​​Why do Oil rigs have a Flame?

The flame at the top of an oil rig is an iconic image for the Oil & Gas Industry, yet few people understand why companies choose to burn natural gas. By burning excess natural gas, flaring protects against the dangers of over-pressuring industrial equipment.

A gas flare, alternatively known as a flare stack, flare boom, ground flare, or flare pit is a gas combustion device used in industrial plants such as petroleum refineries, chemical plants and natural gas processing plants.

Flaring is undertaken as a way to remove dangerous gasses with lower harm to the environment. It is used in safely regulating pressure in chemical plants, as well as handling natural gas release in wells. Alternatives, such as piping the gas to a plant or on-site capture and use, are of great interest.