Flaring and venting guidance

Contents1. Introduction 3

2. Scope and purpose 4

3. OGA principles and approach 5

4. Operational guidance 7

4.1 General 7

4.2 Extended Well Tests 7

4.3 Commissioning phase 7

4.4 Production phase 8

4.5 Lafe life operations 9

4.6 Terminals 9

5. Consent technical parameters 10

5.1 Installationandfielddiversity 10

5.2 Reporting and disclosure 10

5.3 Flaring and venting source categories 10

6. Consent variations 12

7. Fees and charges 13

8. Definitionofterms 14

3Flaring and venting guidance

Flaring and venting are controlled processes to disposeofgas,essentialforemergencyandsafetypurposes on oil and gas installations, and in situations whereitmaynotbefeasibleforthegastobeused,exported or re-injected. Flaring is the ignition of gas, and venting is the release of unignited gas.

TheOGAStrategy,whichcameintoforceinFebruary2021,incorporatesarangeofnewnetzeroobligationsfortheUKoilandgasindustry.TheCentralObligationoftheOGAStrategyrequires,amongst other things, that relevant persons, in securingthatthemaximumvalueofeconomicallyrecoverablepetroleumisrecoveredfromthestratabeneathrelevantUKwaters,takeappropriatestepstoassisttheSecretaryofStateinmeetingthenetzerotargetincludingbyreducing,asfarasreasonableinthecircumstances,greenhousegasemissionsfromsourcessuchasflaringandventing.

TheOGAwilldriveforreductionsinflaringandventing and associated emissions through its:

• Principles: the principles that the OGA expects industrytofollowinrelationtoflaringandventing

• Regulatory approach: the OGA will use its consenting regime to drive continuous reduction, andwherepossible,eliminationofflaringandventing

• Stewardship: the OGA will engage with operators regularlytoencouragecontinuedreductionsinflaringandventingaspartofFlaringandVentingManagement Plans and Greenhouse Gas Emissions ReductionActionPlans(asdescribedinNetZeroStewardship Expectation 111), through short term operational optimisation as well as longer term investmentplanstominimiseor,wherepossible,eliminatethepracticeofflaringandventing

• Data:supportedbyupdatedindustryreportingrequirements,benchmarkingofflaringandventing data, including through the OGA’s annual flaringandventingbenchmarkingreportandthemonthlyflaringandventingdatapublishedthrough the OGA Open Data Portal2

1. Introduction

1https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/exploration-production/asset-stewardship/expectations/2https://data-ogauthority.opendata.arcgis.com/

4 Flaring and venting guidance

This guidance sets out the principles and approach theOGAwillusuallytakeindrivingforreductionsinflaringandventingandconsideringapplicationsforflaringandventingconsents;and,whereappropriate,provides supporting guidance. This guidance updates, consolidates and replaces earlier OGA guidance documents: ‘Flaring and venting during the production phase’ and ‘Flaring and venting duringcommissioning’.TheflaringandventingsectionsoftheOGA’s‘Fieldconsentssystemuserguidance’3havealsobeenupdatedtoreflectflaringandventingconsentEnergyPortalchanges.

TherequirementstohaveconsenttoflaringandventingaresetoutintheEnergyAct1976andtheapplicableoffshoreproductionlicence(grantedunderthePetroleumAct19984).Suchrequirementssupporttheavoidanceofunnecessaryorwastefulflaringandventingofgas.Eachflaringandventingconsent,acrossallUKContinentalShelf(UKCS)areas,willincludequantifiedandtime-boundlimitstowhichoperatorsmustadhere.

Thisguidancedoesnotapplytoflaringandventingactivitiescarriedout,orproposedtobecarriedout,in connection with onshore petroleum production activities: this is covered in the OGA’s consolidated onshore guidance5. However, the OGA notes that, as set out in that guidance, it engages with, and where appropriate, shares relevant information with onshoreenvironmentalregulatorstoalignregulatoryapproaches and maximise emissions reduction opportunities.WhiletheOGArequiresconsentsforonshoregasemissions,theEnvironmentAgency(EA) considers the environmental impact of overall emissionsinEngland.TheOGAandEAonlyhaveremit for onshore oil and gas in England, it is a devolved matter for Scotland and Wales. For further information,[email protected].

TheOGAisnotboundbythisguidance.Thisguidanceisnotasubstituteforanyregulationorlawandisnotlegaladvice.Itdoesnothavebindinglegaleffect.Where the OGA departs from the approach set out in this Guidance, the OGA will endeavour to explain this in writingtothepersonseekingadecisionfromtheOGA.

Thisguidancewillbekeptunderreviewandmayberevisedasappropriateinthelightoffurtherexperience and developing law and practice, and anychangetotheOGA’spowersandresponsibilities.If the OGA changes this guidance in a material way,itwillpublishareviseddocument.

TheOGA’sregulationofflaringandventingisseparatefrom the role of other regulators including the OffshorePetroleumRegulatorforEnvironmentandDecommissioning(‘OPRED’)andtheOffshoreSafetyDirectiveRegulator,whichmay,whereapplicable,separatelyseektosatisfythemselvesthatflaringandventingandassociatedemissionsareproperlymanagedandminimised.RelevantPersonsshouldbeawareofanysuchregulationsandengagewiththerelevantbodywhereappropriate.OperatorsseekingtoapplyforaflareorventconsentshouldalsobeawareoftherequirementsoftheOffshoreOilandGasExploration,Production,UnloadingandGasStorage(EnvironmentalImpactAssessment)Regulations2020.

2. Scope and purpose

3https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/licensing-consents/consents/flaring-and-venting/4Notethatforflaringandventing,thereareslightlydifferentdefinitionsofthegasesemitted.ForventconsentsundertheEnergyAct1976,boththeinertgasandhydrocarbonfractionobtainedfromthelicensedareashouldbegiven,andthecombinedrateforbothwillbethebasisfortheconsent.Forflaringundertheapplicablelicence,onlythehydrocarbonfractionflaredfromthelicensedarearequiresconsent,buttheOGAwillrequiretheinertgascontentoftheflaretobeprovided.

5https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/exploration-production/onshore/


TheOGAexpectsindustrytofollowthefollowingprinciplesinrelationtoflaringandventingacrossallUKCSareasandoilandgaslifecyclestages:

1.flaringandventingandassociatedemissionsshouldbeatthelowestpossiblelevelsinthecircumstances

2.zeroroutineflaringandventingforallby2030

3.allnewdevelopmentsshouldbeplannedand developedonthebasisofzeroroutineflaring and venting.

More detail on these principles, and the OGA’s regulatoryapproach,issetoutbelow.

1. Flaring and venting and associated emissions should be at the lowest possible levels in the circumstances

• Consentedlevelswillbebasedonconsiderationssuchasthehighestpossibleperformance,standards of operation and maintenance for the installation(s) under consideration

• Operatorsmustdemonstratethattheyhave explored all options to remain within consentquantitiesconsidered,includingwhere appropriate in the circumstances, the curtailment of production

• Operators should strive for continuous reductions,deployingbestavailabletechnologyandpracticestominimiseflaringandventingandhaveFlaringandVentingManagementPlans incorporated as part of their Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Action Plans

• Flaredandventedgasshouldbeatthelowestlevelspossibleinthecircumstancesacrossallactivities,includingsafetyrelatedoperations,providedthisdoesnotcompromisesafety(gassourceallocationsaredefinedintheflaringand venting source categories section)

• Whilebothflaringandventingshouldbeminimisedor,wherepossible,eliminated,theflaringofwastegaswillnormallybepreferredtoventing

• Operators should meter, monitor and manage theirflaregascompositionandflarecombustionefficiencytoensureminimumgreenhousegasemissionsresultingfromflareactivity.Operatorsshouldutilisebestavailabletechnologytoquantify,measureandmonitorventgas

2.Zeroroutineflaringandventingforallby2030

• Alloperatorsshouldhave,orworktowards,credibleplanstoachievezeroroutineflaringandventingby2030orsooner.OperatorsshoulddevelopaFlaringandVentingManagement Plan that demonstrates a crediblepathwaytoachievingthatgoal,tobeincludedaspartoftheirGreenhouseGas Emissions Reduction Actions Plans

3. All new developments should be planned anddevelopedonthebasisofzerocategoryA(routine)flaringandventing

• Concept Select and Field Development Planning projectswillbedesignedonthebasisofzeroroutineandminimumsafetyflaringandventing

• Plans should incorporate gas export/storagecontingencyandappropriateoptionstominimiseflaringandventingduringoperational issues or maintenance periods

• Anyexceptionsmustdemonstrateastrongneeds case for alternative approach and theimpactonlifecycleemissions

• Further details in the OGA Field Development Plan Guidance6

3. OGA principles and approach

6https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/exploration-production/development/field-development-plans/


TheOGAwilltakethefollowingregulatoryapproachinrelationtoflaringandventing:

1. OGA approach to decision making

• InmakingitsdecisionstheOGAwill,amongstotherthings,takeintoaccounttheCentralObligationoftheOGAStrategy,andtheoutcomeofanOGAdecisionmaythereforeresult in curtailed or shut-in production

• TheOGAmaymakeadecisionbasedonquantitiesofgasoronassociatedemissions,including, for example, considerations offlarecombustionefficiency

• TheOGAmaytakeintoconsiderationotherrelevant matters, other than those related todirectprocessesthatresultinflaringandventing, including for example, in the event of equipmentfailure,thehistoryofmaintenance

• TheOGAmay,amongotherrelevantfactors,considerthehistoryofflaringandventingperformanceandthehistoryofconsentvariationrequestsduetounplannedevents

2. Flare or vent consent variations will only be considered in exceptional circumstances

• Flaring and venting consents must not beexceeded

• Anyrequestforanincreasetoaflaringand ventingconsentwillbeconsideredonlyasa last resort

• Arequestforincreaseinflareorventconsentlevelswillneedaverystrongjustificationand evidence that demonstrates a full considerationtotheCentralObligation

• Furtherguidancecanbefoundintheconsent variation section


4.1 General

Operatorsmustminimiseflaringandventingbyplanningandimplementingbestpracticeatanearlystage in development planning and design and through continuousimprovementsduringthesubsequentoperational phase. The operator should consider carefullyalloperationalactivitiesinaccordancewithgoodoilfieldpractices,takingintoconsiderationplantuptime,efficientprocessing,handling,usesandtransportation of gas. Operators should prepare Flaring andVentingManagementPlansandtheapproachshouldbeconsideredandincorporatedaspartofGreenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Action Plans. TheseplansshouldbekeptuptodateandshouldbemadeavailableonrequestfromtheOGAorOPRED.

In addition to the high-level expectations and principles setoutabove,thisguidancealsomakesitclear,amonganumberoftechnicalrevisions,thattheOGAwill:

• considerallflaringandventingconsentrequests, regardlessofquantity

• haveapresumptionagainstgrantingmulti-year consents

• requirebothannualandshort-termconsentapplicationstoprovide,whereapplicable,full12months historical data to the date of application

• requireconsistentquantificationandreportingofflaringandventingacrossallUKCSareas

• applyrevisedflaringandventingsourcecategories

4.2 Extended Well Tests

Well tests, Extended Well Tests and well clean-upsshouldbedesignedtoachievetheirgoalswhilstappropriatelyreducingGHGemissions(e.g.optimalduration,reducedflaring/venting).TheOGAhasspecificrequirementsonflaringand venting during the appraisal, development and production well testing phases through the Extended Well Test (EWT) consenting regime – furtherdetailscanbefoundintheEWTguidance7.

4.3 Commissioning phase

During the commissioning of production facilities, flaringandventingconsentswillusuallyberestrictedindurationtobetweenoneandthreemonthsandwillbeforafixedquantityofgasbasedonanauditableprogramme. Once commissioning is complete and stableoperatingconditionshavebeenachieved,thedurationoftheflaringorventingconsent(fornewissuedconsents)maybeincreasedandwillbesubjectto an agreed cumulative maximum for the period.

Thefollowingprinciplesshallbefollowed:

Commissioning philosophy Gasflaringandventingduringcommissioning shouldbekepttothelowestlevelthatisconsistentwiththesafeandefficientcommissioningofoil/gas related plant.

Installation and hook-up Allgasplantmustbecomplete,fullyleaktestedand otherwise tested and commissioned as far as ispracticable,andabletoreceivegas,beforefirstproduction.AgasflaringorventingconsentwillnotbeissueduntiltheOGAissatisfiedthattheplantisreadytoreceivegas.Emissionsabatementtechnologyshouldbeoperationalattheearliestpossiblestage.

Commissioning and planning Ifthereisasignificantdelayincommissioningduetoplantbreakdownormalfunction,theOGAmayneedtoconsiderlimitingproductionuntil gas plant commissioning can proceed.

Commissioninggasflaringandventing consent applications Forflaringandventingconsentsassociatedwithcommissioningoffacilitiesand/ornewfields,operatorsmustsubmitsupportingdocumentationtotheOGA,detailing the commissioning procedure, and the expectedflaringandventingquantitiesassociatedwith the commissioning plan. Commissioning the plantsshouldbeundertakenatminimumrequiredproductionlevelstosupportefficientcommissioningactivitywhileminimisingflaringandventing.

4. Operational guidance

7https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/news-publications/publications/2019/extended-well-test-ewt-guidance/


The OGA will consider this documentation and if satisfiedthatthecommissioningplanachievesthelowestlevelofflare/ventthatisconsistentwiththesafeandefficientcommissioningofoil/gasrelatedplant,thentheflaringandventingfiguresmaythenbeusedasthebasisforthecommissioningflaringandventingconsentapplication.

Supportingdocumentationshouldbesubmittedsixmonthsbeforeexpectedproductionstart-up.Dependingonthecomplexityofthefacilitiestobecommissionedand/orthesizeoftheproject,therequirementsofthesupportingdocumentationmaydiffer.AdviceonthelevelofdetailrequiredshouldbesoughtfromtheOGA.Asa minimum, the documentation should contain:

• abriefoverviewofthefieldandassociatedmain facilities

• a detailed description of the plant commissioning philosophyandprocedure,includinggasexportlinecommissioningshouldthisbeapplicable,settingoutstepstominimiseflaringandventing

• the commissioning schedule

• asummaryofthemainflaringandventingassumptions and the greenhouse gas emission profilesofdifferentcommissioningstrategiesconsidered

• flaringand/orventingforecasts–onadailybasis andtotalquantities

• sketchesandfiguresshouldbeasfollows:

– highlevelfieldlayout

– processflowdiagram

– gascompression,dehydration,gasexport andfuelgassystems

Commissioningflaringandventingconsentapplication process CommissioningflaringandventingconsentsissuedbytheOGAare‘shortterm’consents,normallybetweenone and three months in duration. The commissioning consentisintendedtocovertheperiodfromfirstproduction to achieving and sustaining high uptime stableplantoperations.Itisnormallyarequirementof these consents that the operator shall provide weeklyreportstotheOGAdetailingthefollowinginformationrelatingtothepreviousweek’sactivity:

• ashorttechnicalsummaryoftheperformanceofthegashandlingplant,highlightinganyfeatureswhichhaveaffectedorcouldaffecttheoperationoftheplant

• anupdateoncommissioningactivityprogressand mainworksplanned

• dailyratesofoilproduction,gasproduction,gasexport,gasusedforfuelandofgasflareand/orvent

• cumulativeplotsofproductionandflaringandventingcomparedtoconsentedquantitiesforthat period and a plot of associated emissions

• gas compression plant uptime


4.4 Production phase

Consent duration TheOGAwillnormallymanagetheconsentdurationtobestsupporteffectivestewardshipwhilsthavingconsiderationoftheregulatoryburdenonoperators,takingthefollowinggeneralapproach:

• Typically,forstableproduction,theOGAwillgenerallyissueannualconsents.However,wherelevelsofflaringandventingareunstableorhigherthanexpectedforefficientandoptimisedoperations,theOGAmayissueshortterm(lessthanannual)consents to support enhanced stewardship.

• Newfieldsaresubjecttonormalshort-termcommissioningflareorventconsentsuntilhighuptimestableproductionisachieved,whenadecisionwillbemadeastowhatconsentdurationwillbeappropriate(dependinguponlevelsought).

• Aflaringorventingconsentwillgenerallynotbeissuedwithanexpirydatefallingaftertheexpirydate of the production consent, the licence, or the expected cessation of production date (whichever is earliest),ofanyofthefieldscoveredbytheconsent.

OGA decision making Inadditiontotheprinciplesandregulatoryapproach set out in section 3 (the OGA principles and approach section), the OGA will considerthemorespecificmattersbelow:

• AllflaringandventingconsentapplicationswillbesubjectedtodetailedconsiderationbytheOGA.Flaringandventingquantitiesandemissionswillbecomparedtotheprofileas agreed as part of the Field Development Plan and associated reduction targets.

• TheOGArequiresthatoperatorsprovidejustificationandplansforfuturereductionsinthecaseofanyincreasecomparedtopreviousconsentquantities.ThisinformationshouldbeprovidedintheadditionalinformationboxontheEnergyPortalaspartofapplications.

• Whereappropriate,therewillbeconsiderationofemissionsassociatedwithflaringandventinge.g.regardingcleanerburns,combustionefficiencyandinstancesofcoldflaring.

• Nocarryingforwardofflareorventallowancefromoneyeartothenextwillbepermitted.

4.5Lafelifeoperations

Flaringandventingshouldbemanagedthroughouttheinstallationlifecycle,withendoffieldlifeoperationsconsideredaspartofprojectplanning.Theflaringandventing management plan should demonstrate that all reasonableoptionshavebeenconsideredtominimiseand,wherepossible,eliminateflaringandventingandassociatedemissionsspecificallyinrelationtolatelifeoperations. 4.6 Terminals

Theapproachdescribedinthisguidanceappliestoflaringandventingatterminalsandotheronshore sites dealing with production that is aggregatedfromseveraloffshorefields,althoughtheapplicationprocessisdifferent.Suchsitesarenormallyconsideredasoilorgasprocessingfacilitiesundersection12AoftheEnergyAct1976andconsentsareusuallyissuedunderthatlegislation.

Applicationsforterminalsandsimilarsitesshouldbemadebyemailtotheconsents@ogauthority.co.uk mailbox,not through the Energy Portal. This shouldbeusedforbothrequestsmadeaspartof the OGA Annual Consents Exercise (ACE) or to seekchangestocurrentconsents.Themailboxshouldalsobeusedforanyqueriesabouttheappropriatewayinwhichtomakeanapplication,whetherthroughtheEnergyPortalorthemailbox.Consentswilltypicallybeissuedonanannualbasis.

Applications made for annual consents exercise should contain the following information:

• Listoffieldssendinghydrocarbonstotheterminal or similar site

• ActualflaringandventingquantitiesfromSeptemberofthepreviousyeartoSeptemberofthecurrentyear(i.e.12monthshistoricquantities)

• Expectedflaringandventingquantityforthenextyear,brokendownintothecategoriesbelow

• Summaryofmeasuresbeingconsideredorimplementedtoreduceflaringorventingandassociatedemissionsthroughoutlifecycleactivities,supportedby,amongstotherthings,improvedenergyefficiency,continuedfocusonmaintenance,andahighlevelofproductionefficiency


5.1Installationandfielddiversity

Consentswillbeissuedonafieldbasis,orwhereseveralfieldstie-inintocommonfacilities,theoperatormayapplyforasingle,compositeconsent.Ifthefieldsandfacilitieshavedifferentequitypartners,theOGAmayissueseparateconsentsunlessprioragreementinwritingisgrantedbyallthepartnersinallthefieldsandtheinstallation.Supportingdocumentationshouldbeincludedintheapplication.Ifatiebackofanewfieldtoanexistingfacilityoccurs,theextantflareorventconsentmustbevaried(viaaUKEnergyPortalapplication)toincludethenewfield,oraseparateflareorventconsentforthenewfieldshouldbeappliedfor.Asinglefieldflareorventconsentwillcontinuetocoverafieldwhereflaringorventingtakesplaceonanumberofinstallations.

5.2 Reporting and disclosure

Reporting requirements

• FlaringandventingmustbeallocatedbysourcecategoryforreportingthroughtheEnergyPortal–detailsareprovidedintheflaringandventingsourcecategoriessectionbelow.

• Forannualflaringandventingconsentapplications(whichareusuallyappliedforinOctobereachyearviatheEnergyPortal),theperformance for the preceding 12 months shouldbereported,ifapplicable.

• For short-term consents, 12 months historic informationmustbereportedtoensureacontinuous record to the time of application i.e. thehistoricmonthlydatasincelastreportedtotheOGA.Historicperformancewillbeusedwhenevaluatingforecastedflaringandventingactivity.Theseapplicationswillrequirethe operator to provide full supporting details and to exercise a high level of technical and operationaldiligenceinestimatingquantities.

• Flaringandventingconsentapplicationsmustbesubmittedinmassunits.Thereareanumberofmethodstoquantifygasflaredandventedandlikewise,anumberofmethodstoconvertthistoamassbasis.Flarequantificationisinaccordancewiththerequirementsforflaringassociated

with the emissions trading scheme. Operators shouldensurethemethodologytheyhaveinplacemeetsorexceedsthenecessarylevelsofaccuracy.Allunitsarewaterdrymetrictonnes.

• OperatorsmustreportflaringandventingquantitiesviathePetroleumProductionReportingSystemonamonthlybasis.TheOGAexpectsthatquantitiesarereportedwithin25calendardaysafterthereportingmonthfinishes.

• TheOGAmayalsorequestsomefurtherinformation to support its considerations. For example,theOGAmayrequestevidencetosupportdiscussionsonflaringandventingreductioninitiativesandpathways.

Disclosure

• Flaring and venting data reported through Petroleum ProductionReportingSystemispublishedthroughtheOGAOpenDataPortalonamonthlybasiswithatwoorthreemonthtimedelaysubjectto relevant data disclosure regulations.

• TheOGApublishesanannualflaringandventingbenchmarkingreportwhichoutlinesannuallevelsofflaringandventingactivityassociatedwithoilandgasproductionontheUKCSandthecontributionofthisactivitytogreenhousegas emissions. The report provides an indication ofrelativeperformancelevelsoffshorebyusingpeergroupstosetbenchmarksfortypicalflaringandventingquantitiesandresultingemissions.

5.3 Flaring and venting source categories

Asof2021,reportingcategorieshavebeenupdatedto support stewardship and align with other external reportingandflaringandventingreductioninitiatives(e.g.WorldBankZeroRoutineFlaringInitiative)–theserevisedcategoriesaresetoutbelow.Thesecategoriesapplytoreportingforbothflaringandventing.Thecategoriesapplytogasobtainedfromthereservoircoveredbyconsent.Itshouldbenotedthataflaregasstreamemittedwithoutignition(i.e.ColdFlaring)shouldbereportedasvent.

5. Consent technical parameters


Category A: Streams for the safe operation of the assetbasedonitscurrentdesignandoperatingatoptimumefficiency(excludingCategoryC).Streamsinthiscategoryaregenerallyinherentinthedesignofafacilityandthereforereductionstoflaringandventingallocatedtothiscategorywillgenerallyrequirefacilitymodifications.AlignswiththeWorldBankZeroRoutineFlaringInitiativeroutineflaringcategory.Gasstreamstobereportedinthiscategoryinclude:

• Meteringpackagesrejectstreams

• Stabilisation/separationprocessoffgasstreams

• Crudeoiltank(COT)vents

• Rejectgasfromtreatmentunitse.g.amine,glycol

• Gas disposal on facilities with no export route

Category B: Flaring and venting occurring during normaloperationsbeyondlevelsoptimumfortheinstallation.Reductionsinflaringandventinginthiscategorycanbeachievedthroughoperationalchangesandoptimisation.AlignswiththeWorldBankZeroRoutineFlaringInitiativenon-routinecategory.Gasstreamstobereportedinthiscategoryinclude:

• Separatorsspilloff

• Valvespassingtoflare(passingaboveperformancerating)

• Gas disposal

– During start up activities– Offspecproduct– Exportroutetemporarilyunavailable

• Gas disposed of during spurious depressurisation events – spurious activation ofadepressurisationsysteme.g.asaresultofinstrumentfault,plannedblowdownscarried out to facilitate plant maintenance.

Category C:Emergencydisposalandgasstreamsrequiredspecificallyfortheoperationofsafetycriticalequipment/elements.AlignswiththeWorldBankZeroRoutineFlaringInitiativesafetyflaringcategory.Gasstreamstobereportedinthiscategoryinclude:

• Hydrocarbonpurgegasstreams(includingblanketgas)

• Pilot gas

• HydrogenSulphidedisposal(includingassistgas)

• GasdisposedofduringEmergencyDepressurisation events – depressurisation forsafetyconcern,anygenuinedemandonasafetysystemleadingtodepressurisation

• Inertpurgegas(ventconsentsonly)

Anillustrationofhowthesecategoriesmayrelatetooperationsareshownbelow.

Illustrative flaring and venting profile with gas stream category allocations (not to scale)

Categories

C

B

A


The OGA expects that operators will not exceed flareorventconsentlevels.Breachofconsentmayresult in sanction under the terms of the licence.

Anyrequestforincreasedflaringandventingconsentshouldbeconsideredasalastresort.TheOGAwilltakearobustapproachtoconsideringanyincreasesandoperatorjustificationswillbeheavilyscrutinised.OGAconsiderationmayincludetherecenteventsand/orthelong-termhistoryofoperationsandstewardship.Forexample,thismayincludehistory(planning,frequency,qualityandinvestment)ofmaintenancepractices.OGAdecisionmakingwillbemadeonthebalanceofOGAStrategyCentralObligationsandotherrelevantmatters,anditshouldthereforebenotedthattheOGAmayconsiderthatthecurtailmentofproductionisanecessaryactiontoreduceflaringandventingactivity.

OperatorsmustinformtheOGAassoonasitbecomesclearthatthereisariskofflaringorventingconsentbreach;thisincludesnotifyingtheOGAofnewrisksof,orunexpectedincreasesin,flaringorventing.Requestsforconsentvariationsmustbesubmittedinsufficienttime for the OGA to consider the relevant details and respondaccordingly.FailuretonotifytheOGAingoodtimeofalikelybreachofconsentmaybetakenasevidence of poor management of emissions and the OGAmaydenyrequestsforconsentvariationsand/orpursuesanctionaction.Asaresult,operatorsmayhave to curtail or stop production in order to remain withinconsentedflaringandventingquantities.

Whereflaringorventingisforecasttobeinexcessofconsentedlevels,theOGAmayaskfor and consider the following information:

• arobustremediationplanandinvestmentplan,withapprovedbudgetandtiming,to revert to original consent rates

• options for, or evidence of, curtailment of productiontominimiseflareandventquantitiesand associated emissions – including scenarios thatresultinthetemporaryshut-inofproduction

• analysisonscenarioemissions

• evidencethatexportoutageshavebeen plannedforandallotheroptionshavebeenappropriatelyconsideredbytheoperator, suchasbutnotlimitedto:

– sheltering annual maintenance activities – planning activities where periods of zero production are required(e.g.annualmaintenanceshutdowns)toalignwithknowndownstream/exportoutages

– linepack

– evidenceofUKManagingDirector(orequivalent)awarenessoftheissue,andoperatorrequestforvariationrequest

6. Consent variations


The OGA charges fees for use of its services including for processing a:

• consenttoflareorventpetroleum

• variationofaconsenttoflareorventpetroleum

• consenttoflareorventgasfromarelevantoilprocessingfacilityorarelevantgasprocessingfacility

• variationofaconsenttoflareorventgasfromarelevantoilprocessingfacilityorarelevantgasprocessingfacility

FulldetailsanduptodatepricingcanbefoundontheOGAwebsite8.

7.Feesandcharges

8https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/regulatory-framework/legislative-context/charging-regime/


Cold Flare Gaspassingthroughtheflarewithoutignition–effectivelyventingofgasthroughtheflaresystem.This refers to a period of time where there is nocombustion(orzerocombustionefficiency)i.e.itisnotthenon-combustedcomponentofaflaregasstreamwherecombustionefficiencylessthan100%butgreaterthan0%.

Flaring and Venting Management Plan Aprojectionofflaringandventingquantitiesandassociated emissions over the lifetime of the installation with an associated plan of actions/projects/investments whichthelicenseesplantoundertaketomanageandminimiseflaringandventingquantitiesandassociatedemissions.TobeincorporatedaspartofGreenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Action Plans.

Gas Naturalgasorhydrocarbongasasdefinedinrelevantlegislation,mainlyPetroleumAct1999andEnergyAct1976.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Action Plan A plan of actions/projects/investments which thelicenseesplantoundertaketoreducetheemissions of their operations. This plan should beassetbased,annualisedwithprojectscosteddaccountabilitiesfordeliveryassigned.

Net Zero MeansthenetUKcarbonaccountfortheyear2050,assetoutinsection1oftheClimateChangeAct2008(asamended).

OGA Strategy TherevisedOilandGasAuthorityStrategythatcameintoforceon11February2021.

Central Obligation OGAStrategyCentralObligationthatRelevantpersons must, in the exercise of their relevant activities,takethestepsnecessaryto:

a.securethatthemaximumvalueofeconomicallyrecoverablepetroleumisrecoveredfromthestratabeneathrelevantUKwaters;and,indoingso,

b.takeappropriatestepstoassisttheSecretaryofStateinmeetingthenetzerotarget,includingbyreducingasfarasreasonableinthecircumstancesgreenhouse gas emissions from sources such as flaringandventingandpowergeneration,andsupportingcarboncaptureandstorageprojects

Relevant persons

Personslistedinsection9A(1)(b)ofthe PetroleumAct1998.

8.Definitionofterms

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OilandGasAuthorityisalimitedcompanyregisteredinEnglandandWaleswithregisterednumber09666504and VATregisterednumber249433979.Ourregisteredofficeisat21BloomsburyStreet,London,UnitedKingdom,WC1B3HF

Flaring and venting guidance - Oil and Gas Authority

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Transcript of Flaring and venting guidance - Oil and Gas Authority