Flare stacks are well known to anyone who has visited a refinery or chemical plant. These tall stacks are equipped with burners, and they’re used to destroy any excess gases that are produced during processing operations. The goal is to reduce the emission of volatile by-products, mainly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.
Flaring of excess gases is a common practice across the oil and gas industry, but it has significant environmental consequences. For one, it contributes to smog formation by adding nitrogen oxide to the air, which then leads to acid rain and poor air quality in rural areas. It also can harm wildlife by causing toxicity in the water supply of local plants and animals, as shown by a Texas A&M study.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce flare stack emissions that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. For example, a nonthermal plasma electric flare stack can eliminate the need to use methane as fuel, while also cutting CO2 emissions by about 50%. This system utilizes renewable energy to heat the incoming feedstock, and it also has the added benefit of increasing combustion efficiency.
Reducing flare stack emissions www.neverbeside.com/tara-energy-services-leading-methane-emissions-reduction-in-oil-and-gas-production-testing/ also requires changing the way that the process is managed. Currently, the majority of the gas in a flaring system is used to heat the flame in the flare stack, but only about a third of that is needed to achieve proper combustion. A better way to manage the process would be to redirect this gas back into the facility for other uses, which could include reinjection for disposal or storage, or as a pressure support source.
As these technologies evolve, it will be easier to move toward zero flaring in the oil and gas industry. However, much more work remains to be done. In order to meet the Paris Climate Agreement’s net-zero emissions goals by 2030, all routine flaring will need to be eliminated.
To help meet these targets, many oil and gas producers are adopting policies to reduce flaring emissions. These include requiring that operators meter the gas they’re producing and taxing flaring-related CO2 emissions. Some are also improving the operation and maintenance of their existing flare systems, for example by modifying their flare tips to ensure adequate fuel-air mixing to achieve high combustion efficiencies.
Ultimately, these steps will help reduce flare stack emissions by directing more of the unused gas back into the productive process. In addition, technology like Zeeco’s ZIP high-pressure ballistic ignition system and VariJet can significantly increase the efficiency of existing flares by enabling them to combust a greater proportion of the feedstock in each combustion cycle. By reducing emissions, these technologies will improve air quality, improve the lives of people living near oil and gas production facilities and protect equipment and workers operating in those locations. Learn more about how our emissions reduction solutions can help your company eliminate routine flaring and achieve a zero-emissions future. Contact us today to discuss your emissions reduction goals with our combustion experts.