Carbon Footprint Matrix: Reducing CO2 in Upstream Development

To reduce carbon footprint, operators are looking to weed out the aspects of their operations most damaging to the environment, or scale them back at the very least. Much of those emissions stem from infrastructure deployment, as cementing, while a literal building block of the industry, is responsible for emitting 8% of the world’s carbon emissions.

The key to a smaller carbon footprint across the board, according to Dan Fu, vice president of engineering and technology with BJ Energy Solutions, is spreading awareness of the disastrous consequences of an environment left unchecked.

“Right now I can say the entire supply chain is aligned along the carbon footprint, so it’s a matter of raising awareness,” Fu said. “Don’t focus on the performance itself but incorporate the carbon footprint matrix into your product and then bring that to light.”

Fu was joined by Elizabeth Contreras, R&D scientist with Aramco Services Co., during the recent SPE Live webinar “Methods for Reducing Carbon Footprint in Upstream Development” to discuss what chemistries and technologies are needed and available to help operators put a dent in their environmental impact.