Flare Management Program

Participating companies advance best practices that reduce flare volumes, promote the beneficial use of associated gas, improve flare reliability and efficiency when flaring does occur, and collect valuable data to calculate flare intensity as the key metric to gauge progress from year to year.

PROGRAM VALUE

REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM PIPELINE BLOWDOWN OPERATIONS

Typically, high-pressure flares are used when there is a lack of natural gas gathering lines or processing capacity, during facility or downstream facility maintenance, or during unplanned events that may require flaring to safely alleviate pressure. In these instances, flaring is better for the environment than venting the gas directly into the air because it releases fewer greenhouse gases.

TEP and its members are committed to reducing flaring. Since TEP’s flare management program was launched in 2020, participants have advanced best practices to reduce flare volumes, promote the beneficial use of associated gas, and improve flare reliability and efficiency when flaring is necessary. To track progress, participants in the program annually report data to calculate flare intensity, a measurement of flare volumes relative to production.       

PROGRAM PROGRESS

MINIMIZING FLARE VOLUMES THROUGH ACTION

In 2025, participating companies continued to reduce their flaring, achieving a 9.4% reduction in flare intensity and a 27% reduction in total flare volumes reported compared to the previous year, even as U.S. oil and gas production grew by 3% and 4%, respectively, during the same period.

PROGRAM SPECIFICS

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Program Specific

Target

Company plan will determine sites/facilities with flares located at production and gathering and boosting facilities to be included in program.

Method

Company will implement a flare management plan that incorporates any or all of the following flare volume and emission reduction practices:

  • Pre-production planning to have adequate gas-gathering infrastructure present in advance of production coming online

  • Evaluate unplanned events, identify the contributing factors, and determine the best actions to take to mitigate

  • Promote alternative use technologies for beneficial use of associated gas

  • Implement best practices and technology to ensure flare reliability and good combustion efficiency (e.g., flare monitoring)

Content

Reports would include the following regarding a company’s onshore flares (and/or other applicable combustion control devices) at production and gathering & boosting sites:

Flaring Intensity

  • Company’s Annual Volume of High-Pressure Flared Gas by Basin (M cf) – Defined as the volume of flared associated gas as determined by each compan y’s production accounting methods

  • Production Annual Volumes by Basin (determined by each company’s production accounting methods)

    • Company’s Volume of Produced Gas (Mcf)

    • Company’s Volume of Produced Oil (bbl)

Program Participation

  • Number of sites with flares covered by the following flare management program practices


Promote Beneficial Use and Emission Reductions

  • MCF of flare gas avoided/diverted from flare by use of beneficial use alternatives

  • Number of sites utilizing alternative use technology and types of technologies used for beneficial use of associated gas

  • Number of high-pressure flares removed from service (excluding site closure)

  • Minimizing Emissions

Flare Reliability and Efficiency

  • Number of sites with flares monitored voluntarily (onsite or off site) and status documented

  • Number of sites with flares monitored remotely and method