Reduction of flaring, venting

All OMV Petrom’s operations are required to minimize methane emissions from point sources as well as fugitive emissions and technically unavoidable emissions (such as well testing and well workover, among others). The main sources of methane emissions are routine/non-routine venting of gas during oil and gas production and processing as well as gas leaks. Many activities and projects to stop or reduce routine flaring have already been implemented or are ongoing, such as the Energy Efficiency Program in Upstream.

To prevent and mitigate fugitive emissions, important steps have been taken, such as a pipeline integrity program and compressor station modernization (modernization of facilities) in Upstream and LDAR Program in both Upstream and Downstream. An LDAR Program includes two fundamental steps, namely identification of the leaking components and repair of these leaks in order to minimize losses. This program serves as the basis for developing reduction projects in accordance with best practices in the industry and the best available technologies.

Advanced Process Control in Petrobrazi Refinery, Downstream Oil – balancing fuel gas system

In the Petrobrazi Refinery, optimal plant design is implemented to minimize flaring events by balancing the fuel gas system. Such advanced process control includes enough capacity of the flare gas recovery system, the use of high-integrity relief valves, and other economically viable organizational and control measures. As a result of such measures, we aim to use flaring as a safety system for other than normal operations, such as start-up, shutdown, emergency, process upsets, etc.

Green Kaizen Events in Upstream – minimizing fugitive emissions

In Upstream, in 2021, we continued the organization of Green Kaizen events, in Assets Oltenia & Moesia. Green Kaizen Events are intended to minimize and even eliminate the fugitive emissions in selected facilities, while enabling a low-carbon operational behavior among field personnel and local contractors. The Green Kaizen events typically occur for 5 days and involve a great engagement of the participants throughout this period. It is as such a very concentrated form of LDAR, which on top incorporates measurements before and after, by external contractor. These activities aim to set the employees’ minds to see the problem, understand the problem’s size, implement the solution, confirm the solution, and sustain the result.

Modernization of gasoline loading system in Midia Terminal, Asset Petromar, Upstream

The project was finalized in 2021 with an investment of EUR 700,000. It consisted in the upgrade of the existing loading system, which involved pressurizing the tank with lean gas to facilitate the transfer of gasoline into the rail tankers. Furthermore, the lean gas was routed to the flare. Through installation of a new gasoline pumping unit, to enable loading without the lean gas pressurization, the flared gas releases will be decreased, resulting in an estimated yearly reduction of 3,800 t CO2eq.