Gas flaring is a common practice in the oil and gas industry, used to dispose of unwanted gases produced during extraction and refining. Although necessary for safety reasons, gas flaring has several negative environmental impacts. In this blog post, we will cover the basics of gas flaring, its impact, and initiatives aimed at reducing or eliminating the practice.
What is Gas Flaring?
Gas flaring is the controlled burning of natural gas that cannot be processed for sale or use for technical or economic reasons. Gas is collected in piping headers and delivered to a flare system for safe disposal. A flare system can consist of multiple flares to treat various sources of waste gases, such as HP and LP flares, cold flares, and wet and dry systems.
Sources of Gas Flaring
Gas flaring occurs at various stages of the oil and gas production process. It can happen during the drilling stage, where gas is released as the drill bit penetrates the rock. It can also occur during the production stage, where gases are produced alongside oil and separated from it before being burned off. Finally, gas flaring can occur during the refining process, where unwanted gases are burned off to create a cleaner final product.
Impact of Gas Flaring
While gas flaring is a necessary practice in some instances, it also has several negative impacts on the environment. Burning these gases releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. These emissions can contribute to air pollution and climate change, leading to negative impacts on human health and the environment.
According to the World Bank, gas flaring accounts for more than 350 million tons of CO2 emissions each year, equivalent to the emissions from more than 70 million cars. In addition to the environmental impacts, gas flaring represents a wasted economic opportunity. The flared gas could be captured and used for energy production, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.
Initiatives to Reduce Gas Flaring
To address the negative impacts of gas flaring, several initiatives have been implemented to reduce or eliminate the practice. These include using alternative technologies to capture and utilize the gases that would otherwise be flared, as well as regulations and policies aimed at reducing the amount of gas flared.
One example of an initiative to reduce gas flaring is the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative. The initiative aims to reduce gas flaring to zero by 2030 by encouraging companies to adopt alternative technologies and practices to capture and utilize flared gas. Other initiatives include the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership, a collaboration between governments, oil companies, and international organizations to reduce gas flaring worldwide.
Alternative Technologies
Several alternative technologies are available to capture and utilize the gas that would otherwise be flared. One such technology is gas-to-liquids (GTL), which converts natural gas into high-quality liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel. Another technology is gas-to-power (GTP), which uses gas to generate electricity.
Another promising technology is carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which captures carbon dioxide from industrial processes, such as gas flaring, and stores it underground. This technology not only reduces emissions but also has the potential to create economic opportunities by using captured CO2 for enhanced oil recovery and other applications.
Regulations and Policies
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to reduce the amount of air pollution from gas flaring. The standards limit the amount of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants that can be released during gas flaring. Other countries have also implemented similar regulations and policies to reduce gas flaring and its negative environmental impact. By adopting alternative technologies and reducing the amount of gas flaring, the oil and gas industry can help mitigate the negative impact of gas flaring on the environment and create economic opportunities.
Sources
- US Department of Energy: Natural Gas Flaring and Venting
- Milton Keynes Regional Committee: Flare System Design for Oil and Gas Installations