I was disgusted to learn that tremendous quantities of natural gas are intentionally burned off to make way for oil production. This unwanted byproduct of oil production is flared because it is produced in locations that are far away from where it is needed and because the production of oil from a well drops faster than the associated gas.

It is estimated that worldwide, 5.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas was flared in 2018. This amount is the equivalent of the combined amount of natural gas that was consumed by France, Germany and Belgium.

Also it is estimated that flaring is responsible for 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of this flaring takes place in Russia, Iraq, Iran and the U.S.

Appropriate planning is the key to eliminate the need for flaring. There is money to be made by eliminating the waste of this precious resource.

Commercial alternatives to flaring include compressing natural gas and trucking it short distances for use as a fuel for oil field activities or converting the gas to electric power using on-site generators and use the electricity to power oil field equipment or transport electricity where it is needed.

This transformation will not take place without providing oil producers with incentives or impose regulations to stop this waste.

GEORGE A. ELMARAGHY
Columbus, Ohio

First Published: June 11, 2020, 4:00 a.m.