jake Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 Shining bright for weeks. Seen from afar it looks heavy pollutant. Also cant be great living there. About time SEPA stepped in again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutley Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 It’s beside Cowdenbeath, probably the best thing about living there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
been here before Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 When theres low cloud over Edinburgh and the Forth and they're doing some hefty flaring the ensuing glow looks very ethereal. I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartsfc_fan Posted February 6, 2020 Share Posted February 6, 2020 Could see it driving to the game last night whilst going down Colinton Road. Very bright. Must be a right pain to live next to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ri Alban Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Is this one of Skeletor's henchmen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmfc_liam06 Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 I stay about 3 miles from it. It's not as bad as last year when it was spewing out black shit all over the surrounding towns and keeping everyone awake at night due to the huge roar coming off it. Place should be shut down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Outrageous tonight. How the fek is this not resulting in sanctions. It must be pumping out massive amounts of pollutants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Phoned SEPA after viewing their website. What a fekin toothless organisation they really are. Pumping out fek knows what for weeks. And what the fek is the Scottish government doing? No wonder direct action is legitimate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brow Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) It was supposed to have a plan for an enclosed flare completed by this January, so they are doing something about it. Ah well. Fifers are always boasting about their cheap houses, there's reasons why. Edited February 12, 2020 by The Brow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
been here before Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 4 hours ago, The Brow said: It was supposed to have a plan for an enclosed flare completed by this January, so they are doing something about it. Ah well. Fifers are always boasting about their cheap houses, there's reasons why. Mossmorran, Grangemouth and a 40 mile detour when the waether is shite. Well worth that 'extra bedroom and a bigger garden for 30 grand less than you get in Edinburgh'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trotter Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 14 hours ago, jake said: Outrageous tonight. How the fek is this not resulting in sanctions. It must be pumping out massive amounts of pollutants. It's not great, but it's still better from both a safety and an environmental point of view to burn it rather than just let it vent off naturally. Lesser of two evils from that perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
¼½¾ Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 As seen from Bonnyrigg tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Potter Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 24 minutes ago, Lemongrab said: As seen from Bonnyrigg tonight. When i worked in the flour mill in leith docks, great view of the flames at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Internet Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Every night I look over and wonder if it has actually exploded. Seems to get brighter each night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3fingersreid Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 That must be a nightmare to live near it , not sure if the noise or the light from it would be worse . Just seen it from the top of comely bank avenue , it’s incredible . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjcc Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 32 minutes ago, Lemongrab said: As seen from Bonnyrigg tonight. Sure that’s not them burning bodies in Wuhan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanks said no Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 We were at Tesco Hermiston Gait earlier and I noticed the red sky to the north, unbelievable when we got on the bypass toward Gogar and it was flaming away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooperstar Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 It looked much brighter than normal last night as I drove down Drumbrae at half 8ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Internet Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 They were doing a restart last night https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-51498166 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sooperstar Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 53 minutes ago, Mauricio Pinilla said: They were doing a restart last night https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-51498166 Restarted a couple of nights ago. It has been flaring for 2 or 3 nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmfc_liam06 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 22 hours ago, 3fingersreid said: That must be a nightmare to live near it , not sure if the noise or the light from it would be worse . Just seen it from the top of comely bank avenue , it’s incredible . There hasn't been any noise this time, thankfully. Last summer was like having a turbo jet going constantly. Great times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 100-ish staff walked out a few hours early today in protest at the way the place is being run: safety concerns are not being addressed and workers no longer feel safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Albert Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 So still run by Exxon Mobil. I had assumed that it had been bought by one of the cheapo outfits that run most of the UK oil and gas business now. Seems the sort of thing that Scottish Government should be showing interest in and may even have some powers to intervene? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 At it's terrifying best tonight. The whole sky looks ablaze and I'm miles away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trotter Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 10 hours ago, Smack said: At it's terrifying best tonight. The whole sky looks ablaze and I'm miles away. As I said, it's not ideal by any stretch, but much better than the alternative. Exxon must be getting hammered at some point soon though. If you are relying on your flare/disposal systems this long in 'normal' operation, you have a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cade Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 The plant is clearly not right. It clearly needs to be taken offline and seriously upgraded. At the minute we're having to put up with giant flaring all the time to avoid a Beirut style explosion. The government has to intervene and force a closure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trotter Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 7 hours ago, Cade said: The plant is clearly not right. It clearly needs to be taken offline and seriously upgraded. At the minute we're having to put up with giant flaring all the time to avoid a Beirut style explosion. The government has to intervene and force a closure. No, you're not. You're having to put up with flaring to prevent the release of unburned flammable gases into the atmosphere which is 1) dangerous because they could ignite where you dont want them to, and 2) bad for the environment as their global warming potentials are much worse than the CO2 generated by burning them. Shutting the plant down until whatever is wrong is fixed is the correct answer though. Two problems with this though: 1) Ethylene crackers take forever and a day to turn back on to prevent thermal shock damage which is why they might be willing to keep it running if they think they can fix things soon. 2) Its not just one plant you would have to shut down. Mossmorran gets its ethane feedstock directly from Shell's FNGL plant next door (nice place, i've visited) and they only have a finite amount of storage if Exxon cant take it and Shell cant export it via ship at Braefoot Bay. This would likely lead Exxon to pretty large penalties, which is again justifies flaring to them for the short term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Phamism Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 I worked on the commissioning at Exxon (Esso it was then) Fife Ethylene Plant back in 1984/85 and I had to climb to the top of the flare stack to test the temperature sensors (thermocouples). It took over 30 minutes to get to the top, with a staggered ladder system, and then another 10 minutes to stop shaking when I got there. Once you got used to the flexing and swinging, even on a very still day, the view was breathtaking. As Trotter says, the flaring is a 'safety valve' and is the safest way to carry out a soft shutdown on the facility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pans Jambo Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 From Port Seton earlier tonight: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaside jambo Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 It’s like a view of from the lord of the rings looks spectacular in a frightening way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kila Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Does it attract moths? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 I think tonight is the worst I’ve ever seen it. Grimly impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_razors_edge Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 On 07/02/2020 at 08:56, hmfc_liam06 said: I stay about 3 miles from it. It's not as bad as last year when it was spewing out black shit all over the surrounding towns and keeping everyone awake at night due to the huge roar coming off it. Place should be shut down. I also live 3 miles away (crossgates) but it’s never really bothered me. My kids love seeing the big flame in the sky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statts1976uk Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Someone posted this on Facebook earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruyff Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 (edited) It's ridiculously bright, I've never seen it like that. Looks like the whole place is in flames. Edited October 5, 2020 by Cruyff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Sheldon Cooper Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Was driving back from Perth earlier tonight and we ended up taking a detour on our way home to go and take a closer look. I've always been strangely fascinated by the place but have never seen it up close so this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Its quite the sight but I must admit I expected it to be a bit noisier than it was! The effect it gives off is staggering. As others have said it feels like the whole place is on fire, especially when you can see the smoke climbing over the hills in the distance. I hadn't really appreciated the size of the place either. Was reading up a bit about it earlier as I had never really been too clued up on it, but I can't say I came away feeling any more knowledgable 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trotter Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 10 hours ago, Hugh Phamism said: I worked on the commissioning at Exxon (Esso it was then) Fife Ethylene Plant back in 1984/85 and I had to climb to the top of the flare stack to test the temperature sensors (thermocouples). It took over 30 minutes to get to the top, with a staggered ladder system, and then another 10 minutes to stop shaking when I got there. Once you got used to the flexing and swinging, even on a very still day, the view was breathtaking. As Trotter says, the flaring is a 'safety valve' and is the safest way to carry out a soft shutdown on the facility. One thing I haven't done yet, been up to the top of a flare/vent stack. Not something I'm actively yearning for! Strangest place I've ever been though, hands down, is inside the cargo tanks of a membrane-type LNG carrier. This particular tank holds 45,000 m³ of LNG at -160°C. For scale, those are full-sized adults at the bottom of the pump tower: 2 hours ago, Dr. Sheldon Cooper said: Was reading up a bit about it earlier as I had never really been too clued up on it, but I can't say I came away feeling any more knowledgable 😂 Flares are installed at pretty much every refinery/petchem facility/gas processing plants. They are designed to burn off excess gas that would otherwise build-up inside vessels, pipes and storage tanks and cause an increase in pressure that may lead to something breaking in a way you don't want it to. Normally, you see tiny (relatively speaking) pilot flames at the top. These are flames that are lit 24/7 using fuel gas - similar to the pilot flame on your boiler at home - so that when pressure relief or depressurization valves are opened, the gas released immediately ignites rather than causing chaos elsewhere. The Mossmorran Exxon plant takes ethane which is separated from natural gas coming from the North Sea at the Fife NGL plant next door which is then 'cracked' to produce ethylene and hydrogen. Ethylene is one of the most used petchem feedstocks and is used to make, amongst other things, polyethylene plastics and it's derivatives. Both ethylene and ethane have a much higher heat of combustion than natural gas (which is predominantly methane) hence the very large, very bright flame you see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 12 hours ago, Seaside jambo said: It’s like a view of from the lord of the rings looks spectacular in a frightening way MossMordor as it's now known 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Striker Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 On 11/02/2020 at 23:26, jake said: Phoned SEPA after viewing their website. What a fekin toothless organisation they really are. Pumping out fek knows what for weeks. And what the fek is the Scottish government doing? No wonder direct action is legitimate. As others with knowledge of chemical process plants have said, this burn-off seems to be an unfortunate "least worst" safety consequence. However you are right about SEPA - an organisation which is now empowered b the SG to demand annual income from small community groups & clubs under the guise of "flood risk mitigation" ..... risks which have been calculated by their own software with no actual assessment visits by hydrology experts. Basically a legal mafia operation. A few years ago, hundreds of residents in the Grangenouth area complained to councillors and the MSP about a plague of flies/blue bottles which had suddenly appeared and was invading their houses. The councillors contacted SEPA to investigate the source. The only places they checked were businesses and sites which held a licence from them - couldn't find a source at any of them - and just advised the residents to buy fly spray or fly traps. Pathetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54840311 News about the emissions from October's flaring. Good that it's official, but you didn't need to be an expert to figure out it was spewing some unholy foost into the air. Just a nose and a sense of smell covered that base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Potter Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 30 minutes ago, Smack said: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54840311 News about the emissions from October's flaring. Good that it's official, but you didn't need to be an expert to figure out it was spewing some unholy foost into the air. Just a nose and a sense of smell covered that base. And they want us to run about in battery operated cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbert. Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 4 hours ago, Smack said: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-54840311 News about the emissions from October's flaring. Good that it's official, but you didn't need to be an expert to figure out it was spewing some unholy foost into the air. Just a nose and a sense of smell covered that base. There's no smell. It's like saying you can smell the gas on your cooker when the flame is on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Sheldon Cooper Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 I must admit, when we drove by the last time it was flaring we opened the car window as I had heard about the smell but we couldn't smell anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greedy Jambo Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 Mossmorran flaring emissions 'equivalent of 9,000 people flying return Glasgow-New York' https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/environment/mossmorran-flaring-emissions-equivalent-9000-people-flying-return-glasgow-new-york-3029279?fbclid=IwAR34PycPGAnCXcuWBQrWS2a1a0e1AdI3fk0AwwAsJEbX-uU8-h7u24hqkJ4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 On 07/11/2020 at 17:09, Herbert said: There's no smell. It's like saying you can smell the gas on your cooker when the flame is on. When it was flaring there was a smell a bit like burning tyre rubber in the air where I am about 10 miles away. Maybe just coincidence, correlation doesn't equal causation and all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbert. Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 8 hours ago, Smack said: When it was flaring there was a smell a bit like burning tyre rubber in the air where I am about 10 miles away. Maybe just coincidence, correlation doesn't equal causation and all that. I worked in cowdenbeath for years and never smelt it once, I live less than 10miles from it aswell. The people in cowdenbeath are making out it's a bigger deal than it is, houses getting shaken to bits, kids getting scared etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pans Jambo Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 On 11/02/2020 at 23:26, jake said: Phoned SEPA after viewing their website. What a fekin toothless organisation they really are. Pumping out fek knows what for weeks. And what the fek is the Scottish government doing? No wonder direct action is legitimate. SEPA Waste of space. Good friend of mine has a wee garage with a bit of land out the back so he was breaking some scrapped cars, selling the parts on-line and then selling the rest of the chassis to the big scrap metal boys. Wasn't getting rich but it was paying the rates and the electric bills at the business. SEPA told him to stop as he didn't have a "licence" to do that however; if he paid for a SEPA licence then he could continue. So its not about the environmental issues of breaking up scrapped cars...its the licence that the money brings them. Dont pay...no play! Pay...it's OK. He told them to RAM it! WTF is that all about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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