Impacts on Ambient Air Quality Due to Flaring Activities in One of Oman's Oilfields

ABSTRACT

This work was conducted to assess the impacts on workplace and ambient air quality due to release of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) into the atmosphere at Al-Noor production station, located in southern desert of Sultanate of Oman. The SO₂ is released because of oxidation of H₂S to SO₂ on flaring of H₂S rich off gas at the Al-Noor. In the first phase of the study, CALPUFF modeling system was used to predict the ground level concentrations of SO₂ emissions from the flare stacks. The evaluation of the modeling system was carried out by comparing the predicted results with that of the measured. In the second stage of the study, the estimated results were compared with the air quality standards/guidelines set by Omani regulatory authorities as well as by World Health Organization (WHO). It was concluded on the basis of current study that the sensitive individuals in the workplace of the Al-Noor could experience adverse health effects due to short-term exposure of SO₂.

KEYWORDS:

• air quality modeling
• CALPUFF
• MM5
• oilfields
• Oman
• sulfur dioxide