Leveraging Data Analytics to Design an Overarching Flaring Reduction Strategy

Flaring reduction is a key component of sustainable LNG operations, balancing safety requirements with environmental and economic objectives. This paper details a data-driven methodology applied at Tangguh LNG, Indonesia, to enhance flare emission visibility and enable targeted reduction strategies. By integrating real-time process data with engineering models, flare contributions were quantified at the valve level and categorized into start-up/shutdown, routine, safety, and non-routine sources. Analysis identified that start-up and shutdown flaring constitute approximately 42% of total emissions, followed by routine flaring at 29%, and safety-related flaring representing the technical minimum baseline. A phased implementation roadmap was developed to reduce flaring through three strategic focus areas: optimizing start-up sequences, rationalizing purge gas consumption, and adjusting operating parameters during LNG loading and dryer bed changeover. Early adoption of these initiatives by Q4 2024 resulted in a 29% reduction in total flare emissions, equivalent to 974 MMSCF/year and USD 1.65 million in savings, validating the effectiveness of the approach. This study demonstrates how advanced data analytics, combined with operational discipline and cross-shift collaboration, can drive significant emissions reductions without compromising safety or reliability.