How and were is mercaptan added to older shallow gas wells?

Hello operators,

Can anyone in the gas industry tell me how and were mercaptan is added to older (early 1900's) shallow gas well?  Is there a device on the gas well itself that has the mercaptan in it?  What does this look like?

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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 10, 2012 at 8:35am

Mercaptan to my knowledge is not used in the application of wells to my knowledge. I do know that mercaptan is some bad stuff wow is a understatement. Mercaptan is used in propane to give it the odor as a safety measure. It has been a while since I hauled propane but if I recall correctly 1 pint of mercaptan in 10,000 gallon of propane was enough to give it the telltale odor. 

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 10, 2012 at 8:40am

Mercaptan can be found naturally in the product of a oil well.  A bit better idea of it here http://www.columbiagasohio.com/en/doing-more-for-you/safety/what-to...

Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on July 10, 2012 at 9:13am

Natural Gas it comes out of a well is typically colorless and odorless.

Utilities add Mercaptan (a harmless, non-toxic chemical that stinks like rotten eggs). It is added to impart an odor to Natural Gas so that the consumer can readily detect a gas leak or an unlit stove or water heater – thus avoiding a hazardous situation.

 

It only takes a few parts per million of mercaptan to give utility provided natural gas its distinct smell.

 

Raw gas coming out of a producing well does not usually have an odor.

Mercaptans are not usually added until a utility processes the gas for shipping to the ultimate customer, via pipeline.

 

When landowners receive “free gas” from a well on their property, it will usually be odorless – a safety hazard that such landowners should be aware of – a situation that should result in their taking special care.

Cheap gas detectors (similar to smoke detectors) are available and highly advisable.

 

All IMHO,

                       JS

Permalink Reply by Brian Powers on July 14, 2012 at 12:42am

Gunner-

The link below contains a discription of a mercaptan add device: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=...

When I worked in SW Kansas in the 1980's, our shallow gas leases were written to allow the mineral owners "reasonable amounts" of free domestic gas for home use. This often and illegally  expanded to heat barns, chicken coops, etc, and we once discovered and dismantled an illegal distribution system for a small mobile home park. Once this was done, a marginal lease became economic again. We required the leasee to install their own Mercaptan and dehydration systems; and I vividly remember having a fire on one of the well systems caused by a skillet of burning diesel to thaw a freeze . This cost $10,000 to extinguish. The wells I am describing were drilled between the early 1940's to the 1960's, so they were not as old as the wells that you are describing.

 

Brian

Permalink Reply by Gunner Ostergard on July 16, 2012 at 2:00am

Thank you Brian,  this link and picture are very helpful.

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