For a long time, oil producers have simply flared this unwanted oil by-product. But because of the increase in both environmental consciousness and energy demand, flaring is often avoided and is sometimes prohibited.

Technically, several options exist for handling associated gas.

• Conversion to petrochemical industry feedstock

• Gas reinjection for later recovery

• Generation of electricity for transmission or on-site needs

• Preparing it as a fuel in various forms (i.e. dried pipeline gas, LPG and exporting it via a pipeline)

• Processing gas-to-liquids and gas-to-solids

• Processing such as LNG or LPG and exporting via tankers