Real-Life Math -- Solution
The hydrogen sulphide levels are at 23 percent and 1 percent equals
8,993 parts per million.
To find out what the hydrogen sulphide levels
are at the well, multiply 23 by 8,993.
23 x 8,993 = 206,839
The
hydrogen sulphide level at the well is 206,839 parts per million.
If
a lethal level is 500 parts per million, this well is definitely leaking lethal
amounts of hydrogen sulphide.
Bill Mahler is an oil well fire specialist.
And he says you must be comfortable with formulas and figures if you want
to go into this field.
"There is a lot of engineering that
is done before we even start to work on a well," he says. He says oil well
fire specialists have to use math all the time, from calculating well pressures
to how much mud they would need to quell a fire. "Math is a major, major part
in our firefighting efforts," he says.