air quality and flaring
information and resources
California and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) have some of the nation’s most stringent regulations to control emissions and protect public health.
flaring
Chevron Richmond maintains a comprehensive network of safety systems that are designed to keep our plants running safely and reliably during all operating conditions. One of the most visible components of those safety systems is our network of flares.
These essential safety devices are used to relieve pressure during the refining process. Chevron Richmond has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to deploy new technologies that have allowed us to recover gases that would otherwise be flared and recycle them back through our processing plant.
Sometimes it is not possible to fully recover all the excess gas in a safe manner. In these instances, our flare gas recovery system is designed to route any excess gas through the flare stack. Most of the excess gas is fully combusted before it is released. The flare stacks are very tall to minimize the potential impact to surrounding neighborhoods.
Chevron Richmond is committed to identifying and addressing areas that can improve flaring performance. There was an increase in flaring events as we brought our new, more energy-efficient, hydrogen plant online in 2019. In response, we made changes to our operating practices and invested in new equipment and technology, which have resulted in an improvement in flaring performance.
When a flare event happens, we provide timely information to regulatory agencies who inform the public of any potential action required.
Chevron Richmond is committed to keeping the community informed and updated when flaring occurs. Here are ways you can contact us and access information:
community air monitoring resources:
- www.richmondairmonitoring.org (funded by Chevron but operated independently)
- www.baaqmd.gov (search air quality)
- www.transparentrichmond.org
- www.purpleair.org
- www.ramboll-shair.com
- www.breezometer.com
- www.airnow.gov
flaring reports
BAAQMD-reportable flaring events are listed below. Chevron Richmond fully investigates the cause of flaring events and implements necessary corrective actions.
- 08/02/2024 – Flare Name: NISO (S-6013)
Flare Duration: 55 minutes
Vent Gas Volume (mmscf): 1.308
Methane (lbs): 110.1; NMHC (lbs): 157.0; SO2 (lbs): 64.8
Primary Cause: Mechanical failure of joint within the steam system.
Was the flaring the result of an emergency, as defined in Regulation 12-12-201? No.
Preventative measure(s): Evaluate joint durability for this and similar steam turbine governor linkage systems. Make appropriate updates to standards, if necessary. Estimated Completion Date: 12/31/2025
August 2024 – Flare Causal Report - 08/15/2024 - Flare Name: FCC (S-6016) and Alky (S-6019)
Flare Duration: 29 minutes
Vent Gas Volume (mmscf): 0.175
Methane (lbs): 20.15; NMHC (lbs): 117.56; SO2 (lbs): 523.18
Primary Cause: Ambiguous guidance in the startup procedure to manage high pressure alarm during startup.
Was the flaring the result of an emergency, as defined in Regulation 12-12-201? No.
Preventative measure(s): Revise startup procedure to include guidelines for managing high pressure alarm on this equipment during startup. Estimated Completion Date: 03/31/2025
August 2024 – Flare Causal Report
