Gas Flaring In the

Niger Delta
The disposal of associated gases through flaring has A
been a major problem for the Nigerian oil and gas
industries and most of these gases are flared due to the
lack of commercial out lets. The resultant effects of TERM PAPER
gas flaring are the damaging effect of the environment
due to acid rain formation, green house effect, global
warming and ozone depletion. by

BLANKSON EYITUOYO .R (060409015)

ANIMASHAUN OLANRENWAJU (050409011)

NDIGWE EMEKA (060409022)

ADEYINKA ADESHOLA (050409007)

SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

IN

PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM AND GAS ENGINEERING, FACULTY OF

ENGINEERING
ABSTRACT

The disposal of associated gases through flaring has been a major problem for the
Nigerian oil and gas industries and most of these gases are flared due to the lack of
commercial out lets. The resultant effects of gas flaring are the damaging effect of the
environment due to acid rain formation, green house effect, global warming and ozone
depletion.

This write up is aimed at evaluating the situation of gas flaring in the Niger Delta, the
effects of gas flaring, measures and attempts being made to stop/reduce gas flaring in the
area and possible solutions to put an end to gas flaring in the country.
TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page

Abstract i

10 INTRODUCTION 1

20 THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES 2
2.1 Gas Flaring Systems 2
2.1.1 Open Flare Systems 3
2.1.2 Enclosed Flare Systems 3

30 GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA 4

3.1 Effects of Gas Flaring in the Niger Delta 4
3.2 Attempts to stop/reduce gas flaring in the Niger Delta 6
3.2.1 Domestic Gas Market 7
3.2.2 Export-oriented Gas Market 7
3.2.3 Escravos Gas Project 7
3.2.4 Oso NGL Project 7
3.2.5 LNG Project 7
3.2.6 Ekpe Gas Compression Project 8
3.2.7 Oso 2Y2 Project 8
3.2.8 Belema Gas Injection Project 8
3.2.9 Odigbo Node Gas Project 8
3.2.10 Cawthorne channel Gas Pipeline Project 8
3.2.11 The West African Gas Pipeline project 8

40 CONCLUSION 10
50 APPENDIX
1.0 INTRODUCTION

A gas flare or flare stack is an elevated vertical stack or pipe found on oil & gas wells, oil & gas
drilling rigs, natural gas well completion activities, in refineries, chemical plants, natural gas
processing plants and landfills used for combusting waste gas released by pressure relief valves
during unplanned over-pressuring of plant equipment and also for releasing the excess amount of
natural gas that cannot be used so we burn this gas and carbon dioxide formed is released to
atmosphere landfills. Its primary purpose is to combust waste methane gas which results from
the decomposition of organic materials in the landfill.

On oil production rigs, in refineries and chemical plants, its primary purpose is to act as a safety
device to protect vessels or pipes from over-pressuring due to unplanned upsets. This acts just
like the spout on a tea kettle when it starts whistling as the water in it starts boiling. Whenever
plant equipment items are over-pressured, the pressure relief valves on the equipment
automatically release gases (and sometimes liquids as well) which are routed through large
piping runs called flare headers to the flare stacks. The released gases and/or liquids are burned
as they exit the flare stacks. The size and brightness of the resulting flame depends upon how
much flammable material was released. Steam can be injected into the flame to reduce the
formation of black smoke. The injected steam does however make the burning of gas sound
louder, which can cause complaints from nearby residents. Compared to the emission of black
smoke, it can be seen as a valid trade off. In more advanced flare tip designs, if the steam used is
too wet it can freeze just below the tip, disrupting operations and causing the formation of large
icicles. In order to keep the flare system functional, a small amount of gas is continuously
burned, like a pilot light, so that the system is always ready for its primary purpose as an over-
pressure safety system. The continuous gas source also helps diluted mixtures achieve complete
combustion. Enclosed ground flares are engineered to eliminate smoke, and contain the flame
within the stack.

Flaring and venting of natural gas from oil & gas wells is a significant source of greenhouse gas
emissions. Its contribution to greenhouse gases has declined by three-quarters in absolute terms
since a peak in the 1970s of approximately 110 million metric tons/year and now accounts for
0.5% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. This flaring is highly concentrated: 10
countries account for 75% of emissions, and twenty for 90%. The largest flaring operations occur
in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The leading contributors to gas flaring are (in declining
order): Nigeria, Russia, Iran, Algeria, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, and the United States. In
spite of a ruling by the Federal High Court of Nigeria (that forbade flaring) in 2005, 43% of the
gas retrieval was still being flared in 2006.

The number for Nigeria is 23 billion cubic meters.

2.0 THEORITICAL PRINCIPLES

Natural Gas could be either associated gas or non-associated gas. This depends on whether it is
produced together with crude oil or produced from a defined gas reservoir. In cases where crude
oil is the only resource of interest, natural gas becomes not only an unwanted figure but also an
embarrassment. As a result it has become imperative to put together a means of collection for the
accompanying hydrocarbon.

On the other hand, the lack of availability of gas resources in gas producing countries like
Nigeria has made this hydrocarbon resource somewhat useless. Thus, natural gas becomes a
waste and a profit reduction term. Waste gases are uneconomical to recover/retain. This leaves
such a country with only one option: “Gas Flaring”.

2.1 Gas Flaring Systems

The flare system fills a key role in the overall safety and environmental compliance of a
hydrocarbon processing plant or production facility.
A Flare system consists of:
• Staging/Control System
• Liquid Seal
• Elevated Stack
Due to the facts that flare applications ranges, there are different types of flares. Flares could be
broad categorized into the following:
• Open Flares
• Enclosed Flares
2.1.1 Open Flare Systems
Open flares burn waste gases as open flames, though a windshield is normally fitted. If provided,
combustion control is rudimentary. Open flares are also known as elevated flares.

FIG 2: Open Flare System

2.1.2 Enclosed Flare Systems

Enclosed flares burn waste gases in a vertical, cylindrical or rectilinear enclosure. Some means
of combustion control is normally provided, and the enclosure is often insulated to reduce heat
losses and allow operation at higher temperatures. Enclosed flares are also known as ground
flares.

A Typical Enclosed Flare System

3.0 GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA

Nigeria holds 11,700 square kilometers of mangrove forest: the third largest in the world and the
largest in Africa. Most of this mangrove is found in the Niger Delta.
She is also a major oil producer and most oil extraction takes place in the Niger Delta. Here,
petroleum or crude oil abounds in rock formations. The complex mixture of hydrocarbons and
other organic compounds that make up the flammable liquid fossil fuel is extracted from oil
wells found in those oil fields.
When crude oil is pumped out it also drags associated gas with it. Such natural gas could be
separated from the oil and be used but oil companies prefer to burn it off. Shell-BP was the first
one to start with this practice in the 1960s.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populated country, with significant oil, and even more gas, reserves. Oil
production began in the Niger Delta about 45 years ago and so did the practice of flaring
associated gas. The waste involved in the practice, and the expected controversy, was recognized
early on. Following the oil-fuelled 1967-1970 civil war, the industry developed via joint ventures
with the government’s Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in which companies such as
Shell, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco and TotalFinaElf are the operators, but hold minority
interests.
There is confusion over how much oil and associated gas is produced in Nigeria. The most recent
and independent information source suggests that over 3.5 billion standard cubic feet (SCF) of
associated gas was produced in 2000, of which more than 70 per cent was burnt off, ie flared. As
oil production has increased, Nigeria has become the world’s biggest gas flarer, both
proportionally and absolutely, with around 2 billion scf, perhaps 2.5billion SCF/day being flared.
This is equal to about 25 per cent of the UK’s gas consumption. The single biggest flarer is the
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC).

A recent report estimates flaring to represent an annual economic loss to the country of about US
$2.5 billion.

3.1 EFFECTS OF GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA

The impact of gas flared is of local and global concern. The main components of this flared gas
include carbon (iv) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), water vapour and sulphur
dioxide (SO2). It is estimated that the Nigerian gas flared has released 35 million tons of carbon
dioxide and 12 million tons of methane in a year. The low combustion efficiency of Nigerian
flare stack (60 – 80%) results in a large portion of the gas emitted being methane and since
methane has a higher global warming potential (64 against 1 for CO2). The Nigerian oil industry
probably contributes more than any other company of these serious global commons
environmental problems. As carbon dioxide and methane are the main green house effect and
consequently, this phenomenon has been confirmed to raise the average global temperature by
about 0.5°C within the last century. The flaring stations in the Niger – Delta area has been
blamed for smoke and flames that damage the air and soil quality in the ecologically fragile delta
and contribute to the global green house gases. The gas flaring in Nigeria has for years been
criticized by environmental groups as the world’s largest sources of global warming pollutants
this acts, which experts attributes to the rise in sea level. In Nigeria however, environmental
policies and regulations can be conveniently characterized as minimal and poor, as the Nigerian
government puts profits ahead of the environment and the welfare of its citizens. Nigeria, which
according to UN economic commission for Africa is categorized as a gas – surplus country, still
has limited associated gas sales as 68% of the gas is flared and as a result has been associated
with climate change and related warming, deforestation and acid rain with attendant impact on
agriculture and other physical infrastructure. Heat and noxious gases may contribute to
environmental health problem in the Niger – Delta region. Also, there has been timely warming
and an increasing global awareness on the need to protect our environment and improve our
economy. Typical gas flare in Nigerian oil field are located at ground level and surrounded by
thick vegetation, farmland and villages huts 20 – 30m from the flare. The heat radiation is a
function of the flare temperature, gas flow rate and geometrical design of flare stack. There is a
great physiological impact on crops planted in the vicinity of the gas flare. The soil mantle of the
earth is indispensable for the maintenance of the plant life, affording mechanical support and
supplying nutrient and water.

Also, the soil constitutes a major storage location for heat, acting as sink for energy during the
day and a source to the surface at night. Soil temperature is one of the most critical factors that
influence important physical, chemical and biological processes in soil and plant. Soil
temperature affects plant growth first during seed germination. Metabolically regulated plant
processes, such as water and nutrient uptake can be diminished below optimum rates at both low
and high temperature, resulting in temperature dependent growth and yield pattern. For instance,
corn yields were observed to increase almost linearly as a function of soil temperature between
15 – 25°C, above 25°C the yield decreases. With respect to the gas flaring, its effect on
vegetation, health and microclimate are equally searing. The free disposal of gas through flaring
generates tremendous heat, which is felt over an average radius of 0.5 kilometer thereby causing
thermal pollution. It has been reported that there could be about 100% loss in yield of crops
cultivated 200m away from the flares, 45% loss in yield of crops at 600m away and 10% loss in
yield for crop planted 1000m away.

3.2 ATTEMPTS TO STOP/REDUCE GAS FLARING IN THE NIGER DELTA

Nigeria is endowed with abundant natural gas resources, which in energy terms, is in excess of
the nations proven crude oil reserve. More so, the gas was discovered whilst searching for crude
oil, as no deliberate effort had been made to search for natural gas then. The current reserved
estimate of the Nigerian gas is over 120 trillion cubic feet, with about 50/50 distribution ratio
between Associated Gas (AG) and Non Associated Gas (NAG). Only a small fraction of this
quantity is currently being utilized.
A large fraction (about 63%) of the AG produced during the production of crude oil is currently
being flared. Even then this is a considerable improvement of between 7% - 17% from what it
used to be three years ago, when it was flared between 70% to 80%.
In order to diversify its revenue base and reduce the huge wastage of valuable resource as well as
the degradation of the environment as a result of flaring, the Nigerian Government, through the
NNPC, is vigorously pursuing a number of natural gas utilization projects with its joint venture
partners whereby associated gas would be harnessed to achieve these objectives.
The government is sufficiently concerned about the issues of environmental degradation so much
so that it has targeted 2010 as the deadline year when all gas flares must be extinguished. In line
with this target therefore, all the Joint Venture partners have also set their own targets in order to
meet this deadline.
These targets range from year 2005 to 2010. This means that the gas sector in Nigeria is going to
be a beehive of activities, and a lot of room exists for investment in this area. Some of these are:
LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), IPP (Independent Power Plant), GTL (Gas to Liquid Conversion),
NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) and Methanol. Gas supply to local industries, is indeed an industry
with great potentials and future in the 21st century.
While a number of gas utilization projects have already been completed, commissioned and in
operation, several other projects are at various stages of execution. In addition, local industries
have started converting from the use of fuel oil to gas due to increase in awareness.

3.2.1 Domestic Gas Market:

On the domestic front, NNPC through its subsidiary, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), currently
supplies gas for power generation, either as source of fuel or as feedstock to cement and fertilizer
plants, glass, food and beverages, manufacturing industries and so on. More local industries are
now aware of the advantages and benefits of using gas, hence the demand for gas is increasing.
The Nigerian gas market is a profit oriented market awaiting potential investors.
3.2.2 Export- Oriented Gas Projects:
For the international market, NNPC and its Joint Venture partners are currently embarking on
several gas utilization projects, which include the following:
3.2.3 Escravos Gas Project:
This project was executed by NNPC/Chevron JV. The plant is located in the Southwestern part
of the country and it produces mainly LPG for export from its first phase. Detailed engineering
for the second phase has reached advanced stage, while a third phase is being proposed.
3.2.4 Oso NGL Project:
The NNPC/Mobil JV recently commissioned an NGL plant located at its OSO field in the South
Eastern part of Nigeria. It started production for export in the third quarter of 1998.
3.2.5 LNG Projects:
Nigeria, through NLNG (Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas) Ltd., is currently embarking on the
construction of its first LNG plant in collaboration with three partners, namely, ELF, AGIP, and
SHELL. The LNG plant site is located at Finima in the Eastern region of Nigeria and, these three
companies in joint venture with NNPC, will also supply up to 1 billion standard cubic feet of
natural gas for feed stock/fuel to the plant from their Obite, Obiafu and Soku fields respectively.
It is expected that flaring will be substantially reduced by the time these projects come on
stream, in addition to the expected huge revenue.

3.2.6 Ekpe Gas Compression Projects:

The NNPC/MOBIL JV executed this project in order to gather the gas that was being flared in
this field for enhancement of oil production by gas lifting and gas re injection.
3.2.7 Oso 2Y2 Project:
This project is also being executed by the NNPC/MOBIL JV. The objective is to provide
additional gas make-up for the Oso NGL as well as maintain condensate production at the
expected plateau.
3.2.8 Belema Gas Injection Project:
The NNPC/SHELL Joint Venture is executing this project with an objective to reduce gas flares
in Five flow stations by re-injecting some of the gas, some for gas lifting, some for use as fuel by
local industries and the excess for backing out NAG that is currently used to meet various
existing contractual obligations. The contracts for the execution of the EPC and gathering
pipelines have reached advanced stages of execution. About 80mmscf/d of gas is expected to be
utilised.
3.2.9 Odigbo Node Gas Project:
The objective of this project is to gather about 113mmscf/d of AG from about Six flow stations
in the NNPC/Shell Eastern Nigeria Fields, for supply (about 92mmscf/d) to ALSCON
(Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria) as feed gas and for gas lifting.
Odidi AGG Project: This project is also being executed by the NNPC/Shell JV in the South
Western part of Nigeria. The objective of the project is to gather gas and inject into the ELP
(Escravos to Lagos Pipeline), which will eventually form part of the West African Gas Pipeline
that will supply gas to some West African Countries.
3.2.10 Cawthorne Channel Gas Injection Project:
The objective of this project is to gather the gas that is currently being flared in this field for re-
injection and for supply to a third party for LPG extraction. The conceptual design is currently
on-going.
3.2.11 The West African Gas Pipeline Project:
The objective of this project is to supply gas to some ECOWAS countries, pursuant to Nigeria's
commitment to Article 48 of the ECOWAS Treaty, which encourages member nations to co-
operate, consult and co-ordinate their polities regarding energy and mineral resources.
Following deliberations by member-states on improving co-operation on energy, the
governments of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Togo, through their ministries and departments
responsible for energy matters, signed Heads of Agreements (HOA) in 1995, to provide a
framework for the construction of a Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC), and Project
Implementation Committee to monitor the development of the project.
A commercial group has also been set up comprising Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), Ghana
National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), SOBEGAZ (Benin) and SOTOGAZ (Togo); and two
gas producers Chevron Nigeria Ltd. (CNL) and Shell Petroleum Development Company of
Nigeria. (SPDC). In 1998, the commercial group retained a German company to conduct a
feasibility study and the final report was submitted in March 1999. The report showed that the
WAGP was commercially viable and technically feasible. Negotiations are currently on-going
with a number of prospective buyers in the sub region which now include companies in Senegal.
In order to achieve the flare-out target date of 2010, NNPC and some of its partners, have drawn
up activities and strategic programmes for the utilization of all gas that is currently being flared
as well as future gas production resulting from growth in oil production. These programmes
included: NNPC/Elf JV had set its flare-out target year at 2006, and some of their planned
projects include Amenam/Kpono, Ofon (Phase-2) and 4-bar integrated oil and gas projects.
NNPC/Shell JV's flare-out target year was 2008. Some of their planned projects include
Akri/Oguta, S. Forcados, EA, Bonga, Ubie, Bomu etc, and gas gathering and utilization projects.
NNPC/Chevron JV's flare-out target year was 2006 and their planned projects are EGP phases 2
and 3.

4.0 CONCLUSION
From this study the following conclusions have been deduced:

• Gas Flaring is still a major factor to be looked at in the Nigerian oil and gas industry
• The measures and efforts made by the Nigerian government have proved positive as gas
flaring rates have reduced drastically from what it used to be about three years ago.
• In order to further reduce gas flaring in the Niger Delta, associated gas should be
continually exploited and should be used as an alternate energy source.
• Even with all the measures taken so far, Nigeria still remains largest gas flaring
community in the world.

10 APPENDIX
Smoke from giant gas flares hovers above Ebocha-Egbema
 Nigeria flares enough gas per year to power a good portion of Africa.

.
Color composite of the nighttime lights of the Nigeria region. The vector polygon drawn around
the gas flares associated with Nigeria are shown in white