In the U.S. Lower 48 business unit, we work to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including methane, associated with our operations. As we continue to meet energy transition demand, deliver competitive returns and reduce our emissions — consistent with our company’s Triple Mandate — we are guided by an overarching emissions reduction strategy. This focus is a key part of how we address the environmental and social aspects of our business, including climate-related risk.
The Lower 48 Emissions Reduction Strategy supports our company’s net-zero by 2050 ambition for operational GHG emissions by outlining key actions and the timeline for the business unit (BU) to meet its GHG emissions goals. Each asset within the BU has a roadmap to support the strategy. Actions include tackling key GHG emission sources:
- Pneumatic controllers (the primary source of reported methane emissions).
- Combustion (primarily compression, any engine).
- Flaring.
Tactics are similar for both brownfield (modifications to existing facilities) and greenfield (new facilities) and include:
- Eliminating gas venting pneumatics by replacing with instrument air.
- Reducing emissions from compression equipment.
- Working to eliminate tanks or installing vapor recovery units to re-route gas back to the sales line.
- Using air-assisted flares vs. traditional field gas-assisted flares.
“Engineering and operations teams are identifying low emission design concepts that can be incorporated into future greenfield projects. The retrofit of existing sites is also in progress, and there will be a step up of activity in 2023 with a steady state of execution occurring through 2030. Additionally, electrical infrastructure will be expanded in areas as needed to support increasing grid connectivity of our operations,” said Christine Lloyd, general manager, Lower 48 Environmental and Sustainable Development. “It’s important that we efficiently execute the Lower 48 emission reduction program in order to help us build a more resilient asset base.”
The strategy was in the works for years and involved input from operations, maintenance, and broader asset teams for the development of tactical plans. These include using a variety of new tools and techniques as part of a well-established leak detection and repair (LDAR) process to find and address leaks with solutions designed to best suit each site. Additionally, we’ve deployed an array of cutting-edge sensors and cameras utilizing the latest detection technology; including using drones, piloted by ConocoPhillips employees and specialized contractors, to inspect facilities for leaks. Additionally, we are adjusting our operational and offtake practices to achieve our target of zero routine flaring by 2025.
In the Bakken region, the GHG Guardians program rewarded team members who drove operational changes and identified opportunities to reduce emissions.
We are also applying dual fuel capabilities and electric power solutions for drilling and fracking operations to reduce diesel usage across our fleets in our unconventional assets. This work is improving our emissions footprint while yielding positive business outcomes.
“In Eagle Ford, we’re now operating battery systems that peak-shave power demand from the diesel generators that have historically exclusively powered the rigs. These battery systems allow the rigs to run the diesel driven power generators 50% less — reducing diesel usage, the associated emissions and operational cost. And we get the benefit of also reducing trucking, which benefits both our cost structure and the community,” said Kirk Johnson, senior vice president, Lower 48 Assets and Operations.
ConocoPhillips began operating an electric fracturing (e-frac) fleet in the Eagle Ford in the third quarter 2022. The e-frac fleet is powered by natural gas reciprocating engines. To date, over 34,142 megawatt hours of power have been generated using a combination of field gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) saving 10,339 tonnes of CO2 emissions, a 33% reduction over a conventional diesel fleet.
In support of our methane reduction efforts, the company recently joined the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), a multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). A measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry, OGMP 2.0 aims to improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting in the oil and gas sector.
“OGMP 2.0 aligns with our emissions reduction strategy and will help us better understand our emissions and our progress toward our net-zero operational emissions ambition by 2050,” Lloyd said.
“Overall, this work makes us a stronger and more resilient company. The actions we undertake to improve our emissions maintain our license to operate and position our business to be sustainable and competitive,” said Johnson. “By concentrating on low cost-of-supply and lower GHG intensity production, we are playing an important role in the energy transition.”