TransGas plans controlled flare of natural gas this morning

TransGas, the pipeline subsidiary of SaskEnergy, is doing a controlled flare of natural gas at its Regina storage cavern southwest of the city this morning. The flare is set to start at 8:30 a.m. CST.

It will last for about three hours.

The location is roughly 1.6 kilometres west and 1.6 kilometres south of the Lewvan overpass, in Regina's southwest corner.

"Flaring is necessary to help TransGas perform operational upgrades to the pipeline system," the company said in a statement.

It explained that the flaring process is a normal practice in the industry. It also noted that flaring is the preferred way to release natural gas from its system, as burning the gas produces less greenhouse gas emissions than simply releasing the natural gas into the atmosphere.

People in the area may notice a flare that is about six metres long from stacks that have been put in place for the process. The stacks are about 12 metres tall.

The company said the area around the flares will be supervised to ensure public safety and noted there will be no disruptions to natural gas service.

SaskEnergy is a provincial Crown corporation which provides natural gas service in the province. It owns TransGas, which delivers the natural gas.

The company was recently in the news when a fire erupted at a storage cavern in the Prud'homme, Sask., area. That fire burned for several days before it was finally brought under control.