Air pollution from gas flaring: a diachronic assessment in an Algerian oil field

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to assess the dispersion of gas flaring (GF) emissions in the Hassi R'mel field, Algeria, through a diachronic analysis covering the 2018–2022 period. The objective is to characterize the temporal evolution and spatial extent of pollutant plumes. Design/methodology/approach – The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model was used to simulate the dispersion of GF pollutants over a 72-hour period for four representative seasonal scenarios per year. Simulations were initialized using meteorological data from the NOAA Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) at a 1° spatial resolution. Findings – Results reveal summer and spring conditions produce the largest plume extensions. In contrast, winter stability limits plume development and promotes pollutant accumulation near the source. These simulations confirm that GF pollutants from Hassi R'mel frequently extend beyond national borders, influencing air quality over eastern Algeria and the Mediterranean basin. Originality/value – This study represents the first diachronic modeling assessment of gas flaring dispersion in Algeria's desert environment. It enables a consistent year to year comparison of plume footprint and demonstrates that seasonal meteorology exerts stronger control on transport extent than interannual variability in flaring volumes. This provides a decision-relevant basis for prioritizing mitigation strategies and for framing progress toward Zero Routine Flaring by 2030.