Global Gas Flaring reduction Partnership: Towards a world Free of Flares
Although the burning of natural gas, or flaring, is the safe and effective method of disposing of excess natural gas associated with oil production, flaring also wastes a valuable clean energy resource and emits carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
The World Bank estimates that over 150 billion cubic meters (or 5,3 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas are being flared and vented annually. That is equivalent to 25 per cent of the United States’ gas consumption or 30 per cent of the European Union’s gas consumption. And the annual 40 bcm (or 1,4 trillion cubic feet) of gas flared in Africa alone is equivalent to half of that continent’s power consumption.
Flaring gas also has a global impact on climate change by adding about 400 million tons of CO2 in annual emissions. This is more than the potential yearly emission reductions from projects currently submitted under the Kyoto mechanisms.
Isn't the gas sold in bottles to the likes of me and JohnB that very same gas which is routinely flared off?
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
Flared gas is usually methane, but can be propane or butane, or often a mixture of gases.
It is indeed a waste, and action to reduce this waste is most desireable.
In the cases of large volumes the building of a pipeline for exporting it can be viable.
Smaller volumes can often be burnt on site to raise process steam or produce electricity.
Often the gas that is flared is a mixture that is unfit for sale without costly processing. Often unfit for fueling a gas turbine, but can be burnt in a boiler.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
There's a small oilfield near me that has been flaring off gas for a couple of years now. Apparently the produced oil comes up with gas, some of which is used in an electricity generator for on-site use and then the rest is burnt.
