Achieving zero routine flaring through membrane-based associated gas recovery and CO? reinjection: A life cycle assessment of the bouri offshore oil field

Title : Achieving zero routine flaring through membrane-based associated gas recovery and CO? reinjection: A life cycle assessment of the bouri offshore oil field

Abstract:

Routine flaring of associated gas remains a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry. This study evaluates alternative process configurations for the separation and management of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) from associated gas produced at the Bouri Offshore Oil Field, with the objective of identifying the most environmentally sustainable solution for CO₂ capture, utilization, and storage while contributing to routine flaring reduction.

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was employed as a decision-support framework to evaluate the environmental performance of several process alternatives for CO₂ removal from the associated gas stream. Four candidate process configurations were initially screened using the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) approach. The screening identified a membrane-based hydrocarbon recovery process integrated with CO₂ reinjection into the reservoir through a dedicated dry well as the most environmentally favorable configuration.

Based on this selected configuration, two CO₂ management scenarios were investigated: (i) CO₂ reinjection following gas liquefaction and (ii) CO₂ reinjection after gas compression. A detailed life cycle assessment was conducted for both scenarios, considering material and energy consumption together with the associated environmental emissions throughout the process life cycle.

The comparative assessment demonstrates that the liquefaction-based reinjection scenario achieves superior environmental performance owing to its lower overall greenhouse gas emissions and higher process efficiency. These findings demonstrate that integrating membrane-based hydrocarbon recovery with CO₂ capture and geological reinjection offers a viable pathway toward reducing routine flaring, lowering the carbon footprint of offshore oil production, and supporting sustainable development in the petroleum sector.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); CO₂ Capture; Associated Gas; Membrane Separation; CO₂ Reinjection; Offshore Oil Fields; Routine Flaring Reduction; Environmental Sustainability.

Biography:

Professor Salah Alhengari is associate professor at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering as the head of Chemical Engineering Division, Libyan Academy for Postgraduate Studies, Tripoli – Libya, since April 2019 up to now teaching M.Sc. courses in the area of Chemical, Environmental and Renewable engineering as well as supervising M.Sc. students for their thesis.  Professor Alhengari was former Research Associate at the Libyan Petroleum Institute, Tripoli - Libya (Full Time - major of Chemical Engineering). Professor Salah Alhengari Has more than 25 years of experience in Oil and Gas Industry, 6 years in oil and gas production operations & maintenance (June 1985 – October 1990, Senior Oil and Gas Production Operations specialist with Veba Oil Operations Company, Ghani and Amal Oil Field - Libya) followed by 19 years with Libyan Petroleum institute, (LPI) as Research Associate carrying technical / research Studies for the benefit of Libyan oil and gas sector in the areas of water Desalination, industrial water / waste water treatment and improving economic of Oil refineries, petrochemical plants and oil and gas processes . In addition, Professor Alhengari has authored or co-authored over 30 refereed journal and conference publications in international journals and international conferences in the area of Desalination, Green Hydrogen, fuel cell and process intensification. Professor Salah Alhengari have a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials from the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University - Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (June 2012). In addition, he had M.Sc. in Sustainable Chemical Engineering from the mentioned school (December 2004). In 1998 he received his B.Sc. In Chemical Engineering, Tripoli University, Faculty of Engineering. In 1984. Professor Alhengari Have received Industrial Petroleum Diploma (Dip.) majoring in Oil and Gas processing From Petroleum Training and Qualifying Institute, (PTQI), Tripoli – Libya. Prof. Salah Alhengari is a member of European Desalination Society (EDS), also a member of Society of chemical Industry, UK (SCI) and elected as Associate member of Institution of Chemical engineers, UK (AIChemE). Professor Salah Alhengari conducting many intensive training courses in the area of Oil / Gas Industry, Hydrogen and Green energy, water and environment and clean theology.