Temporary and Well Test Flaring
Plume-RT uses local real-time meteorological conditions, regional weather forecast information and regulatory accepted CALMET/CALPUFF dispersion models to predict ground-level SO2 concentrations to manage flaring activities. Unlike traditional flare management plans where decisions are based on historical weather conditions and projected flow rates, Plume-RT enables management decisions to be made based on modelling using current flow rates, actual and forecasted meteorological conditions. The forecasting capability enables our clients to proactively plan for favourable or unfavourable periods by adjusting fuel gas usage, flow rates or shutting in if required while ensuring that ambient air quality objectives are met.
The combination of Plume-RT, a traditional flare management plan and real-time SO2 monitoring provides the most advanced tools for government regulators and industry to effectively manage and monitor a temporary sour gas flare while ensuring that ambient air quality objectives are met.
Benefits
Plume-RT has been successfully used in Alberta and British Columbia for flaring applications to:
- Manage sour gas flaring activities in flat and complex terrain
- Provide more favourable flaring windows by reducing shut-in periods
- Reduce fuel gas usage
- Select representative locations for permanent and mobile SO2 monitor placement
- Manage odour complaints
- Evaluate cumulative effects from multiple SO2 sources
- Predict ground-level SO2 concentrations from pipeline blowdowns
- Model additional scenarios (i.e., release rates and H2S concentrations)
- Show the transient nature of SO2 dispersion (varied locations, not persistent)
The following table compares the traditional flare management plans with the Plume-RT solution.
| Traditional Flare Management | The Plume-RT Solution |
|---|---|
| Acceptable flaring periods are conservatively selected using distant meteorological data to demonstrate that ambient air quality objectives are met. This may result in more frequent or extended shut-in periods. | The use of on-site meteorological conditions may reduce shut-in periods by predicting more frequent, favourable ground-level SO2 concentrations. |
| The traditional approach does not have forecasting capability, thereby making proactive planning difficult. | Forecasting allows operators to proactively plan for favourable/unfavourable periods. |
| Engineering controls, such as the addition of fuel gas (i.e. propane), are based on conservative assumptions. | Smaller volumes of fuel gas may be required when actual meteorological conditions, gas flow rates and H2S contents are taken into consideration. |
| Modelling is performed on estimated release rates and H2S concentrations. | Actual release rates and H2S concentrations can be modelled with current meteorology. |
