Flared gas conservation. Final report for 1979

This study concludes that those natural gases which are currently being vented or flared in quantities which could approach some economically feasible method of recovery are of a temporary or intermittent (upset) nature. In oil producing states, no flare laws are in effect and field flaring or venting quantities must be recorded and explained. Major oil refiners fall under similar constraints. At least three major refiners in the nation now sell or anticipate selling surplus off-gas production. Conservation efforts now being utilized include reinjection of the natural gases back to the oil well, and some expansion of existing gas gathering systems. Nine possible gas recovery methods were evaluated which might be practical: centralized gas plant, fuel cell, gas engine generators or gas turbine generators, carbon black (centralized), ammonia (centralized), cogeneration, LNG (centralized), and compressed gas. Of the nine gas recovery methods economically evaluated for a hypothetical large West Texas oil field, fuel cells appear relatively attractive for the near future (1983 to 1985). In general, the value of purchased electrical power needs to increase less than two-fold to make fuel cell power competitive. Natural gas values need to increase two- to five-fold to justify gas recoveries under conventional methods.