Describe the purpose and benefits of a flare gas recovery (FGR) system.

• A. FGR captures flare gas for reuse or sale, reducing waste, emissions, and operating costs, and improving safety and environmental performance.
• B. FGR burns flare gas more completely to produce more heat.
• C. FGR vents flare gas directly to the atmosphere.
• D. FGR uses flare gas to generate electricity for unrelated loads without safety considerations.

Answer: (D)

Flare gas recovery is about capturing gas that would otherwise be burned off and putting it back to work. By routing flare gas into the process or into a fuel-gas system, you recover its energy value instead of wasting it. This reduces waste and emissions, lowers operating costs (since the gas can substitute other fuels or be sold) and contributes to safer, more environmentally responsible operation. Using flare gas for energy or revenue aligns with tighter environmental performance and energy efficiency, because it prevents methane and other pollutants from being released or flared away.

Descriptions that focus only on burning the gas for more heat, or that vent the gas to the atmosphere, miss the benefit of reclaiming valuable energy. Even plans to generate electricity from flare gas must still incorporate proper safety and regulatory controls; ignoring those safety aspects would defeat the purpose of responsible recovery.