Installation And Maintenance Of The Kern River Air Monitoring System
Authors: Hanscom Paul 
Published: December 2007

Getty Oil Co. has been monitoring ambient air quality in the Kern River field since early 1971. This initially was accomplished with one trailer, outfitted with various air-monitoring instruments, which was operated at several locations. Late in 1975, it became apparent that a network of sulfur-dioxide ambient air-monitoring equipment and additional meteorological equipment would be required to gather data in order to validate computer modeling necessary for EPA approval of steam generator permits. Getty Oil Co. expanded the Kern River Air permits. Getty Oil Co. expanded the Kern River Air Monitoring (KRAM) system during 1976 and 1977 by installing six additional sulfur-dioxide analyzers, new meteorological equipment, telemetry, data logging equipment, and by relocating meteorological equipment.

The installation of our ambient air-monitoring system has been a new and expensive venture for Getty Oil Co. Much of the telemetry and data logging equipment is similar to existing oilfield installations; however, the monitoring equipment requires personnel with special training, special equipment, and expertise in order to assure accurate data. This presentation discusses the cost, procedures, and problems related to the installation procedures, and problems related to the installation and operation of the KRAM system.

Introduction

Early in 1971, Getty Oil Co. initiated ambient air monitoring in the vicinity of the Kern River field near Bakersfield, Calif. The purpose of the monitoring was to gather historical data for air quality studies. Late in 1975, it became apparent that a more sophisticated network of ambient air-monitoring equipment would be required to validate computer ambient air models necessary for EPA approval of steam generator permits. During 1976 and 1977, Getty Oil Co. installed the Kern River Air Monitoring (KRAM) system, which included a SO2 monitoring network, as required in our steam generator permit conditions, additional meteorological monitoring equipment, telemetry, and data logging equipment.

Getty Oil Co. has made a concentrated effort to obtain accurate and continuous air-monitoring data. The success of this effort is substantiated by independent audits and by very low system down-time. Many of the procedures required to obtain this accurate and continuous data are discussed throughout this paper.

The pollutant monitored at most locations is sulfur dioxide; therefore, this paper will discuss the entire KRAM system, but will deal with sulfur-dioxide monitoring in more detail.

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

A total of seven sulfur-dioxide monitoring stations was necessary in order to meet Getty Oil Co.'s modeling requirements and EPA steam generator permit requirements. These sulfur-dioxide monitors permit requirements. These sulfur-dioxide monitors are located on the edge of the Kern River oil field bordering the residential areas and within the residential areas. Fig. 1 indicates the location the monitors. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon monitors are located at the Kern County Communications Center. Meterological equipment is located at the Kern County Communications Center and the Section 25 TV tower. The exact description of all the monitoring equipment is included in Table 1.

Fig. II outlines the two telemetry systems utilized in the KRAM system. The one shown with dashed lines and designated as R.F.L. (Radio Frequency Labs) transmits sulfur-dioxide data to our Oil Center office via telephone lines for recording on strip chart recorders. This serves as a backup to the remote site recorders and also allows problems to be noted from the central location so that repairmen can be dispatched immediately rather than waiting until routine checks are made at each location. This procedure significantly reduced down-time. procedure significantly reduced down-time. The second telemetry system is utilized for our data logging system, which is indicated by solid lines on Fig. II designated as M.L. (Monitor Labs) transmitters and receivers.