Offences

(1) No flaring of petroleum or process gas shall be carried out within a radius of one (1) mile from a human settlement especially a village, town, city, resort, farm or hotel. (2) Whenever flaring is required, only Efficient Flaring Heads will be used in order for emissions from the flare to be completely smokeless, and the minimum standards required shall be as follows– (a) for each flare system it is necessary to establish the maximum quantity of waste gas, which can be handled. It is also required to establish the minimum quantity of pilot and purge gas to ensure safe, stable operation and readiness to take the maximum quantity of waste gas. There is need to measure of pilot, purge and vet gas to the flare. The composition and sulphur should be determined. After establishing base data, the refineries should aim towards using essentially pilot and purge gases in the flare. Under this condition the flare should be completely smokeless. The above may be achieved by a combination of the following techniques124 Environmental Protection (i) reducing relief gas to flare by management/good housekeeping practices; and (ii) balancing the refinery fuel gas system; and (iii) installing a gas recovery system; and (iv) using high integrity relief valves; and (v) applying advanced process control; (b) the flow rate of pilot, purge and vent gas to flare are to be monitored. In addition, vent gas should have on/off flow indicator. The opacity of the flare is to be measured; (c) for normal to 20% of max flare capacity the flare should be smokeless. At higher capacities low smoke is desirable. The flare system is to provide safe, reliable stand–by system to meet short periods of venting due to start–up, shutdown and emergencies. Pilot should be under monitoring and under continuous detection. Flare should be under observation; (d) quantity of gas vented to the flare should be reported. The periods of venting should be recorded and target is to have it for less than 5 minutes in consecutive two hours and 24 hours in a year. Noise level is to be measured and reported. Environmental Protection 125 Schedule 11. Schedule 12.