Green Gas field Development with Zero Flaring in Egypt

Abstract

Abstract In the frame work of global gas flaring reduction, RWE Dea Egypt (RWE Dea) as the development operator for the green gas fields in Disouq Concession, Nile Delta has recognized that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Social, Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines and Egyptian environmental Laws emphasize reuction of gas flaring as much as is practicable. Over the last few years, most international operating companies have worked hard to progress towards "Zero Flaring". In today's technology there are complete flare systems available that provide zero flaring solutions. These systems cannot remove the basic need for flaring in emergency situations as a final safety device, but can and do offer real cost and environmental benefits by extinguishing or managing the flare in daily operations. This paper provides an overview for the gas development of seven gas fields discovered in the Disouq concession onshore in the Nile Delta region of Egypt and it features a set of measures and techniques that were considered in the design concept to achieve zero flaring. RWE Dea project team decision was made after several technical and commercial discussions in order to find the best feasible scenario and incorporated also the previous experience of zero flaring made in other operating fields in Norway and UK. RWE Dea adopting zero flaring facilities as an improvement over continuous flaring systems to avoid any flaring during normal operation and minimize the off gases from the process equipment. Off gases which are produced will be collected by a recovery gas compressor and used as fuel. There are several measures reflected in the design to achieve the zero flaring in Disouq project, which are as follows: Minimizing off gases.Recovery of flash gas by installing a recovery gas compressor.Considering noncontinuous pilot gas system.Considering a highly reliable flare gas ignition system.Selecting a proper flare tip to suit the operating conditions of the Flare Package.Conducting a proper design for storage tanks and using N2 inert gas blanketing instead of fuel gas.Considering a flow meter to measure the gas being sent to flare.Transfer of technology know-how and system design. There are many significant benefits for operators using zero flaring systems rather than continuous flaring system, such as: Reducing Co2 emission in wasted gas.Saving of gas otherwise wasted in combustionSaving expenses for shut down and flar tip replacement.Reduction in maintenance requirements of the flare system.Significant reduction in the OPEX costs.