Circular Economy in the Oil and Gas Industry: A Data-Driven Bibliometric Analysis

The circular economy (CE) presents transformative opportunities to address sustainability challenges in the oil and gas (O&G) industry, including waste generation, resource depletion, and anthropogenic emissions. Despite growing research interest, significant knowledge gaps persist in bibliometric trends, interdisciplinary collaborations, and stakeholder engagement regarding CE adoption in this sector. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using multidisciplinary databases and applying the PRISMA framework. Using Biblioshiny, this study analyzes 103 bibliometric datasets from 2015 to 2025 to evaluate research performance and science mapping trends. Findings reveal a steady increase in research output (annual growth rate: 14.72%), and international collaborations (co-authorship rate: 13.59%). Notably, collaborations such as those between Malaysia and Brunei present an increasing global commitment to sustainable practices in the O&G. Strategies including carbon capture and storage, waste-to-fuel technologies, and resource optimization as pivotal for enhancing economic and environmental performance by approximately 10 and 47%, respectively. However, to address industry-specific challenges, innovative solutions are proposed, including advanced digital tools for waste tracking, modular refinery designs for resource efficiency, and policy frameworks incentivizing closed-loop systems. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement is critical, as policymakers must implement incentive-driven regulations, while industry leaders and local communities should foster collaborative models for sustainable resource management. By establishing the global relevance of CE in O&G, this study offers a novel, data-driven roadmap to accelerate its adoption. Future research should explore cross-sector integration, data-driven decision-making, and harmonized policies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the O&G industry, supporting the transition towards a circular and low-carbon economy.