A friend of mine who works in Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has just sent me a photo for a major Sulfur gas leak in an oil drilling rig at Al-Rawdatain oil well (North of Kuwait), I called several of my friends in different areas of Kuwait and they are saying they can smell the gas already because of the wind direction! I’m not sure what was exactly the cause and if there were any casualties/fatalities but I hope not.
My friend says they had to set the gas on fire in an attempt to prevent it from spreading further, I’m afraid there is Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas which is extremely toxic and flammable even at very low concentrations (10PPM), anyone got any idea?
Update: I just received a video, KOC set fire in the leaking oil well to eliminate the gas. Also there are no reported casualties/fatalities so far. KOC chairman has made statement on TV reassuring people that there is no threat and everything is under control and students can go to school tomorrow.
Thanks [Ahmad][Veer]
Really??!I was smelling the Gas since 8:30 pm. Checked the kitchen. Kept nagging around the house about it. Forced my father to go and nock on neighbor door to make sure they don’t have gas leak !! opened the window to let the smell out ! ( little I knew then ).
Sort of feeling relief to know whole Kuwait smells bad !!! I was afraid to sleep and the whole building blows up !
Ps: Im in Salmiya
Yeah Ras Salmiya’s hit. Rotten egg. Just so we know, we need to confirm the gas – Is it really Sulfur?
Sadly yes. The KOC just announced that it was sulfur gas and that it is poisonous :/
It scares the crap out of me when I heard it’s sulfur gas leak
I am really concerned about Kuwait. I am Kuwaiti and I am mad about the situation in Kuwait. Everything seems to get worse and worse by time, and Kuwaitis are just watching!!!!
Speaking about the gas, they never gave any tips on how to avoid the gas at home. The government should announce a holiday for tomorrow at least. I’m scared to even open my door! WTH!!!
Gas has reached Salmiya Block 10. Just hope the concentration does not go above 10ppm above which it is as dangerous a gas as carbon monoxide and cyanide gases.
I am in Hawally and foul smell can be sensed in air.
What to do now?
Don’t they have emergency plan?
This is it guys – Carry batteries
Its all good. If it does get worse, stay indoors and Wet some towels and lay them between the door edges and windows.
Hi Guys,
I m in Abassiya.. Still didnt smell anything.. Hope everything is okay.. and under Control..
Please update if you are getting any news or precautions that we have to take
We’re in Fintas and it’s awful. Too strong to stand outside.
In Salwa blk 10 very strong smell….
Hey Abid Malik…How’re they hangin?
Omg I’m here toooo! It does smell bad:(
I Heard in abbassiya.. a strong smell came by round 7.30 pm..
But now it seems its okay..
I to smelled but since it is abbasiya i dint take it serious till i got the message from my friend
Am in kaitan and felt the smell at 7:30still feeling bad taste in throat more worried about kids can it be save to sleep coz feel dizi n sleepy ????
Am in kaitan and felt the smell at 7:30still feeling bad taste in throat more worried about kids can it be save to sleep coz feel dizi n sleepy ????
The smell you are now getting is due to the leaked Sulfur that was transported because of the wind direction, the sulfur does smell very bad but it’s not poisonous. There are no reported casualties/fatalities so far. KOC chairman has made statement on KTV1 reassuring people that there is no threat and everything is under control now and students can go to school tomorrow.
Bless your kid.
I would like to take this oppurtunity to say THIS BLOG IS AWESOME!
Thanks Tuan, appreciate it.
I agree, this was the only site with any kind of info at a dire situation like this. Even thought it may have not been too serious, this is the blog to be !… Awesome stuff ! And a big thank you!
Thanks Thomas
The Ministry of Education has announced and decided that schools, university and work will continue normally tomorrow.
They keep schools open during emergencies and beg for unnecessary holidays!
Please let us know what precautions to take now…
Whats even weird is in the basement of my house the smell is not concentrated however its opposed at the top
==> http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/workshops/04jun-wots/kaluschue.pdf
Many thanks for sharing this important information about H2S gas, please all read.
Thanks Hakim
i had gt smell at 10pm.im scared nw.i hbe gt small kid.plz let us knw wat to do?
Dear Mathew, the smell you are now getting is due to the leaked Sulfur that was transported because of the wind direction, the sulfur does smell very bad but it’s not poisonous. My biggest concern was the H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) gas which is extremely toxic, read about it here:
http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/workshops/04jun-wots/kaluschue.pdf
http://www.arab-oil-naturalgas.com/articles/safety/articleS_16.htm
http://www.ladieswhodolunchinkuwait.com/2012/10/sami-rushaid-chairman-of-koc-makes.html?m=1
Its safe ALHAMDULILLAH
Thanks for the reassuring news Tuan.
am in kuwait city when i reached the office feel the smell , after we close the ac and closed all windows seems to be better. i think still the gas spreading in city area.
I apologize for the smell, i had the beans for lunch today.
@Aisha….tore me up..I can’t stop laughing…can’t must stop
I really don’t care about myself but i’m afraid that it is really seious so would affect my kid and others kids . Hope they will be able to manage it fast .
Any know what is the situation now?
KOC has set fire in the leaking oil well to eliminate the leaked gas. Also there are no reported casualties/fatalities so far. KOC chairman has made statement on KTV1 reassuring people that there is no threat and everything is under control now and students can go to school tomorrow.
Bless your kid.
2012, the world is going to end the signs are clear, lol just kicks
but seriously if it was harmful we all be sick immediately or die , but all seem to be fine, so move on keep living, and buy things that you need than want peace
@aish r u kidding? it doesnt make laugh. humor work depend on the situation.its not the right time to open your foolishness.
Menopause Tippu?
Thank you @ThomasGeoerge it was my pleasure haha
As for @Tipsy,
Let me share a quote with you;
“Laugh, not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come…”
I was simply trying to put a smile on people’s faces because that is all we need to calm us down in situations of grief. (:
Have yourself a good day, lady.
Is it safe to sleep ??? What is emergencey numbers
Tabi meet Tippu…Tippu meet Tabi
During drilling the hydrogen sulphide gas leak started, it a toxic gas, deadly gas.. It passed to the kuwait city till 80 kms inside. Ministry decided to fire the gas and then to stop. Good and safe decision.
Thanks for the clarification
Strange it is 2am. Yet smell to high wonder now what is extra measures we must take should have been given by MOH in co-ordination with KOC
Guys pls update me on joharmandav@gmail.com
If any of you feel any itching or difficulty in breathing or dizziness …… Consult doctors………wash yourselves immediately…ie. take a shower……..if eyes feel itchy….wash them with water for about 2-5 minutes repeatedly……..as reported,the levels are not toxic but minor effects may be felt……if you r very sensitive or nearer Rawdhatain,and feel the effects to a greater degree do call the doctor……….the gas does not accumulate in the body…….so chances are that if u feel ok until now…….there is nothing to worry…..take care.
Thanks
I work in Saudi Aramco company and we faced few incidents like this. H2S gas smell like rotten eggs but it will damage the smell sense even in low concentrates, unvisible, and heavier than air and its FATAL. hope everyone safe life.
Most times I get out my house in Salmiya, I get the H2S smell from the poor drainage. So even if there would have been some traces of H2S from the Oil well site, I would not have noticed. Thanks to the KOC staff and management to keep the leak under control
Why was there no advisory for those facing breathing problems? Not many expats watch Kuwait local TV.
Why were the mosques loudspeakers silent? Definitely the govt. could have utilized this means to advise the residents, since there are mosques all over Kuwait. After all such places can be used for the benefit of all residents, irrespective of religion. The govt. ought to devise a plan to utilize the mosques setup to inform residents of any important news. The imams can just read out from the official communication of the govt or can replay that govt. communication.
I believe u r a non muslim and just trying to find out a way to blame our religion and imams. They cud make announcements in several other ways but why are u pointing out at our religious things.
Are you frikking kidding me Tuan?? You’re bringing religion into this? Seriously? “THAT” is what you picked up from that comment – “Don’t blame our Imams”?? Its people like you who give religion a bad name. Seriously dude…”GROW UP!”
Tuan. Erm. WHAT???????????
The reason Rajesh suggested the mosques is because EVERYONE can hear them – irrespective of whether they have a tv on, radio on or are just sat reading. It is the PERFECT public address system in this country, where an announcement can be heard by ALL. It is neither an insult nor an attack on Islam. It is merely COMMON SENSE – something that is sadly lacking by many in this country.
Do not be so quick to judge, when others intents are innocent of malice.
Rajesh was asking “Why were the mosques loudspeakers silent?”
Was this the only question he could ask? i am sure no….
Then he says irrespective of religion, now from where the hell did religion come in between??? @thmas: who brought religion in to this at the first place????
Tuan – CHILL OUT. You have misunderstood anothers intent. Why are the mosques speakers silent when they could be put to better use in keeping citizens informed of potential hazards? It is a sensible question. What other buildings have speakers??? Remember, not everyone speaks English well and so calm and tolerance must be employed.
‘irrespective of religion’ refers to the fact that the speakers could be used to communicate with anyone of any background – not just Muslims. Again, a perfect communication tool for the government to use as a Public Address system.
If someone wanted to insult Islam, there are far worse things that can be said than ‘why weren’t the speakers used’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Far worse things would have been told had this not been a Muslim Country,
@Sam: Do you have any idea about the sirens in kuwait which are in case of emergency? if u dont, then go get some information….
Yeah Tuan, Lets keep blogs, race and religion free! I guess Rajesh is pretty frustrated, and he feels that the loudspeakers in Mosques could be used to alert people of any local imminent danger.
Let’s keep the public media clean – this is exactly what the authorities want us to do – fight among ourselves over irrelevant issues and forget the main problem lurking around; Which is the fact that Kuwait does not have a warning system that should have alerted at least a strategic 10% of the population about dangerous situations. 10% of a local population is all you need to spread important information.
Our famous sirens with three signal types are aligned to notify third party attacks / strikes..etc. Lets create a fourth signal for local emergencies, maybe a website that the whole of Kuwait can go to during a situation.
I vote for bananaq8.com, being in the blogosphere for a while now, to take over this task and create a new site affiliated to the original for notifications.
Lets do this!!!
Boo yeah!
Kept thinking ab8 the sirens behind my house, are those only useful during invasion??? sounds a funny thought though
A relly bad smell in Salmiya…. in the mornin….. Arab Times said that 4 were in the hospital due 2 dis!!!
Sorry to hear the news of oil rig that is leaking H2S gas. I would like to bring your attention that the lower explosive limit for H2S which is the minimum concentration of gas when it mix with air a fire or explosion occures is 43,000 ppm not 10 ppm. the concentration of 10 ppm is the maximum allowable concentration to work for 8 hours without wearing breathing apparatus. I wish safety and healthy environment to kuwait.
Thanks.
Thanks for the information & rectification.
will it effect in U.A.E also?
No the gas won’t reach UAE.
Although Tazmania gave links for reading about H2S which is a good way of educating the public.I will give you some info on the H2S gas. The gas is heavier than air which if released will collect in low level grounds, trenches, excavations, sewer holes, etc… the gas is colorless and has rotten egg smell in low concentration, if you suspect or know there is a gas in the area dont rely on your sense of smell always use gas test equipment to know its existence and concentration. I think 1000 ppm is high concentration and it required seconds to cause someone to fell unconcious. H2S exist in sewers and in industrial areas some plants use fixed gas test equipment that will give alarm whenever the gas goes beyond 10 ppm. its not only fammable but highly explosive when it reaches 32000 ppm. Don’t try to enter an area with H2S gas to rescue someone without breathing apparatus (oxygen cylinder). wishing every one safety.
Sorry correction for my previous reply H2S is flammable and highly explosive when it reaches 43,000 ppm (parts per million).