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Carbon intensity of global crude oil refining and mitigation potential

Author

Listed:
  • Liang Jing

    (University of Calgary)

  • Hassan M. El-Houjeiri

    (Climate and Sustainability Group, Aramco Research Center–Detroit, Aramco Services Company)

  • Jean-Christophe Monfort

    (Climate and Sustainability Group, Aramco Research Center–Detroit, Aramco Services Company)

  • Adam R. Brandt

    (Stanford University)

  • Mohammad S. Masnadi

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Deborah Gordon

    (Brown University)

  • Joule A. Bergerson

    (University of Calgary)

Abstract

Changing market demand and increasing environmental regulations challenge the refining industry to shift crude slates and reconfigure production processes while reducing emissions. Yet sellers and buyers remain unaware of the carbon footprint of individual marketable networks, and each crude oil has different specifications and is processed in different destination markets. Here we show the global refining carbon intensity at country level and crude level are 13.9–62.1 kg of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) per barrel and 10.1–72.1 kgCO2e per barrel, respectively, with a volume-weighted average of 40.7 kgCO2e per barrel (equivalent to 7.3 gCO2e MJ−1) and energy use of 606 MJ per barrel. We used bottom-up engineering-based refinery modelling on crude oils representing 93% of 2015 global refining throughput. On the basis of projected oil consumption under 2 °C scenarios, the industry could save 56–79 GtCO2e to 2100 by targeting primary emission sources. These results provide guidance on climate-sensitive refining choices and future investment in emissions mitigation technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Liang Jing & Hassan M. El-Houjeiri & Jean-Christophe Monfort & Adam R. Brandt & Mohammad S. Masnadi & Deborah Gordon & Joule A. Bergerson, 2020. "Carbon intensity of global crude oil refining and mitigation potential," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(6), pages 526-532, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0775-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0775-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Hani Muhsen & Mohammed Al-Mahmodi & Rashed Tarawneh & Asma Alkhraibat & Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli, 2023. "The Potential of Green Hydrogen and Power-to-X Utilization in Jordanian Industries: Opportunities and Future Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Giacomo Benini & Adam Brandt & Valerio Dotti & Hassan El-Houjeiri, 2023. "The Economic and Environmental Consequences of the Petroleum Industry Extensive Margin," Working Papers 2023:14, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    3. Li, Junjie & Zhang, Yueling & Yang, Yanli & Zhang, Xiaomei & Zheng, Yonghong & Qian, Qi & Tian, Yajun & Xie, Kechang, 2022. "Comparative resource-environment-economy assessment of coal- and oil-based aromatics production," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    4. Liang Jing & Hassan M. El-Houjeiri & Jean-Christophe Monfort & James Littlefield & Amjaad Al-Qahtani & Yash Dixit & Raymond L. Speth & Adam R. Brandt & Mohammad S. Masnadi & Heather L. MacLean & Willi, 2022. "Understanding variability in petroleum jet fuel life cycle greenhouse gas emissions to inform aviation decarbonization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Umair Yaqub Qazi, 2022. "Future of Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel for Next-Generation Industrial Applications; Challenges and Expected Opportunities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-40, June.
    6. Gan, Yu & Wang, Michael & Lu, Zifeng & Kelly, Jarod, 2021. "Taking into account greenhouse gas emissions of electric vehicles for transportation de-carbonization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Stephany Isabel Vallarta-Serrano & Ana Bricia Galindo-Muro & Riccardo Cespi & Rogelio Bustamante-Bello, 2023. "Analysis of GHG Emission from Cargo Vehicles in Megacities: The Case of the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-19, June.
    8. Andrea Isella & Davide Manca, 2022. "GHG Emissions by (Petro)Chemical Processes and Decarbonization Priorities—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-13, October.
    9. Manfroni, Michele & Bukkens, Sandra G.F. & Giampietro, Mario, 2021. "The declining performance of the oil sector: Implications for global climate change mitigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    10. Paul Wolfram & Stephanie Weber & Kenneth Gillingham & Edgar G. Hertwich, 2021. "Pricing indirect emissions accelerates low—carbon transition of US light vehicle sector," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    11. Dietz, Simon & Gardiner, Dan & Jahn, Valentin & Noels, Jolien, 2021. "How ambitious are oil and gas companies’ climate goals?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112536, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    12. Eric Johnson & Carl Vadenbo, 2020. "Modelling Variation in Petroleum Products’ Refining Footprints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Xu, Renjing & Xu, Bin, 2022. "Exploring the effective way of reducing carbon intensity in the heavy industry using a semiparametric econometric approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    14. Manfroni, Michele & Bukkens, Sandra G.F. & Giampietro, Mario, 2022. "Securing fuel demand with unconventional oils: A metabolic perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    15. Anna Tenhunen-Lunkka & Tom Rommens & Ive Vanderreydt & Lars Mortensen, 2023. "Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Potential of European Union’s Circularity Related Targets for Plastics," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    16. Waranya Thepsaskul & Wongkot Wongsapai & Jirakom Sirisrisakulchai & Tassawan Jaitiang & Sopit Daroon & Varoon Raksakulkan & Phitsinee Muangjai & Chaichan Ritkrerkkrai & Pana Suttakul & Gengwit Wattaka, 2023. "Potential Business Models of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for the Oil Refining Industry in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-16, October.

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