SaskEnergy will conduct a controlled natural gas flaring operation Monday at a block valve site just north of Arcola Avenue, about one kilometre southeast of the City of Regina Bypass, the utility confirmed.
When and where
The flare is scheduled to take place between noon and 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, although SaskEnergy cautioned timing may change based on operating requirements. The work will be carried out at the block valve site located north of Arcola Avenue, approximately one kilometre southeast of the bypass.
What residents may see and why it’s happening
Drivers and nearby residents may observe a flame reaching up to 40 feet from a temporary flare stack attached to SaskEnergy infrastructure at the site. The company says the flaring is necessary to safely remove natural gas from a section of the line that will be isolated for maintenance.
Flaring is an industry standard used when gas must be taken out of service. SaskEnergy said the process reduces the carbon footprint of the vented natural gas by 85 per cent, and that the area around the flare will be supervised to ensure public safety.
"Flaring is an industry standard practice when natural gas needs to be removed from a line and reduces the carbon footprint of the vented natural gas by 85 per cent," SaskEnergy said.
Public safety and service impact
SaskEnergy stressed residential natural gas service in the area will not be affected by the operation. The site will be monitored and supervised while flaring is underway, and the company has notified municipal and emergency partners in advance.
- Planned timing: noon–3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 (subject to change)
- Location: Block valve site north of Arcola Avenue, ~1 km SE of City of Regina Bypass
- Expected visibility: 40-foot flame from temporary flare stack
- Service impact: No interruption to residential natural gas service in the area
City of Regina officials, the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, the local RCMP detachment and the Regina Fire Department were all notified by SaskEnergy ahead of the operation, the company said. That pre-notification is standard practice to ensure emergency responders and local authorities are aware of planned maintenance and can respond quickly if needed.
Context for Regina residents
Visible flaring can cause concern for residents unfamiliar with maintenance operations. While dramatic in appearance, controlled flaring is intended to be a safe method of disposing of natural gas that cannot be returned to the system during work on pressurised lines. The company’s statement that flaring reduces emissions by 85 per cent refers to combustion of methane — converting the gas to carbon dioxide and water vapour rather than venting methane directly into the atmosphere.
For motorists, the flare may be visible from nearby roadways including portions of the bypass and Arcola Avenue. Drivers are advised to remain cautious and not stop on road shoulders to view the flame. Emergency and city crews will monitor the site and surrounding area.
Residents with questions or concerns about the operation were directed to contact SaskEnergy through its usual customer-service channels. The company did not indicate any expected changes to the public safety posture beyond on-site supervision during the flaring window.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planned time | Noon–3:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 (subject to change) |
| Location | North of Arcola Avenue, ~1 km SE of City of Regina Bypass |
| Expected flame height | Up to 40 feet |
| Residential service | No interruption expected |
Visible flaring operations are a reminder that much of the province’s energy infrastructure runs close to communities. SaskEnergy said the maintenance work supports the "safe and reliable delivery of natural gas" to customers — a priority for a region that relies on natural gas for heating and many industrial uses.
Local residents who observe the flare and have immediate safety concerns were urged to contact local emergency services. Otherwise, authorities advised the public not to approach the site and to let trained personnel supervise the work until flaring is complete.
