kaasupolttamisessa

Kaasupolttamisessa, known in English as gas flaring or flaring, is the process of burning off unwanted natural gas during the extraction of crude oil. This practice is common in oil and gas operations worldwide, particularly in remote locations where the infrastructure for collecting and transporting natural gas is not yet established. The primary reason for flaring is safety; accumulating large amounts of untreated natural gas can pose an explosion risk. By burning the gas, its pressure is reduced and it is converted into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water vapor.

While flaring is a safety measure, it is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The combustion of natural gas, which is primarily methane, releases carbon dioxide, a potent contributor to climate change. Additionally, incomplete combustion can release other pollutants such as black carbon. Efforts are underway to reduce flaring through various strategies. These include investing in infrastructure to capture and transport natural gas for sale or utilization, such as reinjecting it into the reservoir for enhanced oil recovery, or using it to generate power on-site. Regulations in many countries are also becoming stricter, encouraging oil companies to minimize flaring. Technologies for gas capture and utilization are continuously improving, offering more sustainable alternatives to traditional flaring practices.