FYI - Burning torches at oil wells

The burn-off stack, also called a flare stack, is used near oil drilling sites to safely dispose of excess gases that cannot be captured or used. Here’s why it’s necessary:

1. Safety

Oil and gas wells often produce natural gas along with crude oil. If this gas cannot be safely contained, it must be burned off to prevent pressure buildup and reduce explosion risks.

2. Environmental Control

While burning gas isn’t ideal, flaring is better than venting (releasing raw gas into the air). Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂. Burning converts methane to less harmful CO₂ and water vapour.

3. Operational Necessity

Sometimes, there isn’t enough pipeline infrastructure to transport the gas, or the gas isn’t economically viable to collect. Instead of wasting it, companies flare it off.

4. Emergency Use

In case of sudden gas surges or equipment failures, flares act as a pressure relief system, preventing uncontrolled releases.

5. Regulatory Compliance

Many governments require flaring for safety and environmental reasons, with limits on how much gas can be burned.

Different oil operations handle excess gas in several ways, depending on infrastructure, regulations, and economic factors. Here’s a breakdown of the main methods:

1. Flaring (Burning Off Gas) 🔥

When it's used:

In areas where gas cannot be transported or stored.

During emergencies to prevent pressure buildup.

As a short-term measure when testing or starting up a well.

Pros:

✔ Prevents dangerous gas buildup.

✔ Reduces methane emissions compared to venting.

Cons:

❌ Still produces CO₂ emissions.

❌ Wastes a potential energy resource.

2. Venting (Releasing Gas into the Air) 🌫

When it's used:

When flaring is not possible or practical.

In low-pressure wells where flaring is inefficient.

Pros:

✔ Quick and easy disposal of unwanted gas.

Cons:

❌ Releases methane, which is ~25 times worse than CO₂ for global warming.

❌ Heavily regulated and often restricted.

3. Gas Capture & Reinjection ⛽

When it's used:

If there’s infrastructure to transport or store gas.

In oilfields using Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), where gas is reinjected into reservoirs to maintain pressure.

Pros:

✔ Reduces waste and emissions.

✔ Can improve oil recovery.

Cons:

❌ Requires expensive pipelines and storage facilities.

4. Gas-to-Power Conversion ⚡

When it's used:

In regions where stranded gas (gas without a pipeline) can be used for electricity.

Pros:

✔ Turns waste into usable energy.

✔ Can power oilfield operations or nearby communities.

Cons:

❌ Requires expensive power generation infrastructure.

5. LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) 🛢

When it's used:

If there’s demand, companies can convert excess gas into liquefied or compressed gas for transport.

Pros:

✔ Allows gas to be stored and sold.

✔ Reduces waste and emissions.

Cons:

❌ Expensive and not always practical for small amounts of gas.

What’s the Best Option?

Flaring is common where infrastructure is lacking.

Gas capture and reinjection is preferred in large, well-developed fields.

Gas-to-power and LNG/CNG are growing solutions but depend on economic viability.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model