Sour Gas Flaring
Plume-RT has been successfully used for flaring applications in Alberta and British
Columbia, Canada to
- manage sour gas flaring activities in flat and complex terrain;
- provide more favourable flaring windows by reducing shut-in periods;
- reduce fuel gas usage;
- select representative locations for permanent and mobile SO2 monitor
placement;
- manage odour complaints;
- evaluate cumulative effects from multiple SO2 sources;
- predict ground-level SO2 concentrations from pipeline blowdowns;
- model additional scenarios (i.e., release rates and H2S concentrations); and,
- show the transient nature of SO2 dispersion (varied locations, not persistent).
Predicted maximum ground-level concentrations of SO2 over a two week
time period overlaid on a basemap of the modelling domain.
The following table compares traditional flare management plans against the Plume-RT
solution.
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Traditional Flare Management
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The Plume-RT Solution
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Acceptable flaring periods are conservatively selected using distant meteorological
data to demonstrate that ambient air quality objectives are met. This may result
in more frequent or extended shut-in periods.
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The use of on-site meteorological conditions may reduce shut-in periods
by predicting more frequent, favourable ground-level SO2 concentrations.
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The traditional approach does not have forecasting capability, thereby making proactive
planning difficult.
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Forecasting allows operators to proactively plan for favourable/unfavourable periods.
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Engineering controls, such as the addition of fuel gas (i.e. propane), are based
on conservative assumptions.
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Smaller volumes of fuel gas may be required when actual meteorological conditions,
gas flow rates and H2S contents are taken into consideration.
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Modelling is performed on estimated release rates and H2S concentrations.
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Actual release rates and H2S concentrations can be modelled with current
meteorology.
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