The Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refining facility, has installed 18 ultrasonic flare gas meters from Fluenta, a Norwegian company, to reduce its environmental impact and comply with Nigerian regulations. The meters will help the refinery measure and monitor the amount of gas flared during oil production, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Gas flaring is common in the oil and gas industry, where excess natural gas is burned off as a waste product or a safety measure. According to the World Bank, Nigeria is the sixth-largest gas flaring country in the world, accounting for about 10% of global flaring volumes in 2022. Gas flaring wastes valuable energy resources and harms the environment and human health by releasing carbon dioxide, methane, black soot, and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
The Nigerian government has set a target to end routine gas flaring by 2030 as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change. The government has also penalized oil companies for flaring gas above a certain threshold, which varies depending on the field and the production level. The penalty ranges from $0.5 to $2 per thousand standard cubic feet of gas flared.
The Dangote Refinery, which is expected to start operations in 2023, will have a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, making it one of the world’s largest single-train refineries. The refinery will process crude oil from Nigeria and other African countries and produce refined products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and polypropylene for domestic and regional markets. The refinery will also produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) from the associated gas that would otherwise be flared.
The Fluenta flare gas meters use ultrasonic technology to measure the flow rate accurately and the volume of gas flared in different conditions and environments. The meters are non-intrusive, meaning they do not require physical contact with the gas stream or moving parts that could wear out or cause maintenance issues. The meters are also easy to install, operate, and transmit data remotely to a central control system.
Fluenta is a global leader in flare gas measurement solutions, with over 35 years of experience and over 7,500 installations worldwide. The company has worked with major oil and gas companies such as Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total, and Saudi Aramco. Fluenta’s director, Radek Kurkowski, said the company is proud to contribute to Nigeria’s flare gas reduction initiatives and support the Dangote Refinery’s environmental compliance and safety.
Installing the Fluenta flare gas meters at the Dangote Refinery is a positive step towards reducing gas flaring in Nigeria and Africa. By utilizing the associated gas for productive purposes, the refinery will reduce its carbon footprint, save costs, and provide cleaner energy alternatives for millions of people.
Source: Oil Review Africa
