Flare Gas Recovery in Oil and Gas Refineries

Abstract

Environmental and economic considerations have increased the use of gas recovery systems. Regarding our comprehensive process evaluation in 11 oil and gas refineries, we devised practical methods to approach zero flaring. This paper presents the results of two case studies of reducing, recovering and reusing flare gases from the Tabriz Petroleum Refinery and Shahid Hashemi-Nejad (Khangiran) Natural Gas Refinery, both in Iran. The design considerations, economics of the process and system operation are studied in this paper. Flare gases are compressed and returned to the fuel gas header for immediate use as fuel gas. Flare gas recovery reduces noise and thermal radiation, operating and maintenance costs, air pollution and emission, and fuel gas and steam consumption. Process stability and flare tip increment without any impact on the existing safety relief system are also the effects of the flare gas recovery system.