Houston-based oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips last week withdrew a request to Railroad Commission of Texas to extend flaring permits at 41 sites in west Texas. John Roper of ConocoPhillips told Reuters that the company is reducing flaring in the Goldsmith area in Andrews and Ector counties in Permian Basin by improving operations. “These efforts have reduced the need for flaring events and eliminated the need to pursue the RRC applications,” he said. Environmental Integrity Project said the 41 Conoco sites burned 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas in 2018-19 and released 1,262 tons of sulfur dioxide, 99 tons of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Environment Texas said a hearing at RRC had been scheduled Sept. 28. The company’s letter to the RRC said, “ConocoPhillips has instituted operational changes that have significantly reduced the need for flaring at the facilities… As a result, the two-year flaring authority sought in these cases is no longer needed.”
Environment Texas said RRC issued 6,972 flaring permits in 2019, 5,488 in 2018, 3,708 in 2017 and 306 in 2010.
Bravo ConocoPhillips!! As a resident of the Permian Basin, I thank you for advancing your technology to stop flaring.