Flare Research Articles

Flare gas recovery at an LNG plant GL1/Z-Arzew

Flare gas recovery at an LNG plant GL1/Z-Arzew

The first global catalogue of gas flaring sources derived from a multi-temporal time series of OLI and MSI daytime data: the DAFI v2 algorithm

Abstract Gas flaring (GF) is an industrial phenomenon requiring a special attention for the serious impacts on environment, climate and human health. To analyses and map GF sites (GFs), the Daytime Approach for GF Investigation (DAFI), which is based on daytime data from the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard the Landsat-8 satellite, has recently been developed. The GFs catalogue from the DAFI system, spanning over the years 2013–2021, represents the first worldwide GF product generated from mid-high spatial resolution data (30 m). The DAFI version 2 (v2), also including information from the Multispectral Instrument (MSI) aboard Sentinel-2 satellites, already showed an improved capacity in the mapping of GFs over Iran and Iraq. In this work, the new catalogue arising from the porting of DAFI v2 at global scale is presented and discussed. By using a parallel workflow, based on a loop tiling scheme running in Google Earth Engine, DAFI v2 allowed us to extend the GF inventory globally up to 2023, by analyzing ∼4 million of OLI/OLI-2 (Collection 2) and MSI imagery. Results of this study show: (i) an increased DAFI v2 capacity, of about 41%, in detecting GFs compared to the previous DAFI version; (ii) a downward trend (∼4.6%) in terms of GF sites detected from 2021 to 2023. These findings demonstrated that DAFI v2, which will also include the estimates of radiative power at different spatial scales, may contribute in assessing and monitoring the GFs activities and in evaluating the effectiveness of the greenhouse gas-emission reduction strategies at global, continental, national and local scales.

Monetization of Stranded & Flare Gas

Monetization of Stranded & Flare Gas

Assessing Gas Flaring Mitigation Technologies in Nigeria: A Review of Existing Solutions and Future Trends

Gas flaring remains a critical global issue with significant economic and environmental impacts. Despite ongoing efforts, Nigeria remains one of the top ten countries for gas flaring. This research assesses both advanced and existing technologies aimed at mitigating gas flaring in Nigeria, focusing on their viability, effectiveness, and environmental implications. The evaluation begins with gas re-injection techniques, which involve redirecting flared gas back into reservoirs to enhance oil recovery and reduce emissions. It also covers flare gas recovery systems that capture and re-purpose flared gas for energy production or other beneficial uses. Additionally, the potential of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects to minimise flaring and monetise associated gas is explored. Furthermore, the study examines innovative approaches such as gas-to-methanol (GTM) conversion, which transforms flared gas into methanol, a valuable chemical feed-stock. The review also considers advanced methods like carbon capture and storage (CCS), which can absorb carbon emissions from flaring and mitigate its environmental impact. The assessment includes the integration of renewable energy sources as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based energy generation to reduce reliance on flaring. Findings reveal that while progress has been made in reducing flaring volumes, challenges persist, particularly in regulatory enforcement, economic feasibility, and technological adoption. The review highlights the need for improved policy frameworks, increased investment in sustainable technologies, and international cooperation to achieve Zero Routine Flaring by 2030. This study provides valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance Nigeria’s environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

Examining the Role of Media in Shaping Rural Residents’ Perceptions of Gas Flaring Effect on Environment Pollution in Nigeria

Gas flaring poses threats to agriculture and human wellbeing, especially in developing countries. Nigeria remains one of the most gas flaring countries in the world. Hence, gas flaring is of pivotal societal concern in Nigeria. The most affected regions are the rural areas of the country – namely, Niger Delta. The media, however, is instrumental in shaping the public’s opinion on this matter; it engenders attitudes, positive or negative; reorients policies that are put in place to aid enabling environment where the effects of gas flaring are largely attenuated or completely consigned to the past. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of media in framing rural residents’ perceptions of gas flaring effect on environmental pollution in Nigeria. This paper aims to set in embryonic term the power of media, uncover the initial and current role of media in framing the perceptions of rural resident’s on this issue, and propose a sketchy way forward.

Exergy analysis of flare gas recovery processes using steam and power generation systems

Exergy analysis of flare gas recovery processes using steam and power generation systems

Gas flaring, sustainable development goal 2 and food security reflections in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria

The flaring of gas is a double jeopardy of wasting valuable energy resource and environmental degradation. That had been the experience with the Niger Delta area since 1956 when oil was discovered in commercial quantity in the region. Gas flaring is an active contributor of Green House Gases (GHG) emissions, global warming, climate change crisis and the consequent acid rain, rising temperature and sea level, flooding, agricultural and aquatic food chain disruption. The Niger Delta area as a global spot rich in oil, gas, aquatic and agricultural foods had remained a paradox of plenty, poverty and hunger. In view of this stack reality, it is the concern of this study to determine if zero hunger can be achieved in the area by 2030 and make recommendations that will serve as blue print for national and global actualization SDG 2. The study adopted documentary research method, leveraged on Public–Private Partnership (PPP) and Win–Win Concept as frameworks of interpretation and unveiled that ending gas flaring is associated with inherent economic growth, environmental preservation and sustainable livelihood in and beyond Niger Delta.

Ecosocialism and Its Implication to the Nigerian State

The environmental crisis remains unabated. It is still raging on in phenomena such as gas flaring, deforestation, depletion of the ozone layer, climate change, desertification, unplanned urbanization, and so forth. The impact of the crisis is felt in every region of the world including Nigeria. Nigeria has experienced many environmental problems like the ones mentioned above. Others are soil erosion, illegal mining, environmental insecurities, violent struggles over natural resources, etc. Various ideologies have been proposed for curbing the environmental crisis such as communalism, socialism, capitalism, nationalism, democracy, communism, ecofeminism, ecowomanism, and so forth. This paper critically and hermeneutically examines the ideology of ecosocialism and its appropriateness to the Nigerian state. The paper shows why ecosocialism has some positive ideas that should inspire the Nigerian state in ecological protection, it should not be adopted in an uncritical manner hook, line, and sinker. The paper reveals that Nigeria is troubled by many environmental problems. It concludes that the good points of ecosocialism should be adopted and used to create an environmentally friendly Nigerian state.

Life Cycle Assessment of Natural Gas Production in Java Sea-East Java Province, Indonesia

Energy products including natural gas play a very important role in the context of global economic, industrial, and infrastructure development. However, it is undeniable that the production process from raw material extraction to ready-to-use products has an impact on the environment. This study was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of natural gas production in the Kepodang field, East Java Province, Indonesia. The next objective is to analyze the magnitude and significance of the impact or hotspot analysis. The characterization results for 4 main categories show: Global Warming Potential 70.02 kg CO₂ eq, Ozone Layer Depletion 1.11E-06 kg CFC-11 eq, Acidification Potential 0.65 mol H+ eq, Marine Eutrophication 0.30 kg N eq, and Freshwater Eutrophication 2.17E-03kg P eq. The results also show that throughout the life cycle of this product, the largest contributor to environmental impacts is in the downstream phase, especially the user gas metering unit process. This is due to the 200 km of pipelines for product transportation from the Central Processing Platform (CPP) to the user gate. Pipeline parameters (Ecoinvent database) refer to long-distance pipelines with high capacity. In addition, hotspots were also identified in the core phase: gas measurement and chromatography, gas turbine generators, and flare gas.

A New Air-Assisted Flare Tip Design for Managing Gas Flare Emissions (CFD Analysis)

Recently, flares have been considered as a major source of air pollution from the petroleum refining industry. The United Nations has instigated an international effort related to the management of flare emissions to reduce the global warming impact related to flaring. Eliminating or removing the need for gas flares is difficult because these devices are generally used as safety devices to allow the combustion of flammable gases in a controlled fashion which supports safe operation. However, reducing flaring is generally possible using well-designed, efficiently operated flare equipment. In general, flare performance can be enhanced following the API-521 methodology and using assist-media including air and steam to achieve smokeless operation. This present work will discuss flare emissions in the petroleum refining industry and a method to manage flare emissions. Moreover, this work will discuss flare combustion efficiency (CE) and destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) in terms of efficient flare operation. This work uses actual operating flare data, published previously, which will be used in this work together with the CFD Code C3d. This code, developed at the USDOE Sandia National Laboratory, is based on a standard LES methodology to conduct transient flare analysis and is used to simulate flare operation to estimate flame shape and emissions produced. In this work, a new air-assisted flare tip design which uses the Coanda effect to improve flare operation was analyzed. This new flare design reduces the emission rate and demonstrates the design’s effectiveness. The analysis considers a flare 39″ high and 6″ diameter in the center of a 4m x 4m x 4m domain. Boundary conditions assume no cross wind and an ambient temperature of 300 K. The initial condition is a hydrostatic pressure profile across the computational domain. In the air-assist simulation, stoichiometric ratio will be a variable, and therefore, more than one case was considered.

A Systematic Review on Phytoremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Soils: Identifying Hyperaccumulator Plants, Assessing Soil Quality, Analyzing Contamination Sources and Determining Health Risks

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal found in soils due to various anthropogenic and natural sources, posing significant environmental and health risks. This systematic review aimed to identify plant species that can effectively accumulate cadmium, assess soil quality and contamination sources in cadmium- affected areas, and evaluate potential health risks within affected communities. Relevant studies and articles were methodically selected from databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and Zendy, following Prisma Guidelines. The reviewed studies, both local and international, were published after 2000. The review found that several plant species can accumulate high levels of cadmium, with Athyrium wardii (Hook.) (Makino) achieving a 55% removal rate, Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax) achieving 32-49% removal, and T. caerulescens (Alpine Pennycress) achieving 19-36% removal. These plants showed the highest cadmium concentrations in their roots, followed by stems and leaves. Anthropogenic sources of cadmium in farm soil include agricultural activities and emissions from fuel combustion, with petrochemical industries significantly contributing through oil and gas flares, leading to elevated levels of nickel and cadmium. The review highlighted that higher cadmium accumulation poses substantial health risks, with risk concentrations higher in agricultural lands than in urban areas, implying a higher carcinogenic risk for people in these regions.

Evaluation of GHG Emissions on Climate of the Braced States in the Niger Delta

This study evaluates greenhouse gas emissions on the climate in the BRACED States of the Niger Delta. The emission of greenhouse gases leads to deforestation, reduced vegetation, and a decline in biodiversity. To achieve the study, an ex post facto research design was used. The study utilised field measurements and historical data to assess these factors. Data were collected and monitored from twelve distinct locations between September 2022 and February 2023. The findings indicate that Akwa Ibom had the lowest concentrations of greenhouse gas and climate variables. The concentrations of greenhouse gases and climate variables were found to be lowest in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Similarly, Rivers, Cross Rivers, and Edo States exhibited comparatively lower quantities of carbon dioxide emissions and low rainfall. The study's findings observed a strong correlation between climate (temperature and rainfall) and greenhouse gas emissions in the BRACED states. Statistical analysis at the P<0.05 level of significance indicates that greenhouse gas emissions account for around 32.5% of the observed variations. This analysis offers a method for determining the climate impact of GHG emissions. It is recommended that law on gas flaring activities should be brought to actions.

Communities’ Adaptation Strategies to Environmental Changes Induced by Gas Flaring in Delta State, Nigeria

Communities’ Adaptation Strategies to Environmental Changes Induced by Gas Flaring in Delta State, Nigeria

The Importance of the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas industry, renowned for its extensive and intricate operations, confronts numerous challenges in maintaining and inspecting its infrastructure. Traditional inspection methodologies, often reliant on manual labor, are not only time-consuming and costly but also expose workers to hazardous conditions. These conventional methods necessitate the shutdown of operations, leading to considerable productivity losses and elevated costs. Over the past decade, the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has introduced a transformative technology in this sector, providing a safer, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional inspection techniques. UAVs, equipped with advanced sensors and high-resolution cameras, facilitate detailed visual and thermal inspections of critical assets such as pipelines, flare stacks, and offshore platforms. These capabilities enable companies to perform routine inspections without halting operations, thereby minimizing downtime and operational disruptions. The implementation of UAV technology has notably enhanced safety by reducing the need for human intervention in perilous environments. For instance, the traditional inspection of flare stacks necessitates workers to ascend these structures, posing significant risks. UAVs obviate this requirement by delivering real-time visual data from secure distances. Moreover, the precision and accuracy inherent in UAV inspections contribute to the early detection of defects and potential issues, allowing for prompt maintenance and repairs, which further augment safety and operational efficiency. The environmental benefits of UAV technology are also noteworthy. By diminishing the reliance on heavy machinery and extensive transportation typically associated with inspections and maintenance, UAVs aid in reducing carbon emissions, thus aligning with the industry's sustainability objectives. In summary, the integration of UAVs into the oil and gas industry's inspection protocols represents a significant technological advancement. This integration aligns with the sector's goals of enhancing safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability, marking a pivotal step forward in the industry's evolution.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in the Neighbourhood of Gas Flaring Station in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in the Neighbourhood of Gas Flaring Station in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Climate change, causes, economic impact and mitigation

The earth and its environment is currently undergoing changes, which may be natural as a result of the earth’s processes or artificial, as a result of man’s activities that has altered the natural earth processes. Climate change is a result of the alteration of the atmospheric balance which in-turn has diverse effects on the earth’s processes and her inhabitants. The aim of this review is primarily to elaborate the climate change, the causes, economic impact and methods of mitigating climate change. The effect of climate change is massive but this article is targeted towards the economic impact of climate change and methods of eliminating this effect in this area. It is a universal challenge, it therefore requires universal attention. This article is a review work on the previous publications on climate change including journals and other articles that are closely related to this topic, it goes ahead to reveal the current situations and effect of climate change in our society today and scientifically proven means of mitigating such effects. Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of all carbon emissions. Human activities have warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, producing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere. The methods of mitigating climate change are primarily by reducing the use of fossil fuels in order to stop adding more CO2, Nitrous acid and methane (which are all greenhouse gases) to the atmosphere, by using more of renewable energy such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and hydroelectricity. Practicing better farming systems to improve crop yield other than using harmful chemicals. Implementing policies against gas flaring, faulty automobiles discharging high amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, bush-burning, deforestation etc, should be practiced more.

Characterization of the Dominant Stages at Which Gas Flaring Is Introduced: Impacts and Policy Options to Ameliorate Them

Information on associated gas flaring in the Niger Delta is analyzed to characterize the various stages in the lifecycle of an oil exploration and production facility through which gas flaring is introduced into an area, leading to ecological, health, and economic impacts, and possible policies and implementation strategies for the reduction of the flared gas are offered. Gas flaring is currently occurring at a rate of 5318 million m3 per year in the Niger Delta region. The impacts of gas flaring on the ecological, human, and economic systems include poor air quality, acid rain, and soil degradation. Other impacts include decreased crop yield, increased incidences of respiratory diseases amongst inhabitants in the area, and losses of billions of USD yearly in economic costs. Three dominant stages in the introduction of gas flaring are characterized in this study, using the concept of the management of the invasion of non-native species into an ecosystem and it is determined that the cheapest method of minimizing gas flaring is to incorporate mitigation measures during the design stage of the oil exploration/production facility, rather than after flaring has commenced, as is the common emphasis. During the early periods of oil production, gas flaring is largely localized, and the gas utilization measures can still be implemented to good effect. However, once the facility is established, gas flaring becomes pervasive, stretching kilometers beyond the flare points. Current policies like the imposition of flare-out years on the oil producers have helped, but they have been insufficient as the intensity of gas flaring in the region continues at double the average global levels. Working with relevant stakeholders, a realistic flare-out deadline should be agreed upon, clear and specific gas flaring legislation should be drawn up that includes measures to mitigate gas flaring for each proposed oil facility, and proper data collection and management services would enable the implementation of the policies to be based on robust evidence. These policies would shift the costs of gas flaring away from the inhabitants of the region back to the operators of the facilities that are the sources of the flares.

Sustainable hydrogen production from flare gas and produced water: A United States case study

Gas flaring and produced water (PW) emissions are common environmental challenges with significant impacts on the oil production industry. This study proposes a novel approach to address these concerns by developing energy self-sufficient networks for simultaneous utilization of flare gas (FG) and PW for sustainable hydrogen production. Three distinct scenarios are analyzed: hydrogen production without CO2 capture (Hydra), fossil fuel-based (FF) hydrogen production with CO2 capture and utilization in enhanced oil recovery (HydraCap-FF), and a solar-thermal-assisted HydraCap-FF system (HydraCap-RE). Techno-economic and environmental models are constructed for each scenario's optimal configuration, enabling a comparative analysis of their economic viability and environmental impact. Additionally, the designed systems are examined through a flexibility analysis to evaluate input materials and their influence on the system's viability. Results highlight the promising potential of HydraCap-RE, achieving significant reductions in CO2 emissions and water footprint compared to traditional methods. The HydraCap-RE generates hydrogen with the cost of 2.86 $/kg H2, hydrogen yield of 31.25 kg H2/100 kg FG, specific emission of 0.86 kg CO2/kg H2 and water footprint of 0.185 kg H2O/kg H2. Moreover, the flexibility analysis indicates that an optimal FG/PW ratio of 0.53 yields the highest economic value. The results demonstrate that deploying HydraCap-FF in the Permian, Bakken, and Eagle Ford shale regions can produce 0.807, 0.454, and 0.121 million tons of hydrogen annually, respectively, and reduce CO2 emissions by 6.37, 3.58, and 0.956 million tons, respectively. Furthermore, the HydraCap-RE deployment in these shale fields outperformed, with 17 % higher hydrogen production and 28.42 % lower CO2 emissions. These findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers seeking to reduce CO2 emissions the oil and gas industries and providing clean and sustainable products for these areas.

Heavy Metal Pollution in Gas Flare-Impacted Soils: An Assessment Using Pollution Indices in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Gas flaring is the controlled burning of natural gas which occurs as a result of the activities of oil exploration and exploitation using flare stacks. In Nigeria, gas flaring activities is high and it mainly takes place in the Niger Delta region. The aim of this study was to investigate the bioavailability and concentration of heavy metals pollution of gas flare-impacted soils using pollution indices such as contamination factor, geo-accumulation index and pollution load index. Soil samples were collected with soil auger at depths of 0-15 cm from distances of 200 m, 500 m, 1000 m, 2000 m, and 3000 m away from the flaring point. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to assess the presence of the following heavy metals in the soils: cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc, copper, and manganese. The findings revealed that Fe (90% bioavailability) had the highest bioavailability among the metals tested in the soils, while Cr (45%) had the lowest. The metals bioavailability decreased in the order of Fe>Mn>Cu>Cd>Ni>Zn>Cr. The geo-accumulation index revealed that the soils were practically uncontaminated by Zn and Cu at all distances, moderately polluted by Cd and Ni at 1000 m and 2000 m and strongly polluted with Cd at a distance of 200 m. The Contamination factor results were consistent with the geo-accumulation index results. The pollutant load index (PLI) was found to be high but decreasing (1.37-0.49) as the distance from the flare point increased, indicating that the research region was polluted. In conclusion, the study's overall findings suggested that the soils were contaminated with heavy metals (particularly Cd) as a result of nearby gas flaring. As a result, the area must be appropriately monitored and managed to prevent future soil contamination by heavy metals to a level that is hazardous to human health.

Contribution of Gas Flare on the Rainwater of the Braced States in the Niger Delta

Gas flaring contaminates rainwater, which harms the ecology. Exposure to flared gas turns rainwater acidic. The study examined the rainwater quality in gas flare areas of the BRACED states of the Niger Delta. The study employed an ex-post facto research design to assess the quality of rainwater in the industrial regions of the BRACED Niger Delta states. Rainwater samples were collected from twelve (12) locations in the BRACED Niger Delta states near refineries and gas flaring sites. The results show that the rainwater near GHG-impacted areas of the BRACED states has an average pH of 6.7, which is below the guidelines set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A pH lower than the required WHO standards suggests acidic rainwater. The temperature is 27.4 °C, the conductivity is 37.1µS/cm, and the phosphate concentration exceeds WHO guidelines. Nitrate and sulphate levels are below WHO guidelines. P<0.05 indicates substantial changes in pH value and temperature amount in rainwater quality. Acidic rains, high temperatures, and high phosphate concentrations characterise the BRACED States, raising concerns about the suitability of rainwater for drinking. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to controlling gas flaring, which includes taxation, anti-acidic coating measures, and infrastructure upgrades.