A burning torch of fire on a high pipe is an indispensable companion of every oil rig. Many people ask: why is fire burning on oil rigs? Is this part of the mining process or a sign of an emergency? We will try to answer these questions in detail.
What and why burns on an oil rig?
Burning fire at the places of oil production is called - gas torch. The fact is that, together with oil, from the bowels of the earth during production, a sufficiently large amount of accompanying combustible gases can come.
Gas pressure and supply volumes are unstable; therefore, it is not always possible to store and preserve it along with oil production. In addition, the composition of the gas mixture is heterogeneous and requires additional purification for further use in domestic purposes. That is why, the simplest and most effective decision was made - to burn the incoming gas, immediately after it comes to the surface.
In practice, this is necessary for the following reasons:
- Incoming gas is difficult to collect, process and preserve; the process is too costly and inefficient;
- Associated gases can be heavier than air, which is why they tend to accumulate at ground level. If they are not removed and not burned on time, an explosive cloud may form;
- Combustion of associated gases helps to stabilize the pressure in the well, reduces the risk of accidents.
Interesting fact: Similar oil flares are available not only at the towers producing fuel, but also at enterprises specializing in the processing of crude oil and the storage of fuel in large volumes. Sulfur gases that are ineffective for further use are also burned here.
Risks and disadvantages of gas burning
The technology in which associated sulfur gases are simply burned has several disadvantages. First of all, air pollution is created. A large volume of greenhouse gases, products of combustion and soot settling in the immediate vicinity are emitted into the air. To reduce the formation of black smoke and soot, the fire is mixed with water vapor. This greatly reduces the emission of hazardous combustion products into the atmosphere.
The disadvantage of this method is the increase in noise from burning fire and evaporation of moisture, noise can interfere with residents of the surrounding areas, if the processing or mining enterprises are located near the city.
In practice, the legislation of most countries of the world stipulates a requirement for mandatory reduction of atmospheric emissions for processing enterprises. Therefore, the bulk of the gas must be used for useful purposes or disposed of, processed in a safer way. Burning is allowed only in cases of emergency, when there is a risk of increased pressure in the system and other problems.
Interesting fact: requirements to reduce the amount of combusted gas are imposed on all major oil producing states.Promising methods are being developed for the disposal of associated materials without atmospheric combustion, which affects the environmental degradation.
So why is the fire burning on oil rigs? This is the process of burning associated sulfur gases, the amount of which is difficult to control, and the accumulation creates a risk of fire and explosion. Each oil field has a large amount of sulfur dioxide that accumulates underground and is stored under high pressure. Their output is a natural process during drilling and subsequent extraction of black gold.
