The document discusses measurement of flare and vent volumes from oil and gas operations. It describes the Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership, which aims to reduce wasteful and harmful gas flaring. The document outlines various methods for measuring flare volumes, including direct metering, distributed metering, and estimation using gas balancing, control valve data, and process data. Key considerations for meter selection include accuracy, operability, contaminant sensitivity, and cost. Estimation through gas balancing is unsuitable for normal flaring. The guidelines recommend dedicated flare gas metering for normal flaring and estimation methods for emergency blowdowns.

1. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Global Gas Flaring Reduction
Partnership
&
Measurement of Flare/Vent Volumes
World Bank
Francisco J. Sucre

2. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Content
• Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR)
• Gas Flaring in Mexico
• Global Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard
• GGFR Measurement Guidelines
• Final remarks

3. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership (GGFR)
• Public-private partnership led by the World Bank
• Formed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg in 2002
• Main double fold objective:
– avoiding unnecessary waste of non-renewable cleaner energy resource
– reduction of carbon emissions and other negative environmental impact
of flaring and venting of associated gas in upstream oil and gas
operations
• Includes 27 members: governments from oil-producing countries,
state-owned and international oil companies, European Union and
the World Bank Group
Mission Statement
GGFR is a catalyst for reducing wasteful and undesirable practices of gas
flaring and venting through policy change, stakeholder facilitation and
project implementation
3

4. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Flaring in Mexico
• E&P flaring down from 2001 to
2005, but jumped until
2008
• Dropping in last 4 years (w 2011)
• Largest volumes from offshore
operations
• Highest rate of utilization of
94% in 2005 (average of 85%)
• Important source of GHG: at
peak, flaring represented
aprox 2% of national
emissions (not accounting for
venting and flare efficiencies)
Source: Pemex financial reports & EIA Statistics: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

5. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Gas Flaring vis-a-vis Gas Imports
• Significant comparative value of flare
gas when compared with imports from
US
Known barriers to flare reduction in
Mexico
• Insufficient gas infrastructure
(gathering, processing and
compression)
• Operational conditions (e.g.
nitrogen in AG, compression, etc.)
• Focus on oil production
maximization
• Prior to CNH, fiscal regime
neutral to flaring and venting
reduction
• Limited allocation of CAPEX for lower
IRR projects
Source: Pemex financial reports & EIA Statistics: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

6. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
CNH Guidelines on Flare/Vent volumes
• Article 48. Sizing of flare and vent gas meters. The continuous flow rate capacity of the meters shall be
dimensioned in accordance to the expected gas flow volumes.
• Article 49. Measurement uncertainty for flare and vent gas. The maximum allowable measurement
uncertainty for gas flare and vent measurement systems shall be +/-3%.
• Article 50. Flare and vent gas meter installation. The installation of the meter must be executed in
compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Article 51. Flare and vent gas composition measurement. Monitoring of the flare and vent gas
composition shall be carried out, either by sampling for lab analysis, or by continuous analyzers.
• Article 52. Liquid measurement in flare and vent. If there is a considerable amount of liquid in the
system, a separator shall be installed, along with a (liquid) meter.
• Article 53. Indirect estimation of flare and vent gas volumes. Indirect estimation shall be made by way
of GOR accounting or through system balance or simulators. The Commission shall be informed as to how
said accounting was made.
•

7. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
GGFR’s Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard
• Global Voluntary Standard
– Sets out approach to overcome barriers
to reduce flaring & venting
– Guidance on how to achieve reductions
– Emphasize key role of accurate
monitoring of flare/vent volumes to
achieve reductions
• Existing facilities should, at a minimum,
estimate volume applying sound engineering
mass and energy balance
• New projects and large flaring facilities should
measure through metering

8. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
GGFR’s Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard
• Global Voluntary Standard
– Best practice on measurement:
• Total volume of gas sent to the flare(s)
should be continuously metered either
at each of the sources or at the flare
headers, to determine the annual
volumetric flow to the flare.
• At a minimum, flow measurement
devices used to determine flare gas
volumes should have an accuracy of
+/- 5 percent over the anticipated
range of flow rates

9. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
GGFR’s Voluntary Flaring Reduction Standard
• Global Voluntary Standard
– Highlight the importance of
estimating GHG using
– API Compendium of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Estimation Methodologies for the Oil and Gas
Industry
– Volume and emissions data reporting
• To monitor performance gas flare and vent
should be publicly reported
• Governments have an important role in
facilitating and gathering information on gas
flared and vented
• Government are encouraged to implement a
reporting tool

10. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Standard Defined Sources of flares/vents
• Flaring
– Continuous (routine)
• Surplus gas for lack of facilities
and/or market outlets
– Non-continuous, which may be:
• Temporary (planned non-routine) or
– Compressor start up/shut down
– Well completion, treatment,
stimulation, workovers
– Early production facilities
– Gas migration
– Production storage tanks
working/flashing losses
• Emergency (unplanned)
• Venting
– Continuous (routine)
• Non safety vent of surplus gas due to lack
of flaring facilities
• Production storage tank losses (flashing,
working and breathing)
• Gas-driven pneumatic devices, chemical
injection pumps
• Gas treatment vents
• Locally vented low preassure systems
– Non-continuous
• Catalyst
• Well completion, treatment, stimulation,
workovers, and testing
• Surface casing gas (oil wells)
• Gas migration (oil wells(
• Operational venting to reduce equipment
pressure

11. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Relevance of flare measurement
• Why quantify flares and vent volumes?
– Justification of conservation costs
– Prioritize and optimize efforts
– Reservoir engineering: better understand the adverse impact to
reservoirs
– Effectiveness of regulatory regime on flare/vent depend on accurate
measuring and reporting
– To provide accurate information and data that helps the regulator
evaluate compliance and evaluate progress
– Public safety and environment: understand and monitor emissions
– To determine GHG baseline, assess abatement costs of mitigation,
leverage carbon credits and make pledges in international agreements

12. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Considerations about flare measurement
• Reiterated massages by experts… during GGFR sponsored
workshops
 Flare measurement is extremely challenging
 Generally requires a combination of methods to achieve
best results (measurement & estimation)
 Measurement uncertainty analysis of full measurement
chain essential
 Normally approached in stages to minimize
disruption/cost
 Many considerations are needed when selecting the best
measurement approach
12

13. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
GGFR Flaring Measurement Guidelines
INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY REVIEW:
o Technology specifications
o Accuracy requirements
o Control requirements
DELINEATION OF MEASUREMENT OPTIONS:
o Continuous flow measurement systems.
o Flow test methods.
o Estimation methods:
o Mass balance.
o Use of GOR data.
o Process simulations.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGGFR/Resources/Guidelines_Flare_Vent_Measurement.pdf

14. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Methods for measuring flare volumes
1. Metering
a. Direct
b. Distributed meters
2. Estimation
a. Gas balance
b. Control valve data
c. Process data
GGFR Flaring Measurement Guidelines

15. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
13 February 2012 15
Characteristics of meters for flare gas volume
measurement
Technical Economic

16. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Issues for flare meter selection
• Accuracy
• Operability (range, calibration requirements, flow regime dependence..)
• Sensitivity to contaminants (liquids, particles)
• Restriction for gas flow
• Availability
• Ease – and cost - of installation
• Ease of maintenance, calibration and verification
• Cost

17. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Gas flow : Production, usage and flared volume
Gas produced minus Export equals Flare Volume
Injection
Fuel
Gas lift
Other uses
Losses
Gas
produced
Flare
Volume
Usage
FUEL
GAS
GAS
INJECTION
GAS
EXPORT
OTHER
GAS
USES
LOSSESGAS
LIFT
• Most widely used estimation method by industry
• Accurate during emergency “blowdowns” where flowmeters struggle to cope
• Unsuitable for normal flaring (majority of the year) = excessive ‘measurement uncertainty

18. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
By-difference method
Measurement Uncertainty when estimating: using simple root-sum-square
method
100
2222
2
2222






























flare,m
liftfuelortexpprod
flare
Q
UUUU
U%
Emergency Blow-down:
<1% time, 20% gas flared
Gas stream Proportion of Total (%) Measurement Uncertainty (%)
Exported Gas 0 n/a
Fuel Gas 5 ± 3
Lift Gas 4 ± 3
Flared Gas 91 ± 0.2
Normal Flaring:
>90% time, 40% gas flared
Gas stream Proportion of Total (%) Measurement Uncertainty (%)
Exported Gas 90 ± 1
Fuel Gas 5 ± 3
Lift Gas 4 ± 3
Flared Gas 1 ± 92
BEST PRACTICE: dedicated flare gas meter for normal flaring & By-difference for blow-down
Source: NEL TUV SUD

19. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Key points from GGFR guidelines
• There are a variety of options available for measurement of flare gas
volumes, metering or estimation, each with its own positive and
negative aspects
• Selection of the most appropriate method will usually depend on:
– the accuracy required
– the volume of flared gas to be measured and the degree of variability
– the liquid content of the gas
– availability of a specific meter type and the required support (calibration
facilities, maintenance,...)
• Measurement generally requires a combination of methods to achieve
best results (measurement & estimation)
• Measurement uncertainty analysis of full measurement chain
essential
• Normally approached in stages to minimize disruption/cost
• Measurement is fundamental for regulatory and process
purposes

20. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012 20
International
Best Practice
Evolving
Framework
Formal developed
framework – mixed
results
No formal
framework
International
Best Practice
Formal developed
framework – mixed
results
No formal
framework
Lessons from recent analysis of flaring regulatory regimes

21. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Data is fundamental
• Regulation of flaring is critically dependent on access to reliable and
consistent data. Data allows to:
– identify need for intervention
– monitor achievements and trends
– rapidly identify and respond to large increases in flaring
• Publication of data on company performance and field-by-field flaring
volumes can support flaring reduction
– creates public pressure to improve, even where monetary penalties may
be limited
– helps interested parties identify flared gas volumes which may be
utilised
21
Lessons from recent analysis of flaring regulatory regimes

22. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
• Measurement is also important as Mexico uses data to assess options and
commitments in international climate change negotiations (e.g. Copenhagen
Accord, future post Kyoto agreements)
22
Final consideration
Source: National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA), UNFCCC site

23. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Gracias por su atención
Preguntas?
Francisco Sucre
fsucre@worldbank.org
Phone: +1-202-473-5479
GGFR’s Vision is…
23

24. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Back up slides

25. Foro de Lineamientos de Medición
México 2012
Mexico: Flares from the sky
25