Paper: Design Requirements for Production Equipment For Hydrogen Sulfide Service

In order to meet the codes and standards regarding equipment to be used in hydrogen sulfide service, there are several basic design criteria which must be met. The regulations specifically referred to in this technical paper are the Statewide Rule 36(l) as established by the Texas Railroad Commission, and Standard MR-Ol-75(2), as established by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). Other states are now establishing similar rules to Texas Rule 36 for the protection of the general public from the harmful effects of hydrogen sulfide when associated with the producing of oil and gas. The design criteria covered in this paper are those which meet the minimum requirements of Texas Rule 36 and/or NACE MR-01-75. Additional design criteria should be added to these minimum standards if the producer or operator of the lease determines that the concentration of the hydrogen sulfide is high enough to warrant increasing design requirements. As stated in NACE MR-01-75, "It is the responsibility of the user to determine the expected operation conditions and to specify when this standard applies." It is the opinion of the author that the user then has the responsibility to determine the occurrence of H2S and its concentration. He then should inform the manufacturers and/or suppliers of equipment so that they may adequately design equipment with the proper safeguards to handle the oil and/or gas containing H2S. The user also has the responsibility to provide proper training for operating personnel in using the equipment. The user is expected to provide warning signs and security to protect the general public from danger when handling oil and/or gas which contain H2S.