Atmospheric air monitoring in the villages adjacent to the Karachaganak field ^{GRI 413-1}

There are stationary air monitoring posts in six settlements located around the field: Zharsuat, Zhanatalap, Dimitrovo, Karachaganak, Priuralnoye, Uspenovka, and in the Aksai city. At these posts, the certified сontractor laboratory makes sampling four times a day at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours according to the State Standard. Air sampling is carried out by the permanent personnel of the contracted laboratory, who reside in the villages. Approximately 52 thousand of air samples were taken and analyzed at the stationary stations in 2023.

Air samples are taken to the laboratory in the town of Aksai where the samples are chemically tested for the content of the five main components in accordance with the State Standard and Ruling Documents: hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and methylmercaptan (СH₃SH). In addition, once in 10 days the air is monitored for concentration of volatile organic components: benzene (C₆H₆), toluene (C₇H₈), xylene (C₈H₁₀).

Monthly results of air monitoring are published in local printed media and distributed to the villages for posting on the information boards. If any complaint from the communities about gas odour is raised, an unscheduled air sampling is performed at stationary posts.

In 2023 no MPC exceedances was recorded for the daily average concentrations of the monitored air components in the villages.

In 2023, 19 complaints with respect to gas odour were raised by the village communities adjacent to the Karachaganak Field. Unscheduled air sampling was carried out in the villages with results of the analyses showing that contents of the monitored components did not exceed the MPCs one-time. Each complaint from an initiator with respect to gas odour has been addressed.

Annual average concentrations of the monitored air components in the seven villages in 2023 are shown in table below. The column ‘Actual annual average concentration’ shows the minimum and maximum values of average concentrations of the controlled air components. Criterion for assessing air quality in settlements is MPC daily average.

Annual average concentrations of monitored air components in the villages adjacent to KOGCF in 2023 ^{GRI 413-1}

 

1MPC daily average — maximum permissible daily average concentration of chemical substance [in mg/m³] in the ambient air of settlements. This concentration shall not have direct or indirect adverse effect on human body in case of inhalation during indefinitely long-term period (years).

 

2Measurements recorded were below the method’s minimal detection limit (MDL). MDLs for the monitored components: С₇Н₈ — 0.14 mg/m³; С₈Н₁₀ — 0.14 mg/m³.

 

3MPC one-time. MPC daily average for hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan is not established, therefore, MPC one-time is referred to for comparison purpose; MPC one-time is also applied in order to assess the content of benzene, toluene and xylene in the air as the frequency of components’ sample collection and analysis is once in ten days.