What are flare stacks used for?

The tall, thin structure with flames or steam coming out of the top is called a flare stack. It’s a gas combustion device used at industrial sites to burn off waste or other unwanted gases.

Which stack has flare part?

If the flare is elevated, the final component of the flare system is the riser stack. The stack is characterized by its method. A ground flare requires no stack.

How do flare stacks work?

During flaring, excess gases are combined with steam and/or air, and burnt off in the flare system to produce water vapour and carbon dioxide. The process of burning these excess gases is similar to the burning of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), which some of us use as fuel for home cooking.

What is platform flare?

Natural gas flaring and venting systems on offshore platforms and in oil extraction are used globally to burn off waste gas, excess gases and are also a means to protect process equipment, the system’s processes, and the environment.

Why are flare stacks used in oil and gas plants?

During plant or partial plant startups and shutdowns, flare stacks are also often used for the planned combustion of gases over relatively short periods. Gas flaring at many oil and gas production sites protects against the dangers of over-pressuring industrial plant equipment.

Why do gas flares occur on oil rigs?

Where you will most commonly see flaring is on offshore rigs due to the rig being so remote. Most times when gas is being flared, it is because that gas is not able to be processed or sold. The reasoning is due to a lack of pipeline infrastructure to trasport the gas to a refinery or processing plant.

What are flare stacks used for in North Dakota?

North Dakota Flaring of Gas. In industrial plants, flare stacks are primarily used for burning off flammable gas released by pressure relief valves during unplanned over-pressuring of plant equipment.

Why do oil rigs flare in North Dakota?

According to eia.gov, the North Dakota Pipeline Authority estimates that more than 1/3 of the flared gas is a result from the lack of pipeline infrastructure. One reason that companies may flare natural gas is that it is simply worth less than oil.