Experimental Study of Ambient Air Quality Assessment During Oil Well Drilling

Air pollution both indoor and outdoor is a global concern. This study aims at determining the effect of the oil field drilling process on ambient air quality. The World Health Organization (WHO) main eight elements have been monitored from the beginning to end of the process. The elements include ozone (O-3), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Total Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particular MattersPM(10) and PM2.5. The sampling diffusion tubes and devices were deployed from the four corners of the drilling site perimeter. The diffusion tubes of O-3, SO2, H2S, NO2, and NOX, were analyzed at Gradko International laboratory. Moreover, the CO and PM10, and PM2.5 were measured using an AeroQual 500 series handheld meter. The result was compared to WHO2000/2006 air quality guidelines and computed to the United States Air Quality Index (US AQI). The samples of CO, NO2, NOx, or H2S do not have any exceedance over the WHO limits. But O-3, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 have exceeded the WHO limits in different locations and periods. O-3 reached its highest concentration in March at Southwest corner 109.45 mu g/m(3) and at Northeast corner 104.88 mu g/m(3). PM10 and PM2.5 in the Northeast corner reached their highest in March 263 mu g/m(3) and 36 mu g/m(3), respectively. In addition, SO2 reached its highest of 61 mu g/m(3) in the Northwest corner. Computing the exceedance values into US AQI reveals that PM10 and O-3 pollutants have negative effects on human health in the study area.