Publication Overview
This review aims to assess the current understanding on reducing emissions from flaring in the oil and gas industry and to review literature on both the quantification of emissions and current mitigation strategies. IEAGHG published a technical review 2017-TR7 (Oct 2017) which studied emissions along the natural gas supply chain but flaring emissions were not included. This review aims to follow on from 2017-TR7 as a supplementary review on flaring emissions.
Publication Summary
The report concluded: 1. Changes in CO2 emissions due to ANG (adsorbed natural gas) flaring is significantly determined by crude oil produced, gas-to-oil ratio, investment in gas utilization project, export price of natural gas and the Nigeria’s participation in GGRF partnership via the ratification of Kyoto Protocol; 2. Homemade gas flaring reduction policies and regulations have insignificant impact on changes in CO2 emission consequent of gas flaring over time. This exposes the weakness of the homemade gas flaring reduction policies and their inefficient enforcement mechanisms; 3. An internationally oriented policy appears to be effective in bringing about significant decline in CO2 emission as a result of gas flaring; 4. There is evidence of general lack of environmental concern by companies operating in the upstream sector for the apparent negative environmental consequences of gas flaring, and; 5. Changes in the level of the emissions over time is not an important factor considered by NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) in deciding how much gas-flaring-related information to disclose in its ASB (Annual Statistics Bulletin). The study also stated that future research should investigate how corporations operating in less developed countries like Nigeria can become more transparent in their disclosures of environmentally sensitive activities.