In the worldwide oil business, gas flaring—the controlled burning of natural gas generated during the extraction of crude oil—has long been a standard procedure. In addition to being a massive waste of a valuable energy resource, this way of disposing of associated petroleum gas (APG), which is released alongside oil, also significantly contributes to climate change and environmental degradation.
Gas flaring continues to be a major worldwide problem, from the immense oilfields of Nigeria’s Niger Delta to the isolated offshore installations in the North Sea and the enormous deposits in Russia and the Middle East. Recent evidence shows that the issue is getting worse rather than better, despite worldwide pledges to cut emissions and technological breakthroughs.
Global gas-flaring volumes in 2024 were 151 billion cubic meters (bcm), a 2% rise from the year before and the highest level since 2007. This spike emphasises how urgent it is to take coordinated efforts to lessen its consequences and move towards sustainable energy methods. Although gas flaring has been done since the early 19th-century days of oil exploration, it became more well-known in the middle of the 20th century as global oil output surged.
Many oil-producing countries are now affected, and the top nine flaring countries—Iraq, Venezuela, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, the United States, Russia, and Iran—account for most of the world’s volumes.
These flares, which, like endless bonfires, light up the night sky, represent both human resource extraction ingenuity and our resource management shortsightedness. Addressing gas flaring is crucial as the globe struggles with the twin issues of energy security and the climate disaster.
With an emphasis on severely impacted areas like Nigeria, this essay explores workable remedies while going into great detail into the origins of gas flaring and its complex effects on the environment, human health, and economies. By looking at these factors, we hope to show the route towards a more sustainable and clean future.
Table of Contents
What Is Gas Flaring?
Fundamentally, gas flaring involves purposefully burning natural gas that is created as a byproduct of oil extraction. Methane (CH₄), ethane, propane, and other hydrocarbons make up the majority of the associated gas that is frequently brought to the surface with crude oil when it is extracted from subterranean reservoirs. In a perfect world, this gas would be extracted, refined, and used to produce energy, such as electricity or liquefied for export as LNG.
However, operators frequently use towering stacks called flare stacks to flare it off, particularly in isolated or undeveloped fields. Although flaring prevents the accumulation of dangerous gases, it is mostly employed as a disposal technique in situations where gas utilisation infrastructure is either nonexistent or not financially viable.
By setting the gas at the flare stack’s tip on fire, methane and other hydrocarbons are transformed into carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapour, and other pollutants. Flaring produces a lot of greenhouse gases and poisons, although it is better than venting, which discharges the gas straight into the atmosphere without burning and would release strong methane.
Around 389 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions are produced worldwide each year as a result of flaring, which exacerbates the climate catastrophe. In operations where gas capture is considered impractical, routine flaring—as opposed to emergency flaring—occurs regularly and is the most hazardous.
Causes of Gas Flaring
Gas flaring is a result of a number of operational, legal, economic, and infrastructure issues rather than being an inherent byproduct of oil production. Developing successful mitigation methods requires an understanding of these causes.
- Lack of Infrastructure
- Operational Safety
- Economic Factors
- Regulatory Gaps
1. Lack of Infrastructure
The infrastructure required for petrol collection, processing, and transportation is either nonexistent or insufficient in many oil-producing regions, especially in developing nations. There are frequently no storage facilities, processing facilities to isolate important components like LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), or pipelines to deliver gas to markets.
Building such infrastructure, for example, can be logistically difficult and prohibitively expensive in isolated onshore locations or remote offshore areas. The route of least resistance for operators is to flare the gas as a result.
2. Operational Safety
Sometimes, for safety concerns, flaring cannot be avoided. To avoid explosions or equipment failures, surplus gas must be discharged during well testing, maintenance, or unplanned pressure increases. Flaring serves as a regulated release valve in emergencies, such as equipment failures or power outages. Even though these occurrences are usually brief, they add to the total quantities of flaring, particularly in older plants that are more likely to malfunction.
3. Economic Factors
The economics of petrol consumption are crucial. Natural gas prices are subject to change, and investment in capture systems could not pay off right away in areas with little domestic demand or few export possibilities. Since they see petrol as a byproduct rather than a co-product, oil corporations frequently place a higher priority on producing oil.
Flaring is thought to be less expensive than commercialisation or gas reinjection, which involves putting gas back into the reservoir to improve oil recovery. Flaring is further encouraged in low-regulation settings when there are few consequences for the activity.
4. Regulatory Gaps
Flaring is sustained by lax or unevenly enforced regulations. Anti-flaring legislation is in place in many nations, but its enforcement is hampered by political unrest, corruption, and a lack of oversight. Conflicts of interest, for instance, might occur in countries where state-owned oil firms operate, resulting in inadequate governance.
Although success varies greatly, international accords such as the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 effort attempt to solve the problem. These factors are interrelated; for example, regulatory flaws frequently result in economic disincentives, which feed a vicious cycle.
Effects of Gas Flaring
Beyond only the obvious flames, gas flaring has significant negative effects on the environment, public health, and economies.
- Environmental Impacts
- Health Impacts
- Other Effects
Environmental Impacts
Gas flaring releases a variety of chemicals that damage ecosystems and hasten climate change, making it a serious environmental offender.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Air Pollution
- Acid Rain
1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
While incomplete combustion can emit unburned methane, a gas 25 times more potent than CO₂ over 100 years, flaring transforms methane into CO₂. Around 389 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent were produced by flaring in 2024, undercutting international attempts to keep warming to 1.5°C. Sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events are all made worse by this.
2. Air Pollution
Particulate matter, sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the emissions. These contaminants deteriorate the quality of the air, creating smog and exacerbating respiratory conditions in nearby areas close by. Persistent flaring has caused soot-covered landscapes and decreased visibility in areas like the Niger Delta.
3. Acid Rain
Acid rain is created when sulphur compounds from flares combine with atmospheric precipitation, causing soil acidification, crop damage, and water body contamination. This impacts fisheries and agriculture, endangering food security in areas that are already at risk. Flaring also wastes energy; the 2024 151 bcm flare could have provided a year’s worth of electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the opportunity cost of switching to renewable energy.
Health Impacts
Communities close to oil fields are especially at serious risk for health problems from prolonged exposure to flare emissions.
- Respiratory Illnesses
- Cancer Risks
1. Respiratory Illnesses
Particulates and NOx are examples of pollutants that irritate the lungs, causing bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Residents of Nigeria’s Niger Delta have higher rates of these illnesses, according to studies conducted there.
2. Cancer Risks
Leukaemia and other malignancies are more common when carcinogenic substances like benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present. In flaring hotspots, prolonged exposure has been associated with increased fatality rates.
Other Effects
VOCs frequently cause neurological problems, skin rashes, and eye irritations. Due to hazardous exposure, pregnant women run the risk of giving birth to children with low birth weights and developmental abnormalities. Social inequality is exacerbated by these health burdens, which disproportionately impact marginalised groups.
- Economic Losses: Flaring is an example of a lost business opportunity.
- Wasted Resources: Sales of the flared gas for exports, petrochemicals, or power generation could generate revenue. According to estimates, flared petrol would cost the world economy billions of dollars in 2024, robbing nations of income.
- Increased Costs: Countries that use flare gas frequently import energy, which drives up prices. Flaring speeds up reservoir depletion and decreases field efficiency for oil companies.
- Broader Implications: Cleanup expenditures, lost agricultural productivity, and medical bills are all consequences of environmental devastation. Flaring costs Nigeria more than $2 billion a year, which impedes progress.
Gas Flaring in Nigeria and Global Context
Nigeria, which ranked eighth globally in 2024 with a 12% increase in volumes—the second-highest leap globally—despite only a 3% increase in oil production, is a prime example of the problems associated with gas flaring. Flares in the Niger Delta, which has enormous oil deposits, have been burning nonstop for decades, giving the area the nickname “the land of eternal flames.”
Communities face health issues, acidified rivers, and blackened skies, while sabotage and insecurity make infrastructure development more difficult. Flared gas commercialisation is the goal of government programs like the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) and the Gas Flare Reduction Programme; however, regulatory gaps, corruption, and insufficient enforcement are impeding success.
Recent reports show sluggish progress, with flaring continuing as a result of militant activity and deteriorating infrastructure. Due to export difficulties and distant Siberian fields, Russia tops the world in flaring quantities.
While the U.S. observes flaring in shale plays like the Permian Basin, Iran and Iraq face comparable problems in the context of geopolitical tensions. Flaring is made worse by Venezuela’s economic problems, while instability is a problem in Algeria and Libya. Weak governance and inadequate infrastructure are recurring elements in these case studies.
Solutions to Gas Flaring
A complex strategy combining technology, policy, and cooperation is needed to stop routine flaring.
- Gas Capture and Utilisation
- Strengthening Regulations
- Renewable Energy Alternatives
- Technological Innovations
- Public-Private Partnership
1. Gas Capture and Utilisation
The key to capturing and processing APG is infrastructural investment. Technologies like reinjection improve oil recovery, while gas-to-liquids (GTL) transforms petrol into fuels. Projects to turn flared gas into LNG or LPG could satisfy domestic demand in Nigeria.
2. Strengthening Regulations
Regular flaring must be prohibited by law and subject to severe fines. This is supported by more than 100 signatories to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative. Compliance can be ensured through transparent monitoring using satellite data.
3. Renewable Energy Alternatives
Making the switch to renewable energy lessens reliance on oil. Operations can be powered by wind and solar, reducing the requirement for flaring. Mechanisms for pricing carbon encourage reductions.
4. Technological Innovations
Flare gas recovery systems (FGRS) that compress and reuse gas, mobile carbon capture units that reduce flaring by 60% in pilots, and AI-optimised process controls are examples of recent developments. New opportunities are provided by gas-to-power options such as onsite generation and blockchain for carbon credits. CO₂-derived carbon nanotubes are one example of an innovation that turns pollutants into materials.
5. Public-Private Partnership
Projects are funded through collaborations; for instance, Iraq has decarbonisation contracts worth $100 million with firms such as Wood to reduce flaring by 78% by 2025. This is supported by international financing from organisations such as the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership. The advantages—lower emissions, better health, and financial gains—are enormous, but putting these solutions into practice requires political will and funding.
Conclusion
The environmental impact of the oil sector and the unrealised potential for sustainable resource use are starkly brought to light by gas flaring. With worldwide quantities expected to reach 151 bcm in 2024, the practice contributes to health concerns and climate change while wasting enough energy to power entire areas. The human cost, from contaminated communities to lost income, is exemplified by countries like Nigeria, which are struggling with a 12% flare rise.
However, there is optimism in tried-and-true solutions: by 2030, routine flaring can be eradicated through collaborations, strong laws, and cutting-edge technologies. We can put out these unnecessary fires and create a cleaner future by giving petrol use, renewable energy, and innovation top priority. This change promises environmental restoration, job development, and energy security for economies that rely on oil.
The way forward necessitates international cooperation; stopping gas flaring is a step towards sustainable, equitable development as well as an environmental need. Today’s determined action will brighten tomorrow as the world watches for net-zero goals.
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A passion-driven environmentalist by heart. Lead content writer at EnvironmentGo.
I strive to educate the public about the environment and its problems.
It has always been about nature, we ought to protect not destroy.