A Characterization of Solution Gas Flaring in Alberta

• Published in: Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 2001-08, Vol.51 (8), p.1167-1177
• Main Authors: Johnson, M.R., Kostiuk, L.W., Spangelo, J.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollution - analysis; Applied sciences; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods; Energy; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Gases; Incineration; Industry; Oil extraction from wells. Pumping. Shale oil extraction. Well workover; Petroleum; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; Volatilization
• ISSN: 1096-2247; 2162-2906
• DOI: 10.1080/10473289.2001.10464348

Information reported here is the result of a detailed analysis of data on flared and vented solution gas in the Province of Alberta in 1999. A goal of characterizing these flares was to aid in the improved management of solution gas flaring. In total, 4499 oil and bitumen batteries reported flaring or venting with a combined gas volume of 1.42 billion m 3 . There was significant site-to-site variation in volumes of gas flared or vented, gas composition, and flare design. Approximately 5% of physical batteries generate 35.7% of the gas flared and vented from oil and bitumen batteries. Therefore, if one were to attempt to mitigate flaring, significant progress could be made by starting with only the largest sites. The monthly variability of gas volumes was considered because high variability could affect implementation of alternative technologies. It was found that slightly more than 40% of the sites were reasonably steady and had monthly deviations of 100% or less from the average flared volume. The variability in monthly volumes was less for the larger batteries. Data from individual well sites show significant variability in the relative concentrations of each of the major species contained in solution gas.