Musings on a Flare

I wonder how much gas is wasted by the flares from Mossmorran. What could be done with it instead, rather than simply burning it off? I believe it is a safety feature, preventing the build-up of dangerous gases, but it is a significant flame that fires high into the sky. (Compare the visible height of the flame with the size of the buildings and oil rig in nearby Burntisland.) Even if the gas can't be collected and re-used, could the flame be heating something up in a more productive way? Even just water that could be generating electricity? Or is that just too simplistic a thought...