…Finding & producing oil & gas

– some basic facts

International Association of Oil & Gas Producers

Flaring natural gas

W hen crude oil is brought to the
surface, it usually rises with associ-
ated natural gas – like the carbonation
small volumes of gas may be released
without being burnt (emergency venting).
If the natural gas flows in sufficient
in a soda siphon. Ideally, this gas is quantities, it can be exported and sold
captured and used to help generate to local markets, channelled into an
the power and mechanical drive on the existing pipeline system, or liquefied and
production facility. Alternatively and transported by ship to remote markets. If
under the right geological conditions, the none of these options exist, excess gas is
gas can be re-injected into the reservoir burnt via the flare (routine flaring).
to enhance oil production.
To reduce flaring, countries need to put
Flares need to be available as a safety in place the right economic framework
measure (operational flaring) similar to to allow national and international oil &
a pilot light on a gas heater. This is to gas companies to make the necessary
avoid explosion by preventing air from investments. To this end, the World Bank,
entering the system. Flares allow a quick oil-producing countries, OPEC, donor partnership was established at the 2002
and controlled combustion when gas countries (including the EU as an entity) World Summit on Sustainable Develop-
needs to be released from pipes in an and international oil companies promote ment in Johannesburg.
emergency and for maintenance. Very the Global Gas Flaring Reduction
The GGFR initiative aims to support
(GGFR) initiative. This public/private
national governments in their efforts to
800
reduce gas flaring by providing advice
to governments, national oil companies
700
and potential customers on market
development and gas agreements.
652
600 (23.1tcf)
The GGFR partners have endorsed a
Global Standard for a significant gas
500 flaring reduction within 5-10 years by
482 finding commercial uses for the associ-
(17.1tcf) 448 ated gas through increased collabora-
400 (15.9tcf)
tion between countries.
300 GGFR-facilitated projects should
reduce total global flaring by 12 billion
200 cubic metres per year. GGFR is helping
189 Global 147 bcm
(6.7tcf) (4.1tcf) gas flared
Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,
100 Kazakhstan, Nigeria and Qatar to meet
84 identified dates for eliminating routine
(3.0tcf)
0
USA European Asia Latin Africa
gas flaring. There has been considerable
Union America success in Nigeria, which has reduced
Gas consumption vs global flaring, 2007 (Source: BP Statistical Review, GGFR) its flaring by 10 billion cubic metres per
year since 2002.

About OGP

O GP represents the upstream oil & gas industry before international organisations including the International Maritime Organisation, the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Regional Seas Conventions and other groups under the UN umbrella. At the regional level, OGP is
the industry representative to the European Commission and Parliament and the OSPAR Commission for the North East Atlantic. Equally important is
OGP’s role in promulgating best practices, particularly in the areas of health, safety, the environment and social responsibility.

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