Abstract
The RST (Robust Satellite Techniques)-FLARE algorithm is a satellite-based method using a multitemporal statistical analysis of nighttime infrared signals strictly related to industrial hotspots, such as gas flares. The algorithm was designed for both identifying and characterizing gas flares in terms of radiant/emissive power. The Val d’Agri Oil Center (COVA) is a gas and oil pre-treatment plant operating for about two decades within an anthropized area of Basilicata region (southern Italy) where it represents a significant potential source of social and environmental impacts. RST-FLARE, developed to study and monitor the gas flaring activity of this site by means of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data, has exported VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) records by exploiting the improved spatial and spectral properties offered by this sensor. In this paper, the VIIRS-based configuration of RST-FLARE is presented and its application on the recent (2015-2019) gas flaring activity at COVA is analyzed and discussed. Its performance in gas flaring characterization is in good agreement with VIIRS Nightfire outputs to which RST-FLARE seems to provide some add-ons. The great consistency of radiant heat estimates computed with both RST-FLARE developed configurations allows proposing a multi-sensor RST-FLARE strategy for a more accurate multi-year analysis of gas flaring.
Highlights
The process of production of crude oil and natural gas necessarily requires the implementation of the gas flaring (GF) activity at the oil treatment plant, which is a routine practice either exploited as a means of disposal or as a safety measure to relieve pressure through the combustion of the associated gas generated during various industrial operations [1,2]
The environmental, social, and economic consequences associated with GF are clear since the 1990s [3,4,5] when regulations to measure flare gas for calculation of carbon dioxide (CO2) tax in the petroleum activities were implemented in Norway [1]
The range 1300-1550 K was defined by Reference [14] as the crossover zone between temperatures recorded for gas flares and biomass burning by providing the first indication that COVA thermal emission can be seen both at SWIR and MWIR wavelengths
Summary
The process of production of crude oil and natural gas necessarily requires the implementation of the gas flaring (GF) activity at the oil treatment plant, which is a routine practice either exploited as a means of disposal or as a safety measure to relieve pressure through the combustion of the associated gas generated during various industrial operations [1,2]. Several satellite algorithms have been developed “ad hoc” for the analysis of gas flaring, using the potential of new generation satellites data (e.g., VIIRS - Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, OLI - Operational Land Imager, SLSTR - Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer) [7,8,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23] as well as the long-term archives guaranteed by older space missions (e.g., OLS - Operational Linescan System, (E)TM(+)-(Enhanced) Thematic Mapper (Plus), MODIS-Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, ATSR - Along Track Scanning Radiometer) [10,18,19,21,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33] All these satellite products have greatly helped to improve the reliability, completeness, and accuracy of GF related-information, which is useful for promoting activities and investments aimed at its progressive reduction. The radiance excess can be seen as an air quality proxy around the COVA area
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
