Flare nears end of life

According to a plan, all flare gases will be collected in Iran by the end of 1403 [equal to March 20, 2025], and so far, this project has achieved 70% physical progress.

However, it is not possible to reduce the burning of flare gases to zero, because the refining and petrochemical processes are based on existing standards in such a way that flare acts as a safety valve and if flare gas does not exit, an explosion will occur, so some processes naturally have flare gas. Of course, some processes that continuously have flare gas must be managed.

These gases are divided into two general categories; associated petroleum gases and gases from gas refineries. For associated petroleum gases, good actions have been taken in the last year and a half, and the past projects have also accelerated.

As announced, the associated gases collection projects have 70% physical progress. Among the projects that have been put into operation to realize this goal are gas and liquefied gas plant 3200 (Persian Gulf Hoveizeh Gas Refining Company) and Persian Gulf Bidboland Gas Refining Company. The gas and liquefied gas plant 3100 (Dehloran) is also being completed for this purpose. A total of 5 billion dollars has been defined for the collection of associated gases, and by the end of 1404 [March 20, 2026], all the flare gases will be collected, which brings 2 billion dollars of income for the country.

The capacity to collect and process associated and flare gases is about 2 billion cubic feet equivalent to 57 million cubic meters per day and all associated and flare gases are planned to be collected through 5 long-term projects and 14 sales auctions.

In 1401 [equal to March 21, 2022 to March 20, 2023], on average, about 113.6 million cubic meters of associated petroleum gas were produced daily, of which about 65%, equivalent to 74.6 million cubic meters per day, was collected by gas pressure boosting stations and existing factories. About 5% equalling to 5 million cubic meters was collected daily by launching short-term and long-term projects.

About 30 percent of the total gas produced was sent to the flares, which is equivalent to 34 million cubic meters per day, and this amount will be collected by the end of 1404 [March 20, 2026]. Flare gas collection projects are planned and implemented as long-term and short-term projects. According to the planning and actions taken, the Long-term projects (construction of gas and liquefied gas factories and associated and flare gas collection stations) will be completely utilized by the end of 1404 [March 20, 2026].

The first phase of gas and liquefied gas plant 3200 in the geographical area of West Karun was put into operation. To supply feed to the said plant, Darkhoin surplus gas pipeline project and the gas collection station of the West Karun unit with a volume of approximately 100 million cubic feet per day in the first phase and to the amount of 72 million euros has been assigned as buy-back to Persian Gulf Holding.

The gas and liquefied gas plant 3100 with a capacity of 240 million cubic feet per day in the geographical area of Dehloran, North Dezful, has already progressed 85.38% and will be fully operational by the end of this year. For sustainable supply of feed for gas and liquefied gas plant 3100, the construction project of Dehloran gas pressure boosting station with a capacity of 85 million cubic feet per day to the amount of 128 million euros and the Dehlran pipeline to the amount of 85 million euros have been entrusted to the investor, which will be put into operation by the end of this year. Also, the project of completing the gas pressure boosting station of Cheshmekhosh and Paidar Gharb has been assigned to the investor as EPCF with the amount of 53 million euros.

Khark gas and liquefied gas plant, with a capacity of 300 million cubic feet per day in the geographical area of Khark Island, has progressed 67.1% and will be fully operational by the end of 1404 [March 20, 2026]. The project to collect flare gases in the east of Karun in the geographical area of Aghajari, Gachsaran with a capacity of 593 million cubic feet per day and in Marun with a capacity of 249 million cubic feet per day will be launched as two contracts with Persian Gulf Holding and Marun Petrochemical Complex by the end of 1404 [March 20, 2026].

21 out of 52 gas flares to be collected by end of this year

Iran's petroleum minister, Javad Ouji, also said in this regard: “Good work has been done in the government for flare gases related to the oil fields in the west and east of Karun. Flare gases from the oil fields of west Karun were collected. The collection of flare gases from the eastern fields of Karun is being followed up by this government, and by the end of this year, 21 out of 52 existing flares will be collected.”

He added: “These flares will come to the Bidboland gas refinery in the Persian Gulf, and with the complete collection of these gas flares, which is equivalent to one phase of South Pars, nearly 20 million cubic meters will be added to the gas volume of the country.”

The Minister of Petroleum continued: “In Bidboland Gas Refinery, these poisonous and polluted but rich gases are processed and their ethane is sent to petrochemicals. The collection of these gas flares was a reminder by the supreme leader and an emphasis by the president. No basic measures were taken in the previous government, but we will collect these gas flares by the end of this government.”

Besides the direct economic benefits, the collection of flare gases has many indirect benefits such as reducing environmental pollution, and in the sixth development plan, a special emphasis has been placed on the collection of these gases. The Ministry of Petroleum is taking steps in this direction with more seriousness and speed.