Energy efficiency potentials in oil & gas operations: A case study of South Sudan’s petroleum industry

Abstract

The petroleum industry in the Republic of South Sudan has experienced a severe decline in production due to challenges associated with reservoir management and infrastructure limitations. Nevertheless, in the petroleum operations, the consumption of primary energy resources, such as diesel and crude oil, continued to rise at a significant level throughout the production facilities and the transportation system. This study aims at investigating energy efficiency potentials within the petroleum sector for improving energy management and enhancing sustainability. The results from the focused appraisal and conclusions, will inform policy formulation and standards development. For this energy evaluation, a detailed analysis was conducted using data from year 2018 to 2023 across all the facilities at the process-unit level, as well as related activities in blocks 3 &7, the largest oilfields in the country, operated by Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC). Data on crude oil and diesel fuel were collected, processed and evaluated to establish baselines for primary energy consumption, assessing the primary and final energy intensities, Specific Energy Consumption (SEC), associated carbon dioxide emissions, and potential energy savings, were determined using comparisons with specified baselines. The key findings of this study include diesel fuel savings of 1854.96 m³ / Annum equivalent to 1.56x 10⁻³ Mtoe per annum, crude oil savings of 70,418 barrels per annum, equivalent to 9.86 × 10⁻³ Mtoe per annum. The overall SEC of 0.67 PJ/Mtoe/Annum was determined on the basis of crude oil consumption benchmark of 1140,641barrels/annum. While the results highlight significant opportunities for energy-savings, these contributed to operational cost reduction of (8.09 %) or $ USD 8108,184.50 /Annum, and resources conservation, as well as an abatement of Carbon dioxide by 35.30 million metric ton of CO₂/annum (6.76 %) out of a total annual emission of 522.36 million metric ton of CO₂. Policy recommendations specific to energy management standards are provided as well as strategies for overcoming implementation challenges.