Characteristics of Oil Field Emissions in the Vicinity of Tulsa,Oklahoma

In 1988 a study was undertaken in the vicinity of Tulsa, Oklahoma to determine the characteristics, composition, and relative concentrations of the oil field emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Forty grab samples (10-minute) using stainless steel canisters were collected from five different stages of crude oil production over an 80-day period (August-October). The samples were analyzed at the Tulsa City-County Health Department’s laboratory, using cryogenic preconcentration, gas chromatographic separation, and flame ionization detection. The six prevalent components of the oil field emissions were ethane, propane, 2- methyl propane, n-butane, 2-methylbutane, and n-pentane with propane predominating. The composition is unique with higher amounts of propane than ethane and is different from natural gas which has more abundant ethane. Decreases occurred in the amounts of light compounds, namely, ethane and propane from well heads through refinery tanks. The bulk of these losses appeared to be at the well heads and gathering tanks.