Flaring application change approved by Texas regulators

A gas flare is seen at dusk in this aerial photograph taken above a field near Mentone, Texas. Photographer: Bronte Wittpenn/Bloomberg

 

A revamped application for flaring exceptions has been okayed by the Texas Railroad Commission as it moved to reduce flaring from oil and gas sites.

Commissioners called it a “critical step” toward further reduction of flaring in the state but also explained the action applied to the request form, not to actual flaring.

 

A new form provides specific guidance on when an exception to flare will be allowed and and extent of the flaring.

“Texas has done a tremendous job reducing flaring this year, flaring less than a half a percent of gas produced in May 2020,” Commissioner Wayne Christian said. “This form change is a big and important step towards minimizing routine flaring in Texas, allowing our agency to collect the information it needs to better determine who is following the rules when it comes to flaring and who is not.”

Reports suggest that the change will likely reduce the amount of time a well operator will have to get an administrative exception to flare gas. The new system will also include incentives for well operators to use improved technologies to reduce the amount of gas to be flared.