Description:Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), over the past few decades has significantly increased the Oil production to meet the ever increasing global energy demand. In this process, the production of associated gas has also gone up many folds, surpassing the Gas handling & exporting capabilities. KOC-West Kuwait(KOC-WK), surface handling capacity expanded by three folds in 2001 while the associated gas handling facilities was short of requirements due to improper gas production estimates. This resulted in significant gas flaring, more than 70%, leading to substantial revenue loss and environmental impact.
Application:KOC with its commitment to corporate & social HSE performance has demanded KOC-WK to bring down the annual flaring targets to 1%. Accordingly, Flare reduction road map was drawn with short term and long term plans to meet the company flaring targets. Some of the quick wins were a) Improving operational efficiency of equipments & operating crew, b) Identifying imbalance in gas handling capacities and redistribution among facilities. c) Improving Gas export quality through continuous operation of dehydration & refrigeration system. Some of new projects planned and being executed are a) Centralized Gas Booster station b) Additional transit lines, slug catchers c) Gas sweetening & Gas re-injection facilities at KOC, d) Capacity redundancy of AGRP plants.
Results:The short terms measures were completed by 2009 resulting in flare reduction from 70% to 12.5%, while the long term initiatives will ensure the flare reduction to 1% by 2013–14 and meet the company targets.
Significance of Subject Matter: The Key initiatives which brought about the flare reduction were internal modifications, incorporation of latest technology in new projects, increased awareness among operating crew and establishment of effective coordination and monitoring systems.
