A Flare Management Strategy for British Columbia

1
A Flare Management Strategy for British Columbia

• Presented to Science and Community, Environmental
  Knowledge Fund Forum and Workshop
• by Dave Krezanoski, P.Eng.
• May 29, 2003

2
Outline

• General Flaring Practices
• Historical Flaring Perspective in B.C.
• Reduction Drivers
• Reduction Challenges
• B.C. Reduction Targets
• Flare Reduction Strategies
• Summary

3
General Flaring Practices

• Well Test Flaring
• short term (typically a few days)
• potentially large volumes
• Solution Gas Flaring (Routine)
• continuous
• low volumes
• Emergency/Upset Flaring
• short duration (typically a few hours)
• low volumes
• Non-Routine Flaring
• short term (typically a few days to weeks)
• potentially large volumes
• High GOR wells shut-in

4
Flaring Breakdown for 2001
5
Historical Flaring Perspective in B.C.

• Significant flare reductions despite having a
  formal reduction policy (1997 to 2001 ? 48)
• Informal policy consisted of
• review and approve all well test flare volumes
• review flaring at non-conserving batteries
  periodically
• review and approve all planned facility flaring
  with high GOR wells shut-in
• Early reductions a result of infrastructure
  development in Buick and W. Stoddart

6
BC Historical Flaring Data by Type (1996-2001)
(Cross-hatched areas represent estimated
unmeasured/unreported emissions)
7
Flare Reduction Drivers

• Public health and safety
• Resource conservation
• GHG Reductions
• AEUB Guide 60
• Excellent example of a multi-stakeholder approach
  to problem solving
• Alberta success drove B.C. initiative

8
Flare Reduction Challenges

• Technology
• Regulatory flexibility
• Electricity generation
• Royalty exemptions
• Promote corporate cooperation

9
Flare Reduction Project

• Operations engineering has worked on this project
  for over two years
• Evaluated flaring data (where, why and how much)
• Reviewed Guide 60 and monitored success in
  Alberta
• Liased with operators and other ministries

10
BC Proposed Flare Reduction Targets

• 1997 chosen as baseline
• Proposed Targets
• 50 below 1997 baseline volume by the end of 2004
• 55 below 1997 baseline volume by the end of 2005
• Seek industry and stakeholder input
• Must address data reporting deficiencies

11
BC Historical Flaring Data by Type (1996-2001)
with Proposed Reduction Targets
(Cross-hatched areas represent estimated
unmeasured/unreported emissions)
12
Flare Reduction Strategies

• Utilization of AEUB flare management hierarchy
• Eliminate
• Reduce
• Improve efficiency
• Economic assessment of conservation of all
  solution gas flares

13
Strategies Continued

• Limiting non-routine flaring during facility
  outages
• Reduce inlet gas volumes (up to 75) based on
  duration and type of shutdown
• Seek stakeholder input
• CASA, OGPAG, or others
• Take advantage of momentum in Alberta

14
Summary

• OGC is committed to flare reductions
• Implement four strategies initially
• A unified approach across provincial boundaries
  is preferred

15
Summary Continued

• Province of BC is committed to a Results Based
  regulatory system
• Minimize red-tape
• Reduce regulatory burden
• Flaring reductions since 1997 an excellent
  example of industry/govt cooperation