Oilfield & Upstream Industrial Hygiene Testing
Worker exposure monitoring for upstream oil & gas — drilling, hydraulic fracturing, completions and production. Frac-sand silica, H₂S and benzene analyzed in-house at our Houston lab, with 1-day rush and kits shipped straight to the field.
Why Upstream Operators & Service Companies Use AGT
Accredited & Defensible
AIHA-LAP analysis that holds up with OSHA, legal counsel and insurers — field-read tubes and consumer kits do not.
Frac-Sand Silica Ready
Respirable crystalline silica by XRD for the OSHA silica standard — the defining completions-era exposure.
Kits to the Field
Pre-labeled media and calibrated loaner pumps ship to remote leases so crews sample on schedule.
1-Day Rush
Same-day log-in before 2 PM CST and rush to 1 business day keeps crews and rigs moving.
Oilfield Exposure Monitoring Across the Upstream Life Cycle
From the drill floor to the frac spread to production and well servicing, upstream oil & gas carries a distinct oilfield exposure profile: respirable crystalline silica from frac sand, hydrogen sulfide from sour gas, and benzene from crude and produced water. AGT Labs is the accredited industrial hygiene lab behind that data — every sample analyzed in-house in Houston, no subcontracting.
We support oilfield operations anywhere in the U.S. by shipping kits to the field and receiving media by courier. In the country's most active basin, our dedicated Permian Basin industrial hygiene lab page covers SE New Mexico and West Texas specifically.
- Respirable crystalline silica (frac sand) by X-ray diffraction
- H₂S and acid gases by ion chromatography
- Benzene & BTEX by NIOSH 1501 / OSHA 1028
- Welding fume and metals for fabrication and maintenance
- Total and respirable dust, noise and heat stress
- Standing-account oilfield programs across multiple sites and crews
The Three Hazards That Define Upstream Exposure
Upstream oil & gas has a distinct exposure profile. These three drive most field sampling programs — all analyzed in-house.
Respirable Silica (Frac Sand)
Sand movers, blenders and transfer points on frac spreads generate respirable crystalline silica — the signature completions-era exposure. Analyzed by XRD for the OSHA silica standard.
Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S)
Sour gas is life-threatening at low concentrations. We quantify H₂S and acid gases by ion chromatography for personal and area monitoring.
Benzene & BTEX
Crude, condensate and produced water off-gas benzene — a regulated carcinogen. Personal sampling analyzed by NIOSH 1501 / OSHA 1028.
What We Analyze for Oilfield Sites
Every analyte below is run in-house under accreditation. Tap any card for the full method detail on our service pages.
Respirable Silica
XRD analysis of frac-sand respirable crystalline silica for OSHA compliance.
View Service →H₂S & Reactive Gases
Ion chromatography for hydrogen sulfide and acid gases across sour-service operations.
View Service →Benzene & BTEX
NIOSH 1501 / OSHA 1028 for crude, condensate and produced-water exposures.
View Service →Welding Fume & Metals
ICP-AES for 30+ elements — fabrication, pipe and maintenance welding.
View Service →Total & Respirable Dust
Gravimetric dust analysis for drilling, sand and material-handling operations.
View Service →Noise & Heat Stress
Dosimetry and WBGT — high-noise rigs and outdoor crews in extreme heat.
View Service →Exposure Monitoring by Upstream Operation
The dominant hazard shifts with the operation. We match the sampling plan to the work.
| Operation | Dominant Activity | Priority Analytes | Lab Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drilling | Rig floor, shale shakers, mud | H₂S, dust, noise | IC · gravimetric · dosimetry |
| Hydraulic fracturing | Sand movers, blenders, transfer | Respirable silica | XRD |
| Completions & flowback | Flowback, separators, tanks | Benzene/BTEX, H₂S | NIOSH 1501 · IC |
| Production & well servicing | Tank gauging, workover, maintenance | Benzene, H₂S, welding fume | NIOSH 1501 · IC · ICP-AES |
| Fabrication yards | Pipe & structural welding | Welding fume, hex chrome, metals | ICP-AES · OSHA ID-215 |
Oilfield Analytes & OSHA Exposure Limits
The regulated limits your sampling program is measured against, and the method our lab runs for each.
| Hazard | OSHA PEL (8-hr TWA) | Lab Method | Sample Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respirable crystalline silica | 50 µg/m³ | XRD (NIOSH 7500 / OSHA ID-142) | Cyclone + PVC filter |
| Benzene | 1 ppm (STEL 5 ppm) | NIOSH 1501 / OSHA 1028 | Charcoal tube, personal |
| Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) | 20 ppm ceiling (ACGIH TLV 1 ppm) | Ion chromatography | Treated filter / bubbler |
| Welding fume metals (e.g. Mn) | Mn 5 mg/m³ (ACGIH 0.02 resp.) | ICP-AES | MCE filter, personal |
| Hexavalent chromium | 5 µg/m³ | OSHA ID-215 | PVC filter, personal |
| Noise | 90 dBA (AL 85 dBA) | Dosimetry | Personal dosimeter |
Turnaround Times & Field Kits
From kit request to final report — rush options and what ships to your lease.
Kits Shipped to the Lease
- Pre-labeled sampling media (cyclones, tubes, filters)
- Calibrated pump loaner program for qualifying clients
- Chain of Custody form, pre-filled with your info
- Overnight courier return & tracked chain of custody
- Field blanks and duplicates included
- Method & flow-rate guidance from our team
Who Relies on AGT in the Oilfield
E&P Operators
Company HSE programs needing defensible silica, H₂S and benzene exposure data across active leases.
Frac & Sand Service Cos
Respirable silica monitoring for sand movers, blenders and transfer points under the OSHA silica standard.
Drilling Contractors
Rig-floor H₂S, dust and noise monitoring for drilling and workover crews.
Well Servicing & Fabrication
Welding fume, metals and hexavalent chromium for shops and field maintenance.
Midstream & SWD
Sour-gas and reactive-gas monitoring for gathering, compression and salt-water disposal.
Permian Operators
Working the Permian? See our Permian Basin IH lab page.
Oilfield & Upstream IH Testing — FAQ
What are the main IH hazards in upstream oil & gas?
Can you support frac-sand silica monitoring under the OSHA silica standard?
How do samples get from a remote field site to your lab?
Do you handle recurring, multi-site monitoring programs?
Do you cover the Permian Basin specifically?
Which analytes can you rush to 1 day?
Set Up Oilfield Monitoring or Request a Quote
AIHA-LAP accredited · frac-sand silica · H₂S · benzene · welding fume · 1-day rush · kits shipped to the field · standing-account & volume pricing.