Shell to carry out ground flare maintenance at NGL Plant – Auto Republish

SHELL have announced that they will be carrying out maintenance on two ground flares over three days next week.

The “essential” work at the Fife NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) Plant will start on Tuesday, June 23 and finish on Thursday, 25.

Shell say that the maintenace work at the plant, which is part of the Mossmorran complex with ExxonMobil’s neighbouring Fife Ethylene Plant, will see both ground flares shut down during the process.

This does mean that their elevated flare could be required, but Teresa Waddington, plant manager, says they, “don’t anticipate any need to flare”.

She said: “In the context of measures we are taking to meet recent permit variations and manage flaring at the site, I’d like to let you know that we plan to carry out essential maintenance on the two ground flares on site over three days from Tuesday 23 to Thursday, June 25.

“We usually work on the ground flares one at a time so that the other remains available but maintenance work that is required on a common system means both will be shut off on this occasion.

“The temporary unavailability of both ground flares means any flaring during the maintenance period will be directed to an elevated stack-flare.

“However we don’t anticipate any need to flare at the Fife NGL plant during this time.

“We have informed our regulator the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) of this, and we have liaised with the neighbouring Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) to coordinate the work.

“It is important that we maintain the ground flares as vital equipment on site for our and our neighbour’s use, and we would like to offer reassurance that this is a routine process with no risk to the community. 

“I apologise in case it may lead to any inconvenience, and thank you for your understanding.”