This Thermal Oxidizer is just another shortcut taken by industry. This is NOT a vapor recovery device.
Aruba Petroleum installed this Thermal Oxidizer in response to the constant emission problems in Allison, Texas where several residents have suffered health impacts from Aruba’s inability to control their toxic emissions.
Aruba is not the only operator to take this shortcut. These things are cropping up all around the Barnett Shale. This one belongs to XTO.
On May 18, 2010, Christine Ruggiero wrote her first letter attempting to learn more about this device and how it might impact her family’s health. Within two hours after the device was up and running, the Parr family and their pets were experiencing serious health impacts.
Finally after many months and several additional letters we have enough information to forward to a scientist for a scientific opinion.
First the flare or thermal oxidizer is permitted by rule.
Thus there is no requirement for testing the emissions or reporting the emissions. The flare unit is allowed to release 3.3492 tons per year of volatile organic compounds. Volatile Organic chemicals are extremely toxic.
There is no set back requirement for residential areas.Based on the analysis of the gases going into the flare, the gas contains 43 pounds per year of benzene, 39 pounds per year of toluene, and 221 pounds per year of xylene. These materials plus other volatile organics go towards making up the 3.3492 tons per year of volatile organic compounds released by the unit.
This is when the flare or thermal oxidizer is operating properly. Based on the information and photos you have accumulated, the unit does not seem to be operating properly.
We think the device is now working properly but it’s still not acceptable. Besides emitting huge quantities of climate change accelerating CO2, this is not something that should be in a residential area near families.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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We actually don't know if this flare is working properly or not-it has NEVER been tested. We do know it was installed incorrectly, and malfunctioned for weeks before Christine and I leaned on the manufacturer for some answers. The manufacturer, based in Ft Worth, failed to respond our questions, but within days of the flare video being posted on this blog and on YouTube, Aruba sent out a crew to work on it.
In the meantime, it took nearly 4 months to hear back from the TCEQ-and they have no plans to do any testing due to.."Our investigations are based on risk. If another site is determined to have a higher risk level, we will need to respond to the other. When time and resources allow, we will perform monitoring and sampling." This sounds like to me there needs to be another malfunctioning flare somewhere before the TCEQ will even think about testing.
If you look at the diagram for this thing, you'll see there are two ports specifically for testing. Aruba certainly isn't going to test it, and the TCEQ doesn't want to. While we know what it's supposed to do, which isn't good news, we don't know if it's working correctly.
Since christine and I have paid for most of the real testing around here, I guess this the only way we'll know for sure.
A thermal oxidizer is nothing but an enclosed flare. It spits out a lot of crap as you have noted. The WCEQ and the PBR "permits" are a joke!
Thermal Oxidizer used to used to to control control many various types of types of of air pollution.A thermal oxidizer is an air pollution control unit that neutralizes Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) through thermal combustion. Thermal oxidizers enable industrial companies that work with volatile compounds and hazardous chemicals to meet environmental compliance requirements regarding air pollution.