What do Oil Platforms burn on a pole while at sea?

Question

I always see burning flame on a pole on an Oil Platform. Can’t they store and then sell it?

In: 31

Answer 1

It is one of two things. It is gases like methane or propane that have leaked/escaped out of the system that are being burnt off because the co2 is better for the atmosphere than the methane.

Or, the gases haven’t leaked, but they’re still being intentionally burnt off because it isn’t worth the effort to compress it, store it, and ship it