe distance from the wellhead.

   7. (7) The operator shall:

      1. (A) Install a choke manifold, mud-gas separator, and flare line; and
      2. (B) Provide a suitable method for lighting the flare.

   8. (8) Drill stem testing.

      1. (A) Drill stem testing of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) zones is permitted only in daylight hours.

      2. (B)

         1. (i) The commission shall be notified a minimum of twelve (12) hours in advance of the intention to conduct a drill stem test of a formation containing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
         2. (ii) In the event that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is anticipated during the drill stem test, all testing and safety equipment shall be on location for use as deemed necessary by the commission.
      3. (C) All gas produced from the test shall be flared through a flare system with a pilot and an automatic igniter.

      4. (D)

         1. (i) Every precaution should be made not to affect the public during the well test.
         2. (ii) In the event that residents are within the radius of exposure or may be affected by a drill stem test, the operator should contact those residents and inform them of the pending action.
         3. (iii) Special consideration should be given to residents with children and/or medical ailments.
   9. (9) A supervisory employee or safety company representative that is specifically trained in the operation, maintenance, and testing of all safety equipment and is knowledgeable of the contingency plan and safety procedures must be on site from the compliance depth through the cementing of the long string (production) casing and during the time in which the actual completion work is being performed on the well.

   10. (10) API publication RP-49 and RP-68 is referenced as a suggested guideline for drilling and workover of wells subject to the provision.

       1. (i) Contingency plan provision.
   11. (1) All operators whose operations are subject to this provision shall develop a written contingency plan complete with all requirements before hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) operations are begun.
   12. (2) The purpose of the contingency plan shall be to provide an organized plan of action for alerting and protecting the public following the accidental release of a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
   13. (3) The contingency plan shall be activated immediately upon the detection of an accidental release of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) which exceeds fifteen parts per million (15 ppm) or greater from any point on a radius which exceeds one hundred feet (100’) from the point of release, or includes any portion of a public area.
   14. (4) Conditions that might exist in each area of exposure shall be considered when preparing a contingency plan.
   15. (5) The plan shall include instructions and procedures for alerting the general public and public safety personnel of the existence of an emergency.
   16. (6) The plan shall include a procedure for requesting assistance and for follow-up action to evacuate the public from an area of exposure.

   17. (7) The plan shall include a call list which will include the following as they may be applicable:

       1. (A) Local supervisory personnel;
       2. (B) The commission;
       3. (C) County sheriff;
       4. (D) Division of Arkansas State Police;
       5. (E) Ambulance service;
       6. (F) Hospital;
       7. (G) Fire department;
       8. (H) Contractors for supplemental equipment;
       9. (I) Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Public Safety; and
       10. (J) Other public agencies as needed.

   18. (8)

       1. (A) The plan shall include a plat detailing the area of exposure.
       2. (B) The plat shall include the locations of private dwellings, residential areas, public facilities such as schools, business locations, public roads, or other similar areas where the public might reasonably be expected within the area of exposure.
       3. (C) A separate list of all phone numbers should be attached to the plat.
   19. (9) A schematic of the facility indicating all equipment on location should be included.
   20. (10) The commission shall be notified immediately if the contingency plan is activated.

   21. (11) The retention of the contingency plan shall be as follows:

       1. (A) The plan shall be available for commission inspection at the well location; and
       2. (B) The plan shall be retained at the location which lends itself best to activation of the plan.

   22. (12)

       1. (A) The plan shall be kept updated to ensure its current applicability.
       2. (B) Each plan must be reviewed and updated annually and a copy of the updated plan submitted to the commission in January of each calendar year.

10. (j) Training provision.

    1. (1) Each operator and contractor shall provide appropriate hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) training for its employees who will be on site.
    2. (2) All personnel must have in their possession current proof of annual training.

    3. (3) This training should include the following:

       1. (A) Hazards and characteristics of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S);
       2. (B) Operations of safety equipment and life support systems;
       3. (C) First aid in the event of an employee exposure;
       4. (D) Use and operation of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) monitoring equipment; and
       5. (E) Emergency response procedures to include corrective actions, shutdown procedures, evacuation routes, and rescue methods.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "(Source: 1992 rule book)"