Publications

Parallel flares were historically installed in many TEPI sites such as Peciko Processing area (PPA), North Processing Unit (NPU), Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Central Processing Area (CPA). Currently considered as an obsolete design, the multiple flare tips system not only requires more maintenance and inspection, but also leads to more operational concerns mainly due to the flare tips balancing issues that require high purging gas rate. Thus, it means higher asset OPEX and higher GHG emission to environment. Meanwhile, after years of exploitation, most of the production fields in TEPI, for example Peciko, are becoming mature. The operating pressure and production flowrate are lower compared to initial design conditions. As part of the field operation optimization, there were already numerous pressure derating modifications done for several offshore platforms and onshore facilities in the past. As a consequence, the PPA flare system capacity is becoming redundant as well thus there is still room for optimization. All the required modifications to lower the flare relief rate were successfully performed in 2016 with limited cost and without production disruption. During PPA flare tip B repair job in December 2016, the implemented single flare operation allowed already avoiding 400MMSCFD production shortfall. More sustainable benefits are possible if the single flare mode is permanently implemented. With the reduction of routine flare purging (about 1-1.5MMSCFD) and significant smaller maintenance/inspection scope, the estimated OPEX saving is up to 2.2MUSD/year. PPA is a successful touchstone for this initiative. The results can surely be the useful feedbacks for other sites in TEPI, and even be the inspiration for other similar sites around the world.