International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy

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

Received: 15 October 2015    Accepted: 08 January 2016    Published: 16 February 2016
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Abstract

Apart from contributing to greenhouse gas emission, flared gases create trade-off emissions such as carbon (iv) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur oxides (SOX) 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.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12
Published in International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy (Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2016)
Page(s) 10-15
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gas Ejector, Gas Gathering, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Flare Gas, Climate Change

References
[1] http://go.worldbank.org/016TLXI7N0.
[2] Ugwuoke P. E., Agwunobi U. C., Aliyu A. O. (2012). Renewable Energy as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy in Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, Volume 3, No 1, 11-19.
[3] IPCC, 2014: Summary for Policymakers, In: Climate Change 2014, Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Edenhofer, O., R. Pichs-Madruga, Y. Sokona, E. Farahani, S. Kadner, K. Seyboth, A. Adler, I. Baum, S. Brunner, P. Eickemeier, B. Kriemann, J. Savolainen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow, T. Zwickel and J. C. Minx (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA
[4] Haung B. J., Jiang C. B. and Fu F. L. (1985). Ejector Performance Characteristics and Design Analysis of Jet Refrigeration System. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 107,* 792-802.
[5] Iamashita, E. K., Galaxe, F. and Arica, J. (April,2008). A Planning Model for Offshore Natural Gas Transmission. Pesquisa Operacional. Janeiro.
[6] Devold, H. (2006) An Introduction to Oil and Gas. Oil and Gas Production Handbook, ABB, Oslo .
[7] Kamal, B., John, G., & Hasan, I. (2008, January 14). Supersonic Ejector Captures, Reinjects Leaked Vent Gases. Oil & Gas Journal, 54.
[8] NNPC, (2000-2013). Annual Statistical Bulletin.
[9] Sarshar, M. M., (April, 1999). The Esso Energy Award Lecture, 1998, Boosting Production from Low-Pressure Oil and Gas Fields: A Revolution in Hydrocarbon Production. The Royal Society, London. Vol. 357, 921 – 941.
Author Information
  • Ministry of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, West Africa

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Rivers State, Bori-Ogoni, Nigeria, West Africa

  • Department of Civil Engineering, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Rivers State, Bori-Ogoni, Nigeria, West Africa

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  • APA Style

    Yobo Moses Tambari, Sornaate Lucky Easy, Akpan Paul Paulinus. (2016). Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 4(1), 10-15. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12

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    ACS Style

    Yobo Moses Tambari; Sornaate Lucky Easy; Akpan Paul Paulinus. Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria. Int. J. Environ. Prot. Policy 2016, 4(1), 10-15. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12

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    AMA Style

    Yobo Moses Tambari, Sornaate Lucky Easy, Akpan Paul Paulinus. Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria. Int J Environ Prot Policy. 2016;4(1):10-15. doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12,
      author = {Yobo Moses Tambari and Sornaate Lucky Easy and Akpan Paul Paulinus},
      title = {Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy},
      volume = {4},
      number = {1},
      pages = {10-15},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijepp.20160401.12},
      abstract = {Apart from contributing to greenhouse gas emission, flared gases create trade-off emissions such as carbon (iv) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur oxides (SOX) 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.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Flare Gas Gathering and Utilization: A Strategic Approach to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Nigeria
    AU  - Yobo Moses Tambari
    AU  - Sornaate Lucky Easy
    AU  - Akpan Paul Paulinus
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
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    EP  - 15
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7536
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijepp.20160401.12
    AB  - Apart from contributing to greenhouse gas emission, flared gases create trade-off emissions such as carbon (iv) oxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulphur oxides (SOX) 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.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 1
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