Oil Fields Flare Pollution

Abstract

Environmental protection from air pollution is a priority for major cities across the world. This study will discuss the risk of gas emissions from oil fields, using collected data around an oil field in Kurdistan region. A site survey was conducted of agricultural lands around the oil field and close to the flare. 12 samples were tested and analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sixteen priority PAHs listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency were investigated. The average total content of PAHs in all samples was 0.654 mg·kg−1. The minimum concentration detected at location 9 was 0.310 mg·kg−1, while the maximum concentration detected at location 3 was 0.869 mg·kg−1. It was found that the PAH concentrations decreased with increasing distance from Taq Taq oil field, suggesting that the area close to the field was more affected by gas pollution. The agriculture products in the surrounding area may need a test before use. Suggestions are provided for the oil company and the local authority to reduce the risk of gas emissions on Koya city and surrounded villages particularly the land adjacent to the Taq Taq oil field.

Keywords

• flare
• emission
• pahs
• geographic information system (gis)
• contamination