| 02/28/2023 |
The (02/28/2023, C-129) application [191803] was assigned to this incident. |
| 02/28/2023 |
Additional Details provided by the operator: Gas Flare Meter |
| 02/28/2023 |
Corrective actions provided by the operator: Oxy is limited in its corrective actions to eliminate the cause and potential reoccurrence of an Enterprise gas flow pipeline restriction or shut in, as this control issue is downstream of Oxy’s custody transfer point and out of Oxy’s control to avoid or prevent from happening or reoccurring. Enterprise 's downstream facility and gas plant issues will re-occur from time to time, which in turn, directly impacts Oxy’s ability to send gas to them. When Enterprise downstream facility and/or gas plants have equipment issues or greatly struggles to handle the volume of gas being sent to them by Oxy, Enterprise then restricts or cuts off Oxy’s ability to send gas, which then prompts Oxy to route its stranded gas not pushed into the Enterprise gas pipeline, to flare. OXY makes every effort to control and minimize emissions as much as possible during these circumstances. The limited actions that Oxy can do in this circumstance is to shut in multiple high GOR wells, when possible and engage in secondary third-party operator offload alternative routes to minimize flaring volumes during this third-party pipeline operator downstream activity restriction and/or shut in. |
| 02/28/2023 |
Primary Equipment identified by the operator (Other (Specify), with additional details: Emergency Flare > Downstream Activity Issue > Enterprise > Orla Gas Plant > Facility Emergency Shutdo) |
| 02/28/2023 |
Steps taken to prevent waste provided by the operator: It is OXY's policy to route all stranded gas to a flare during an unforeseen and unavoidable emergency or malfunction, that is beyond Oxy's control to avoid, prevent or foresee, to minimize emissions as much as possible as part of the overall steps taken to limit duration and magnitude of flaring. The flare at this facility has a 98% combustion efficiency to lessen emissions as much as possible. In this case, third-party pipeline operator, Enterprise, had an emergency shutdown (ESD) of their downstream Orla Gas Plant, which was, instigated by a flare knockout HIHI level. This sudden and unexpected Enterprise downstream facility shutdown greatly impacted the gas flow from Oxy’s upstream facility when Enterprise’s ESD valve immediately closed and shut-in gas pipeline services to Oxy. This ESD of Enterprise’s Orla Gas Plant triggered a flaring event at Oxy's upstream facility as Oxy was unable to push its gas to Enterprise’s sales gas service pipeline. Until Enterprise's gas plant was back up and returned to normal working operation and was able to handle the volume of gas sent to them, Oxy’s operations automatically prompted its stranded gas to a flare, which was triggered upon Enterprise’s facility ESD. Upon immediate flaring at Oxy’s Sand Dunes South Corridor CTB, Oxy personnel were informed and then immediately contacted Enterprise personnel to inform them that Oxy’s facility was flaring and was making arrangements to offload to alternative offload operators. No advance warning of any kind was provided to Oxy personnel from Enterprise personnel regarding potential issues with their sales gas service system pipeline, their ESD system or valve, and/or issues with their downstream facility or gas plant.. All Oxy’s facility equipment were operating as designed prior to the sudden and unexpected flaring event occurring. |
| 02/28/2023 |
New incident created by the operator, upon the submission of a flaring of natural gas report. |
| 02/09/2023 |
The flaring of natural gas discovered by the operator. |