Exxon’s flaring this year equivalent to the removal of 1.6M acres of forest
Just two days ago, ExxonMobil announced that it had ceased its significant flaring of toxic natural gas at its Liza Phase One operations, its first commercial investment offshore of Guyana. This development followed after Exxon, which prides itself on being an effective manager of emissions, failed to mitigate flaring at Liza One for one year.
Recent details from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now show that in that same year, ExxonMobil would have flared 12.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day, equivalent to the removal of 1.6M acres of forest. In simpler terms, this means that Exxon flared toxic natural gas that could have been offset by a forest the size of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Monday, Acting Director of the EPA, Sharifah Razack, in a report indicated that as of December 15, the total volume of gas flared from the Liza One operation was 12.429 billion of standard cubic feet (BSCF) of gas. Her report had also stated that an average of 8.310 million standard cubic feet per day of gas was flared during December, while adding that flaring was reduced to 0.661 million standard cubic feet per day by the reporting date.
“The total volume of gas injected as of 15 December, 2020, at the Liza One operation was 12.895 BSCF with an injection volume of 126.416 million standard cubic feet per day of gas reached on 15 December, 2020 itself,” the EPA report stated. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) reported that it experienced safe and steady operations during the prior week, with an average production of 105 kilo barrels per day and average flaring at 8.6 thousand cubic feet per day.
The EPA indicated that the third stage Flash Gas Compressor (FGC) completed its Phase Three Test programme, including a 72 hour run on December 5, with both the LP and MP Compressors running and a flare at safety pilot levels. During the test programme, monitoring and control parameters were developed for ongoing operations.
(Kaieteur News)