Flaring is the controlled burning of natural gas, often done when the gas can’t be captured or transported
Venting is the direct release of unburned gas into the atmosphere often methane, which has high global warming potential
Tracking these emissions means:
- Monitoring volumes at each facility or well site
- Comparing data to regulatory thresholds (e.g., AER Directive 060)
- Identifying when exceedances occur
- Aggregating data for ESG and compliance reporting
How Flaring & Venting Data is Used in ESG Reporting #
Flaring and venting volumes are typically measured at the facility level using gas meters and sensors. In Alberta, operators report this data to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) through systems like Petrinex. These volumes are compiled in datasets such as ST60B, which detail:
- Gas flared (burned off)
- Gas vented (released unburned)
- Emissions per facility and operator
To support ESG compliance, this data is:
- Aggregated across time periods (monthly, quarterly, annually)
- Benchmarked against peers and thresholds (e.g., Directive 060 limits)
- Converted into ESG metrics like emissions intensity, GHG equivalents, or flaring ratios
The Directive 060 thresholds are regulatory limits set by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to control the volume of natural gas that can be flared or vented during oil and gas operations. They vary based on:
- Type of operation (e.g., well test, facility, battery, pipeline)
- Duration (e.g., continuous operations vs. temporary flaring)
- Gas composition (e.g., sour gas has stricter limits)
- Facility type and size
Key Threshold Examples #
- Flaring during well testing: Limited to a maximum of 900 m³/day for up to 72 hours unless otherwise approved
- Routine flaring at batteries or facilities: Subject to performance limits, often requiring economic justification if volumes exceed 500 m³/day
- Venting of methane: Strongly discouraged unless no alternative is viable, with limits often lower than flaring due to methane’s higher GHG impact
Operators must report these volumes and justify any exceedances. Persistent violations can trigger enforcement actions, fines, or operational shutdowns.
