Will gas flaring ever cease, even in light of the rising energy costs?

Question

Gas flaring contributes to global warming, but then governments seems to be reluctant to properly enforce outright stoppage and waste of this energy resource. Is it because, for now, it seems to be abundant?

Answer 1

No the days of abundance are already over and we are heading rapidly towards shortage.  The oil and gas companies would not be resorting to deep sea and Alaskan sources otherwise.

As one answerer has already said flaring is generally only an emergency measure nowadays.

Another answerer has referred to methane flaring.  Here the methane is being converted by burning into CO2 which is damaging but far less damaging than methane.  It is still a scandalous waste.  We should insist that landfill operators capture the methane and burn it in useful ways (e.g. ways that generate electricity or heat houses).

Governments are reluctant to act because they do not believe they have the public behind them.  We need to demonstrate by our lifestyles that we are committed to avoiding waste and want government action against wasters.  Our example will also demonstrate to others that a simple lifestyle is more fun than trying to keep up with the neighbours.

Best wishes

Answer 2

According to my uncle who works at a refinery in California, any flaring is due to equipment malfunctions. If all equipment is operating correctly, no flaring occurs. And sure enough, I haven't seen these big flares from the refinery for many years now. Decades really. So the flaring is kind of like a safety valve, only used in emergencies now days.

Answer 3

Ironically, movie stars and environmentally conscious businesses are paying carbon offset trading firms to reduce their carbon footprints, and at least one of those firms is apparently paying another company to burn a gas flare for the supposed purpose of reducing global warming. So, with people throwing money at "environmental consciousness," which is being used to financially incentivize gas flaring, it's unlikely gas flaring will ever cease. Rather, with money to be made from environmentalists, gas flaring will likely increase as concern over global warming grows.