Analysis of Flaring Activity at Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Export Facilities Worldwide

Abstract

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities are booming worldwide to supply gas for the growing energy demand. Flaring, the controlled burning of natural gas, occurs at these facilities during operations ranging from start-up to ongoing maintenance and under emergency situations. Although flaring can be a significant air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission source, little information exists on the frequency, duration, and volume of gas flared by LNG export facilities. This study leveraged ten years of data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Night Fire (VNF) product associated with 48 existing LNG export facilities globally to develop probabilities of flaring at different life-cycle stages. We found a significantly higher volume of gas flared in the first two years of a facility’s operation (i.e., on average 1.9 (1.0–3.2) billion cubic meters (bcm) per capacity vs 0.62 (0.43–0.92) bcm during subsequent years). During regular operations, the annual volume of gas flared was correlated with the facility’s production capacity, and flaring varied greatly among facilities (148 (137–159) flaring days/year on average and 0.73 (0.64–0.85) bcm/capacity). Unfortunately, most environmental assessments overlook the start-up phase and fail to consider worst-case scenarios. As flaring is a source of air pollution, its potential health impacts on local populations may be underestimated in these assessments.

Minimal research exists on flaring at Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facilities. This study develops probabilities of flaring events and volumes of gas flared per life-cycle stage.