Hydrogen sulfide is released into the atmosphere during oil recovery o
perations. However, little is quantitatively known concerning the tota
l sulfur flux due to these fugitive emissions. A mobile laboratory, eq
uipped to measure atmospheric gases and meteorological parameters, was
used to collect quantitative data in the vicinity of various oil fiel
d operations. Fugitive emissions of HES and soil sulfate levels were s
tudied. Concentrations of atmospheric sulfur gases (SO2, H2S, mercapta
ns) were measured in the oil-producing regions of several west Texas c
ounties. Hydrogen sulfide was by far the dominant reduced sulfur gas i
n all locations. Except in the vicinity of refining/processing plants,
mercaptan levels were below 200 pptv. Sulfur dioxide levels were also
very low, typically below 200 pptv. In all locations, a strong diurna
l pattern of the ambient H2S concentration was observed. Specific sour
ces, the flux, and the fate of the H2S emitted in oil field operations
was studied. Crude oil storage tanks were found to be the major sourc
es of sulfur gas emissions. Soil sulfate levels downwind from oil stor
age tanks were 20-200 times higher than that in control regions of sim
ilar geology where no oil is produced. Even within an oil-producing ar
ea, soil sulfate levels immediately downwind from storage tank vents e
xceeded the corresponding levels of sulfate in soil located upwind by
a factor of greater than or equal to 100.