Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq Desk Study on the ... - UNEP

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Of
these, the first two are lethal, capable of
causing immediate death upon exposure,
even for a short duration. However, this
would happen only within the immediate
vicinity of the fire. The other pollutants have
more chronic effects and some (PAHs, carbon
soot) are carcinogenic.
Other than potential impacts on human and
animal health, the contaminants from oil fires
may also damage vegetation (including crops),
landscapes, and human artefacts (including
buildings and archaeological sites).
Fighting well fires in the Rumaila oil field, 27 and
28 March 2003
US CENTCOM
A normal oil-well fire will generally have
only a limited footprint, though damage
within this area may be very severe. However,
many Iraqi oil fields are high producers
(>5,000 bpd) by industry standards and
liable to generate very substantial quantities
of pollutants with plumes potentially
extending hundreds of kilometres and perhaps
into neighbouring countries, depending
on wind direction. Multiple large well
fires, as occurred in Kuwait in 1991, may
result in large-scale regional impacts, reduced
penetration of sunlight, accumulated
tar on ground surface, exposure of the general
populace to pollutants, and widespread
damage to vegetation.
US CENTCOM
Assuming that a typical well produces 5,000 bpd, and that there may be up to ten fires burning
simultaneously, the level of fuel load could have been around 50,000 bpd. This equates to
the pollution from 8 million diesel cars burning fuel at 99% efficiency.
• Environmental impacts of unburned oil from wells and trenches
The impacts of unburnt crude oil spilled onto the ground will depend on the type of crude
(light/heavy), the presence of hydrogen sulphide, microclimatic conditions (temperature and
wind direction) and the permeability of the ground. In the case of light crude oil (or its
products), an explosive mixture of volatile hydrocarbons is soon formed in the area, putting
people and the environment at risk. Hydrogen sulphide has the potential to cause instant
death at concentrations above 500 ppm and high concentrations are known to occur at many
oil and gas wells in the region.
The broad categories of contaminants from unburnt oil leaks/pools are as follows:
– volatile hydrocarbons, including aromatics (BTEX)
– hydrogen sulphide
– highly saline water
– naturally occurring radioactivity.
Since the aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene etc), which are known carcinogens, are the most
volatile of hydrocarbons, exposure even at low levels can be very harmful. Exposure can occur
some kilometres from the point of the leak/pool depending on the prevailing wind conditions.
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