Global Gas Flaring Reduction

Partnership
&
Measurement of Flare/Vent Volumes
World Bank
Francisco J. Sucre

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

Content

Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR)

Gas Flaring in Mexico
Global Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard
GGFR Measurement Guidelines
Final remarks

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership (GGFR)

Public-private partnership led by the World Bank
Formed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg in 2002
Main double fold objective:
avoiding unnecessary waste of non-renewable cleaner energy resource
reduction of carbon emissions and other negative environmental impact
of flaring and venting of associated gas in upstream oil and gas
operations
Includes 27 members: governments from oil-producing countries,
state-owned and international oil companies, European Union and
the World Bank Group
Mission Statement
GGFR is a catalyst for reducing wasteful and undesirable practices of gas
flaring and venting through policy change, stakeholder facilitation and
project implementation

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Mxico 2012

Flaring in Mexico
E&P flaring down from 2001 to
2005, but jumped until
2008
Dropping in last 4 years (w 2011)
Largest volumes from offshore
operations
Highest rate of utilization of
94% in 2005 (average of 85%)
Important source of GHG: at
peak, flaring represented
aprox 2% of national
emissions (not accounting for
venting and flare efficiencies)

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Mxico 2012
Source: Pemex financial reports & EIA Statistics: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Gas Flaring vis-a-vis Gas Imports

Significant comparative value of flare

gas when compared with imports from
US
Known barriers to flare reduction in
Mexico

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012
Source: Pemex financial reports & EIA Statistics: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Insufficient gas infrastructure

(gathering, processing and
compression)
Operational conditions (e.g.
nitrogen in AG, compression, etc.)
Focus on oil production
maximization
Prior to CNH, fiscal regime
neutral to flaring and venting
reduction
Limited allocation of CAPEX for lower
IRR projects

CNH Guidelines on Flare/Vent volumes

Article 48. Sizing of flare and vent gas meters. The continuous flow rate capacity of the meters shall be
dimensioned in accordance to the expected gas flow volumes.

Article 49. Measurement uncertainty for flare and vent gas. The maximum allowable measurement
uncertainty for gas flare and vent measurement systems shall be +/-3%.

Article 50. Flare and vent gas meter installation. The installation of the meter must be executed in
compliance with the manufacturers specifications.

Article 51. Flare and vent gas composition measurement. Monitoring of the flare and vent gas
composition shall be carried out, either by sampling for lab analysis, or by continuous analyzers.

Article 52. Liquid measurement in flare and vent. If there is a considerable amount of liquid in the
system, a separator shall be installed, along with a (liquid) meter.

Article 53. Indirect estimation of flare and vent gas volumes. Indirect estimation shall be made by way
of GOR accounting or through system balance or simulators. The Commission shall be informed as to how
said accounting was made.

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GGFRs Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard

Global Voluntary Standard
Sets out approach to overcome barriers
to reduce flaring & venting
Guidance on how to achieve reductions
Emphasize key role of accurate
monitoring of flare/vent volumes to
achieve reductions
Existing facilities should, at a minimum,
estimate volume applying sound engineering
mass and energy balance
New projects and large flaring facilities should
measure through metering
Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin
Mxico 2012

GGFRs Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard

Global Voluntary Standard
Best practice on measurement:
Total volume of gas sent to the flare(s)
should be continuously metered either
at each of the sources or at the flare
headers, to determine the annual
volumetric flow to the flare.
At a minimum, flow measurement
devices used to determine flare gas
volumes should have an accuracy of
+/- 5 percent over the anticipated
range of flow rates
Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin
Mxico 2012

GGFRs Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard

Global Voluntary Standard
Highlight the importance of
estimating GHG using
API Compendium of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Estimation Methodologies for the Oil and Gas
Industry

Volume and emissions data reporting

To monitor performance gas flare and vent
should be publicly reported
Governments have an important role in
facilitating and gathering information on gas
flared and vented
Government are encouraged to implement a
reporting tool
Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin
Mxico 2012

Standard Defined Sources of flares/vents

Flaring

Venting

Continuous (routine)
Surplus gas for lack of facilities
and/or market outlets

Non-continuous, which may be:

Temporary (planned non-routine) or
Compressor start up/shut down
Well completion, treatment,
stimulation, workovers
Early production facilities
Gas migration
Production storage tanks
working/flashing losses

Emergency (unplanned)

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

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Continuous (routine)
Non safety vent of surplus gas due to lack
of flaring facilities
Production storage tank losses (flashing,
working and breathing)
Gas-driven pneumatic devices, chemical
injection pumps
Gas treatment vents
Locally vented low preassure systems

Non-continuous
Catalyst
Well completion, treatment, stimulation,
workovers, and testing
Surface casing gas (oil wells)
Gas migration (oil wells(
Operational venting to reduce equipment
pressure

Relevance of flare measurement

Why quantify flares and vent volumes?
Justification of conservation costs
Prioritize and optimize efforts
Reservoir engineering: better understand the adverse impact to
reservoirs
Effectiveness of regulatory regime on flare/vent depend on accurate
measuring and reporting
To provide accurate information and data that helps the regulator
evaluate compliance and evaluate progress
Public safety and environment: understand and monitor emissions
To determine GHG baseline, assess abatement costs of mitigation,
leverage carbon credits and make pledges in international agreements

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Considerations about flare measurement

Reiterated massages by experts during GGFR sponsored
workshops

Flare measurement is extremely challenging

Generally requires a combination of methods to achieve
best results (measurement & estimation)
Measurement uncertainty analysis of full measurement
chain essential
Normally approached in stages to minimize
disruption/cost
Many considerations are needed when selecting the best
measurement approach

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GGFR Flaring Measurement Guidelines

INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY REVIEW:
o Technology specifications
o Accuracy requirements
o Control requirements

DELINEATION OF MEASUREMENT OPTIONS:

o Continuous flow measurement systems.
o Flow test methods.
o Estimation methods:
o
o

Mass balance.
Use of GOR data.

o Process simulations.

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGGFR/Resources/Guidelines_Flare_Vent_Measurement.pdf

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

GGFR Flaring Measurement Guidelines

Methods for measuring flare volumes

1. Metering
a.
b.

Direct
Distributed meters

2. Estimation
a.
b.
c.

Gas balance
Control valve data
Process data

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Mxico 2012

Characteristics of meters for flare gas volume

measurement

Technical

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13 February 2012
Mxico 2012

Economic
15

Issues for flare meter selection

Accuracy
Operability (range, calibration requirements, flow regime dependence..)
Sensitivity to contaminants (liquids, particles)
Restriction for gas flow
Availability
Ease and cost - of installation
Ease of maintenance, calibration and verification
Cost

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Gas flow : Production, usage and flared volume

Usage

Gas
produced

Gas produced

GAS
EXPORT

GAS
INJECTION

minus

FUEL
GAS

GAS
LIFT

Export
Injection
Fuel
Gas lift
Other uses
Losses

OTHER
GAS
USES

equals

LOSSES

Flare
Volume

Flare Volume

Most widely used estimation method by industry

Accurate during emergency blowdowns where flowmeters struggle to cope
Unsuitable for normal flaring (majority of the year) = excessive measurement uncertainty

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By-difference method
Measurement Uncertainty when estimating:

using simple root-sum-square

method

%U flare 2

Emergency Blow-down:
<1% time, 20% gas flared

Normal Flaring:
>90% time, 40% gas flared

U prod

U
export fuel

2
2

Qm ,flare

U
lift

100

Gas stream

Proportion of Total (%)

Measurement Uncertainty (%)

Exported Gas

n/a

Fuel Gas
Lift Gas
Flared Gas

5
4
91

3
3
0.2

Gas stream

Proportion of Total (%)

Measurement Uncertainty (%)

Exported Gas

90

Fuel Gas
Lift Gas
Flared Gas

5
4
1

3
3
92

BEST PRACTICE: dedicated flare gas meter for normal flaring & By-difference for blow-down

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

Source: NEL TUV SUD

Key points from GGFR guidelines

There are a variety of options available for measurement of flare gas

volumes, metering or estimation, each with its own positive and
negative aspects
Selection of the most appropriate method will usually depend on:

the accuracy required

the volume of flared gas to be measured and the degree of variability
the liquid content of the gas
availability of a specific meter type and the required support (calibration
facilities, maintenance,...)

Measurement generally requires a combination of methods to achieve

best results (measurement & estimation)
Measurement uncertainty analysis of full measurement chain
essential
Normally approached in stages to minimize disruption/cost
Measurement is fundamental for regulatory and process
purposes

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

Lessons from recent analysis of flaring regulatory regimes

International
Best Practice

Formal developed
framework mixed
results

International
Best Practice

Formal developed
framework mixed
results

Foro de Lineamientos de Medicin

Mxico 2012

Evolving
Framework

No formal
framework

20

No formal
framework

Lessons from recent analysis of flaring regulatory regimes

Data is fundamental

Regulation of flaring is critically dependent on access to reliable and

consistent data. Data allows to:
identify need for intervention
monitor achievements and trends
rapidly identify and respond to large increases in flaring

Publication of data on company performance and field-by-field flaring

volumes can support flaring reduction
creates public pressure to improve, even where monetary penalties may
be limited
helps interested parties identify flared gas volumes which may be
utilised

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Final consideration

Measurement is also important as Mexico uses data to assess options and

commitments in international climate change negotiations (e.g. Copenhagen
Accord, future post Kyoto agreements)

Source: National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA), UNFCCC site

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GGFRs Vision is

Gracias por su atencin

Preguntas?
Francisco Sucre
fsucre@worldbank.org

Phone: +1-202-473-5479

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Back up slides

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Mexico: Flares from the sky

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