Hydrocarbon Processing - May 2022 - 21

Special Focus Biofuels, Alternative Fuels and
Green Petrochemicals
J. BUEHLER, Petrogenium, Buehler Consulting, Houston, Texas
Overview of decarbonization pathways for the
oil and gas and petrochemical industries-Part 1
This two-part article will cover the
(LHV) of 58 kg CO2
seven pathways to decarbonizing the oil
and gas and petrochemical industries.
Part 1 will detail sustainability and discuss
decarbonization pathways through
green and blue hydrogen (H2
); biofuels,
renewable fuels and e-fuels; and the circular
carbon cycle. Part 2-to be published
in the June issue of Hydrocarbon
Processing-will discuss energy efficiency,
new technologies, electrification and
carbon capture.
The need for decarbonization. Carbon
dioxide (CO2
) is a greenhouse gas
(GHG) that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere,
contributing to global warming.
To achieve the goal of limiting global
warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial
temperatures, it is necessary to significantly
reduce CO2
emissions. By 2030,
emissions to 55%
emissions by
the European Union (EU) seeks to reduce
the region's CO2
below 1990 levels (fit for 55), and, by
2050, to be carbon neutral. The U.S. has
set goals of reducing its CO2
2030 to 50% lower than 2005 levels, having
carbon-free utility power generation
by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality
by 2050. Major integrated oil companies
have announced goals to reduce CO2
emissions by 35%-40% by 2030 and to be
carbon neutral by 2050. The task ahead is
challenging and will require global commitments
from governments and industry,
along with the development of new
technology. The pathways for decarbonization
will be different for various industries.
This article will discuss some of the
pathways toward decarbonization for the
oil and gas and petrochemical industries.
Burning natural gas [methane
)] creates a lower heating value
(CH4
/1 MMBtu.a
100 MMBtu/hr (LHV) of CH4
Every
burned
on a fired heater will generate 50,000 tpy
of CO2
. This is a good rule of thumb for
evaluating the impact of opportunities to
reduce CO2
.
To reach the goal of carbon neutrality,
emissions. These emisemissions):
it
is necessary to reduce Scope 1, Scope 2
and Scope 3 CO2
sions are defined as:
* Scope 1 (direct CO2
These are the direct result of
burning fuels like natural gas,
offgas and fuel oil for process
heating, and for generating steam
and power at process units.
* Scope 2 (indirect CO2
a pledge to reduce CH4
equivalent (CO2
combined CO2
the stream. Reducing CH4
emissions by
30% by 2030 vs. 2020 levels. Nitrous oxide
and ozone are the other GHGs. The
CO2
e) of a stream is the
impact of all the GHGs in
emissions will
have an immediate impact on reducing
global CO2
e because of its high GWP.
What are the sector sources of CO2
e?
The U.S Energy Information Agency
(EIA) reported that, in 2020, the U.S.
generated 4.6 B metric t of CO2
e from
burning fossil fuels with petroleum
(45%), natural gas (36%) and coal (19%)
(FIG. 1). In 2020, 65% of CO2
emissions
emissions):
These result from imported
energy, like purchased steam from
neighboring industries or purchased
electric power from the power grid.
* Scope 3 (CO2
emissions from the
use of product): This is the CO2
produced by using the product.
For an oil company, this is the
CO2
from car and truck tailpipe
emissions. For integrated oil and
gas companies, 85% of their CO2
emissions can be Scope 3.
CO2 has a global warming potential
is also a GHG, and has a GWP
Eliminating
leaks has the heat-trapping.
It is a much easier task to stop
from
(GWP) of 1, which is a reference standard.
CH4
of 86 for a 20-yr duration and a GWP of
26 for a 100-yr duration.a,1
1 t of CH4
reduction equivalent to eliminating 86
t of CO2
CH4 leakage than to capture CO2
the atmosphere. A key priority is reducing
CH4
leakage from abandoned oil wells,
gas wells, pipelines, LNG plants and landfills.
At the COP26 UN climate change
conference, more than 100 nations signed
from fossil fuels came from the transportation
(36%) and industrial sectors
(29%). Opportunities to reduce the carbon
footprints of the transportation and
industrial sectors include:
* Transportation: Producing and
selling less carbon-intensive fuels,
as well as using renewable and
biofuels, renewable electric power,
and green and blue H2
* Industrial: Improving energy
efficiency; utilizing new and
improved technologies; using
electrification with renewable
power; using green and blue
H2
; and incorporating carbon
capture, utilization and storage
(CCUS) technologies.
In FIG. 1, 32% of CO2
e emissions in the
U.S. were from the generation of commercial
power. Additionally, while coal
generated 19% of the commercial power,
it accounted for 54% of total CO2
emissions
from power generation. There are
opportunities to replace fossil-fuel-generated
electricity with renewable power like
wind, solar and geothermal.2
Hydrocarbon Processing | MAY 2022 21
Hydrocarbon Processing - May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hydrocarbon Processing - May 2022
