Following air pollution charges stemming from its flaring and other activities at its Deer Park, Tex., refinery and chemical plant near Houston, Shell Oil and its affiliate partnerships agreed to spend at least $115 million to settle those charges.

According to the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Shell will take steps to recover and recycle waste gases (which it can then reuse as a fuel or other product), limit how much waste gas can be flared, and install and operate instruments and monitoring systems to ensure that gases sent to flares are burned with 98% efficiency.

It is estimated that, when fully implemented, the flare controls required under the agreement-which will not become final for another thirty days-will reduce air emissions of sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds (including benzene, and other hazardous air pollutants) by an estimated 4,550 tons/year or more. The controls also will cut greenhouse gas emissions at the installation by some 260,000 tons/year, DOJ and EPA added.

Furthermore, Shell has also agreed to spend a further $15-60 million to modify its wastewater treatment plant, to replace tanks as necessary and inspect them with a infrared camera to better identify and keep track of potential problems that may lead to leaks.

The company also committed to spend $200,000 to retrofit government-owned vehicles and reduce diesel emissions in the Deer Park complex’s vicinity, according to DOJ and EPA.

As stated by a Shell spokeswoman, ‘Shell is pleased that part of the agreement will include an allocation of funds to benefit the community through the retrofitting of school buses with emissions-reduction technology’.

Source: Nick Snow, Shell settles federal air pollution charges from Deer Park plant, Oil & Gas Journal