Main content | back to top
Flaring for Safety
Fires burning at the top of tall chimneys are not an uncommon site at major refineries and chemical plants. We explain how we manage such flames - called flares in the industry - and strive to run our plants in an environmentally responsible way, safeguarding our staff as well as the neighbouring communities.
- Flaring can occur during scheduled maintenance activities or a result of unplanned operational interruptions, such as a temporary power loss, when gases need to be released to prevent them from accumulating within the equipment and creating a potential danger.
- Flaring acts as a “safety relief valve” to allow the combustible gases to be burnt and released as water and carbon dioxide, which are not hazardous.
- Shell takes flaring seriously. It is aggressively managed and our site strives for zero routine flaring.
- In Singapore, all flaring is subject to regulatory limits set by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Shell abides by these as well as the government’s strict regulations on emissions and limits on density and duration of allowable smoke.
- One instance when flaring might be necessary is during the commissioning and start-up phase of a new plant.
- Most importantly, at no time will the health and safety of the staff or public be put at risk during flaring. Rather, it should be seen as part of an important process to allow the new facility to get up and running safely.
Read further on flaring and what we are doing to manage flares.
What is flaring and managing flares (PDF, 13 KB) - opens in new window
For more information, please contact us at tell-shell@shell.com.