Curbing the Climate Footprints of Oil and Gas

Chapter 4 lays out real-world solutions from the Oil Climate Index + Gas (OCI+). It argues that demand-side strategies, while necessary, have not been sufficient. An array of supply-side oil and gas strategies are needed to curb global warming. Numerous strategies that mitigate upstream, midstream, and downstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are enumerated, including (1) eliminating routine flaring, (2) using renewable electricity, (3) using only manmade carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery, (4) reusing and pumping produced water more efficiently, (5) employing green hydrogen in refining, (6) locking up carbon in noncombustible end uses, (7) sequestering heavy residuals for reclamation and reuse, (8) reducing GHG emissions from liquefied natural gas, (9) decommissioning legacy assets with high GHGs, (10) minimizing fossil fuel inputs, (11) employing leak-free equipment, (12) operating permanent carbon capture, and (13) avoiding operating in sensitive ecosystems. The chapter concludes by presenting the cumulative mitigation potential of supply-side oil and gas strategies that are the responsibility of various actors.