SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS

File: 970313_jun96_decls1_0031.txt
Page: 0031
Total Pages: 35

Subject: SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS                           

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box  ID: BX000249

Folder Title: ENGR PLAN INTEL                                                                                 

Document Number:          9

Folder Seq  #:         84





                                               UNCLASSIFIED




                                                                               AST-266OZ-148-90
                                                                                 9 January 1991

                                                 SECTION V


                                      M ROGEN SULFIDE GAS (U)




           1. Hydroizen Sulfide Gas Danger (U)

                         Hydrogen sulfide gas is an extremely toxic and fla@- able gas, which
           presents a serious danger to troops entering the southern KTO.           This gas is
           associated with the sour crude oil and is normally removed by flaring at
           gathering stations located throughout the Kuwaiti oil fields.          It should be
           noted that the status of flare towers and pits at these oil-gathering centers
           is an indicator of Iraqi intent and imminent danger.         If the flare pits and
           towers are not flaming and are out, it indicates either:

                       9   No crude oil is being recovered and the wellheads
                           are shut down.
                                              OR

                           The crude oil being recovered and transported through
                           the local pipelines is sour and has possibly lethal
                           concentrations of associated hydrogen sulfide gas and
                           condensates in it. Such a crude oil is dangerous and
                           could be used as a weapon against advancing troops.

           Hydrogen sulfide gas could kill unprotected troops, and the flammable gas cloud
           is an immediate FAE hazard. General properties and dangers of hydrogen sulfide
           gas are  as follows:

                    Gas: Highly flammable, colorless, tasteless, toxic, strong
                           offensive odor, generally heavier than air.
 1.189 g/cm3
                    Auto ignition point    .............  SOOOF
                    FIA--ability   ....................   Similar to gasoline vapors
                    Smell (rotten eggs, discernible).     At 10 ppm
                    Set off alarms   ..................   About 20 ppm
                    Nerve, eye, throat,
                    lung, respiratory damage    ........  20 to 150 ppm
                    Headaches, sickness,
                    vomiting, diarrhea    ..............  80 to 400 ppm
                    Fatal within 30 minutes   .........   400 to 600 ppm
                    Instantly fatal   .................   Above 600 ppm


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                                              UNCLASSIFIED

Document 35 f:/Week-24/BX000249/ENGR PLAN INTEL/serious oilfire gas and smoke dangers:0128971851472
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-24
Box ID = BX000249
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = ENGR PLAN INTEL
Folder Seq # = 84
Subject = SERIOUS OILFIRE GAS AND SMOKE DANGERS
Document Seq # = 9
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 13-FEB-1997