body-container-line-1

Heat Waves From Atuabo Gas Plants Attack Cocoa Trees

...As Cocoa Farmers Bemoan Drastic Reduction Of Rainfall
By Adu Koranteng
General News File Photo
AUG 17, 2016 LISTEN
File Photo

Farmers in the Wasa district of the western region are blaming the operations of the Atuabo Gas Plant as the contributor to the low rainfall pattern in the region.

Rainfall pattern in the western region of Ghana has drastically changed with few rains experienced this year resulting in the destruction of most newly planted cocoa seedlings.

Besides, heat waves which the farmers claim emanate from the Atuabo Gas plants are extending to the area and preventing them from yielding fruits.

According to the farmers since the beginning of the year the area has experienced only three heavy rainfall; an area which used to experienced constant and heavy rainfall throughout the year.

“ It is amazing that we are experiencing these things here. We now believe that human activities like flaring of gas are the cause of climate change in the World. In fact we have applied several bags of fertilizer to our trees but nothing seems to be happening. I think we are in trouble this year since we may not be able to harvest a lot of cocoa beans this year. It is very unfortunate and we are pleading with government to do something about it, otherwise we would have to relocate” Opaning Kwabena Manu, a Chief Cocoa Farmer in the area told the New Crusading Guide in an interview.

Among the numerous disadvantages of gas flaring is that, it increase environmental pollutions, especially greenhouse gases. Although the amount of produced greenhouse gases from the flaring process is less than its amount in the venting process, but usually the combustion is not a complete process in the flaring and the existence of smokes from the flares supports this fact. In addition, the amount and the types of produced gases in this process depend on the burnt gases in the flare and the combustion conditions.

Polluting gases which are dispersed from the flaring process into the environment includes some of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CO, NO and NO2. In addition the noises and the odor results from the combustion and the light comes from the flaring process are some of dangers which can threaten the health of personnel and local residents. The flaring and the venting process are the resource of 4% of dispersed Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.

The acidic rain, global warming, air pollution, water pollution and destruction of Ozone Layer, are some of environmental results of venting and flaring processes.

Flaring and venting of natural gas in oil wells is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to scientific researches, its contribution to greenhouse gases has declined by three-quarters in absolute terms since a peak in the 1970s of approximately 110 million metric tons/year, and now accounts for 0.5% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.

A gas flare is an elevated vertical stack found on oil wells, oil rigs, and in refineries, chemical plants and landfills, used for burning off unwanted gas and liquids released by pressure relief valves during unplanned over-pressuring of plant equipment.

The released gases and/or liquids are burned as they exit the flare stacks. The size (~100 m2) and brightness of the resulting flame depends upon how much flammable material was released. On oil production rigs, in refineries and chemical plants, its primary purpose is to act as a safety device to protect vessels or pipes from over-pressuring due to unplanned upsets.

It is estimated that, annually, about 150 billion square meters of gases are lost through flaring, which this amount is equal to 5% of natural gas consumption of the world, 30% of the gas consumption in Europe, one quarter of Unites States gas consumption and the whole consumption of Germany and France.

The Flaring process is the least optimum use of natural gas.

According to Somayeh Pourhassan and Alireza Taravat in their academic research work on the “Effect of gas flaring on environmental variables in developing countries” and published in 2104, it indicated that, gas flaring in industrial facilities is done due to safety tips.

It further stated, “Also the reason why flaring is used in industrial facilities and it is preferable in comparison to venting process is due to less greenhouse gases effects. Because in every gas field, a unique flaring process with its special specifications is needed, it is not easy to measure to which extent this process affects the environment.

The effects of flaring process are different from place to place and from field to field. Because of the lack of global and international standards and adequate information about flaring process, so probably the risks associated to the flaring process is more than what we have considered up to now.”

They again explained that, with regard to this fact that oil and petroleum factories seek to maximize their profits, it is necessary to minimize the amount of lost gases burnt and dispersed by flaring and venting processes.

Therefore the economic objectives of oil companies are consistent with environmental protection policies, and these policies are considered by governments and nations.

In the countries where a large amount of gas are produced during the extraction process of oil, collection and re-use of them has been deemed a necessary operation. Nowadays, developing countries such as Nigeria, Iran, Algeria and Iraq, account for 85% of flaring and venting processes.

In these countries three main reasons are present which prevent from the accurate and suitable exploitation of gas resources, which are as follow: Lack of legal and effective frameworks and instructions; Weak and improper access to local and international energy markets and Financial restriction of projects aimed for reducing the flaring and venting process.

The experiences of developed countries such as Norway, England, Canada and United States in the field of reducing the amount of flaring process, reflects the determinant and important role of government in this issues.

These countries by regulating the effective rules, reconstruction of oil fields, construction of proper infrastructures, active involvement of private sector in planning and implementation of projects and financial incentives, results in proper fields in order to reduce the losses of associated gases.

In all the researches and following practical experiences of countries, it is obvious that there is no unique and consistent pattern in all countries in order to reduce the flaring process. But according geographical, climatic, political and economic specifications of developing countries and by using policies such as proper and innovative strategies, the amount of dispersed associated gas can be reduced.

body-container-line