Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria

Abstract

Apart from contributing to greenhouse gas emission, flared gases create trade-off emissions such as carbon (iv) oxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4), nitrogen oxides (NO X), sulphur oxides (SO X) and water vapour. The impact of such flared gases is of both local and global concern. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to review current literature on gas gathering and utilization and to determine the most efficient and economic means of harnessing flared gases in order to contribute to the attainment of the "no routine flare" policy of government and reduce greenhouse gas emission. In this paper, analysis is made of energy and gas flaring trends in Nigeria by examining available data with a view to understanding the possible impact of the recovered gas on gas supply in the country. A comparison of traditional gas gathering technologies to gas ejector technology is also made. This study found that despite efforts to reduce gas flaring in Nigeria, about 81% of gas flared in the last 6 years is from Service Contract (SC), Sole Risks/Independent (SR/I) and Marginal Fields (MF) companies most likely because of the high cost of investment in gas gathering utilities and lack of market for gas and gas products. Thus, this paper identifies gas ejector technology as a viable compression equipment to cut compression costs. Given the current excess gas capacity of the country and the Nigerian power market which is currently undersupplied and generates significant greenhouse gases (GHGs), this paper recommends the use of the recovered flare gas for power generation, which will not only directly help to reduce Nigeria's contribution to GHG emission from flaring, but also substantially help to cut down her overall emission level mainly from the industrial use of fossil fuel for power generation and wood fuel for heating.