UK oil and gas industry achieves phased emission reduction targets ahead of schedule

Recently, the British Offshore Energy Association (OEUK) stated that compared with 2018, carbon dioxide emissions from the UK's upstream oil and gas industry fell by 28% last year, achieving a 25% reduction in emissions by 2027 four years ahead of schedule. goal. Statistics show that last year, the industry emitted 13.5 million tons of carbon dioxide, accounting for about 3.5% of the UK's total emissions. On the other hand, methane emissions have been reduced by more than 50% compared with 2018, achieving the 2030 target seven years ahead of schedule.

The UK oil and gas industry has reached an agreement with the government to set targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10% by 2025, 25% by 2027, and 50% by 2030. The target for reducing methane emissions is to reduce methane emissions by 50% by 2030.

It is said that about 70% of the industry's emission reductions are carried out by operators, taking measures such as changing power sources and introducing new systems to recycle unused natural gas. In the past five years, excess gas combustion and degassing emissions generated during oil drilling have also been reduced by more than half.

The association expects emissions from the UK's upstream oil and gas industry to decline rapidly after 2030. This is not only due to declining production, but also due to improved equipment efficiency. Data from the UK's Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Emissions shows that UK domestic oil production was at an all-time low last year, and natural gas production was the second-lowest level on record. The association estimates that the North Sea still has the potential to extract 13.5 billion barrels of oil and natural gas.