ghana climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment

that flaringwill be short-term, minimal, and primarily related to safety and maintenance operations (TullowGhana Limited, 2009), and the government policy is zero gas flaring (van Tilburg and Würtenberger, 2010).The EIS also indicated a longer period of flaring will occur during the initial commissioningperiod of 3-6months asthe gas compression is brought to steady state (Fig. 9.1, Tullow Ghana Limited, 2009). Apparentlythis process is now ongoing according to oil industry statementss in the media a (Adam, 2011, quoting Mr.Thomas Manu, Director of Exploration and Production at the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation,GNPC).The EIS also indicated that during full oil production, ≤100 MMscfd could be re-injected into the oil fieldreservoir if necessary. As noted the 100 MMscfd figure is the full daily gas production less power needs forthe FPSO. However, the re-injection storage capacity has been questioned because of uncertainties of geologyand reservoir operations. Further, theinfrastructure to pipe gas ashore will not be ready as oil productionisinitiated and ramped up(van Tilburg and Würtenberger, 2010). Oil industry officials indicated in the mediare-injection of gas after an 18-month period will not be possiblee at the Jubileee Field (Adam, 2011), but noexplanation was forthcoming. Hence, long-term gas flaring at the Jubilee Fieldmay be inevitable withouttaccelerateddevelopment of infrastructure for storage, shipping, and processing of the gas.Figure 9.1 Estimated peak, average, and flaringg weekly volumes of natural gas(From Jubilee Oil Field, Ghana (Tullow Ghana Limited 2009) Note projected decrease in gas flaring about 18 weeks after oilproduction ramp up based on re-injection and off-site processing of gas of about 30 and 700 MMscd. Respectively)It is critical to re-emphasize that no infrastructure is in place to transport the gas from the FPSO althoughtime to first oil is apparently close (Adam, 2011). Minimally, a pipeline to the shore, a processing plant, and apower plant are needed to use the gas. The lead time for this infrastructure todevelop is ≥3-4 years afterthedecision togo forward has been made (Tullow Ghana Limited, 2009; van Tilburg and Würtenberger, 2010).Ghana didd recently announce a gas development joint venture partnership (Reuters, 2011); if this means rapidprogress an operational natural gas transport and processing infrastructure could not be expected until 2014(or even later). Existinginfrastructureplans vary from the basic combination of pipeline, processing plant andpower plant to more extensive plans of connectingto the West African Gas Pipeline in Takoradi (Tullow162 GHANA CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION ASSESSMENT