flaring in alberta’s upstream oil and gas sector - flarenet – … · upstream flaring in...
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BC Emission Factor for Gas Flaring
• A BC Emission Factor (EFBC) is the link
between flared volume and absolute mass-
emissions of BC to the atmosphere
• Notably lacking in the literature due to the
challenge of BC emissions measurement
• EERL/FlareNet expertise has enable the
development of an EFBC relation through
parallel lab.- and field-measurements
Laboratory Measurements
• Performed at the Carleton University Flare Facility• McEwen & Johnson (2012). J. AWMA, 62(3).
• Corbin & Johnson (2014). Ind. Chem. & Eng. Res., 53(49).
Field Measurements via Sky-LOSA
• Sky-LOSA (line-of-sight attenuation using skylight) is
an imaging technique developed at Carleton University
to quantify instantaneous BC emission rates from in-
field flares• Johnson et al. (2011). Env. Sci. & Tech., 45(1).
• Johnson et al. (2013). Aer. Sci. & Tech., 47(9).
• Conrad & Johnson (2017). Env. Sci. & Tech., 50(3).
Emission Factor Relation
• An empirical emission factor relation has been derived
from lab. and field data for BC emissions from gas
flaring in the upstream oil and gas industry
Composition Data for Flaring
Facilities in Alberta
Mean composition and mean higher heating value (HHVv)
profiles for facilities that reporting flaring in Alberta in
2016. Error bars represent the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Alberta Black Carbon Inventory and
Emission Factors
2016 black carbon inventory estimates from reported
upstream oil and gas sector flaring in Alberta
Mean black carbon emission factors for facilities that
reported flaring in Alberta in 2016. Error bars represent
the 10th and 90th percentiles.
David R. Tyner, Bradley M. Conrad, Matthew R. Johnson
Energy and Emissions Research Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
A Black Carbon Emissions Inventory from Gas
Flaring in Alberta’s Upstream Oil and Gas Sector
Atmospheric Black Carbon (BC)
• Causal relationship with numerous adverse
health effects
• Strong climate forcing and short
atmospheric lifetime
• Absorbs ~75% of incident mid-visible light
• Lifetime ~weeks vs. 100s of years for CO2
• Significant mitigation potential often
coupled with economic benefit
Upstream Flaring in Alberta in 2016
Distribution of (a) flaring oil and gas facilities and (b)
flaring volumes in Alberta in 2016. Grid corresponds to
Alberta’s township system (9.7 km x 9.7 km).
• ~3100 oil and gas facilities reported flaring• 55% oil batteries, 26% gas processing facilities, and
15% gas batteries
• Concentrated flaring in Peace River • Region-specific regulations prohibit tank top and
casing gas venting (heavy oil production)
• Elevated flaring in Grande Prairie• Predominantly from gas batteries, gas plants and
gathering systems
Alberta oil and gas sector (excluding mined oil sands)
flared 664 million m3 of natural gas in 2016
(b)(a)
NOx
Benz.
CO2
CH4
PASS3
ECOC
C2H
6
CO
2
N2
MFC
MFC
MFC
CH
4
C3H
8
C4H
10
Perforated Air Supply Pipe
Mass Flow Controller
Two-stage Regulator
Mixed Flare Gas Flow
Inline Air Supply Fan
Controlled Evaporator and Mixer
MFC
CEM
C5 C6
CEMMFC
carleton.ca/eerl
Estimated 2016
BC emissions
from flaring in
Alberta total
245 tonnes