62
DOLPHINENERGY
SUSTAINABILITYREPORT2015
Flaring andVenting
Although flaring increases GHG
emissions and contributes to
climate change, the controlled
combustion of excess gas is an
essential safety feature that is
necessary toprotect equipment
fromdamage due to overpressure,
reducing the risk of a fire or
explosion inside the plant. Pilot
flames, continuously lit by a steady
supply of natural gas, calledpurge
gas, ensure that any gas released
to the flareswill be ignited safely.
We are therefore committed to
minimizing flaring and venting in
our operationswherever possible
whilemaintaining optimal safety
andproductivity.We are an active
member of theQatar Petroleum
Global Gas FlaringReduction
Initiative, formed todevelop and
implementmethods to reduce
flaring and venting volumes.
Our approach has focused
upon implementing stringent
maintenance procedures,
particularly for pressure relief
valves, reduction of purge gas,
and investment in flare reduction
technologies, such as infrared
cameras that allow us todetect
andmonitor smaller pilot flames
that are invisible to thenakedeye.
Our commitment to flare reduction
is not limited to onshore flaring,
but also extends to offshore flaring.
In 2015, we installed infrared
cameras (similar to those installed
onshore)on theflareheadersof our
offshoreplatforms,whichenabledus
to reduceflamevisibility to50%.
Wehavealso reducedour offshore
purgegasflow from787 to 144kgper
hour for bothplatforms, resulting in
a73% reduction inoffshoreflaring
incomparison to2014.
In 2015, our total flaring intensity
decreasedby5%due toour flaring
reduction efforts put in place
inbothonshore andoffshore.
However, our venting along the
Kuwaitgas network increaseddue
to several projects’ tie-in and
pigging operations.
Flaring (Qatar)
2012
2013
2014
2015
Total Flaring (MMscf)
3,370
2,713
3,346
3,025
VolumeofOffshoreFlaring (MMscf)
378
356
553
150
VolumeofOnshoreFlaring (MMscf)
2,992
2,357
2,793
2,876
Flaring Intensity (MMscf /MMboe)
16.1
13.0
16.2
15.3
Flaringas aPercentageofGasAvailable for Sale (%)
0.36
0.28
0.34
0.37
Venting (Kuwait) (MMscf)
2012
2013
2014
2015
Total Venting
4.65
4.66
5.20
6.02
Air Emissions
Weare committed to limitingair
emissions released to theatmosphere
as a result of our operations, including
nitrogenoxides (NO
x
), sulfur dioxide
(SO
2
) andvolatileorganic compounds
(VOCs) emissions that directlyaffect
air quality.
Protect theEnvironment
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