Natural Gas Burns Cleaner
Burning natural gas results in very low emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide – reducing acid rain and smog – and virtually no emissions of mercury or particulates (soot), making it among the cleanest ways to generate electricity. Accounting for emissions from fuel production through transportation and conversion, efficient natural gas power plants produce about half the carbon dioxide emissions of power plants that use coal.
In addition to reduced air emissions, natural gas has other environmental benefits that make it a smart fuel choice. For instance, natural gas-fired power plants use about 60% less water than coal plants and 75% less water than nuclear power plants for the same electricity output. In addition, natural gas-fired power plants require the least amount of land per megawatt of capacity versus other new power generation options. Wind and solar require 20 times more land to power the same number of homes as a natural gas-fired power plant.
Plants that use natural gas to produce electricity avoid some of the challenges facing wind, solar and nuclear power generation, such as visual impact, competing land uses, bird strikes and waste disposal. Another benefit of natural gas-fired generation is its reliability for backing up wind- and solar-generated electricity when there is a lack of sunshine or wind.
Natural gas is the fastest and most economical path to significantly reducing U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide from power generation, and it minimizes the impact on land and water resources. The many environmental benefits in accelerating the use of natural gas is another reason why we believe natural gas will be an important part of America's energy future.
- Improving Air Quality, Reducing Emissions
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We are committed to protecting the environment and are continuously working to reduce air emissions from our operations. Natural gas, widely considered the cleanest-burning fuel available for large-scale generation of electricity, is part of this commitment.
Increasing the use of natural gas in the energy mix is the fastest and most economical path to significantly reducing U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Combustion of natural gas generates very little sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which helps curb the formation of acid rain and smog. Burning natural gas also has the added benefit of not generating soot or volatile organic compounds.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, natural gas used for power generation produces half as much carbon dioxide, less than a third as much nitrogen oxides, and 1% as much sulfur oxides at the power plant compared to the average air emissions from coal-fired generation.
In fact, a June 2011 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative found the difference in GHG emissions to be so dramatic that it recommended replacing coal with natural gas as "the most practical near-term option for significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power generation."
- Managing Land Footprint
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In doing our part to help meet the world’s growing energy demand, we are committed to following our Onshore Well Management Principles at every site we operate around the globe. These principles guide how we protect and respect people and the environment, including managing our land footprint.
We work to manage our land footprint by using horizontal and directional well drilling technology, which minimizes surface use of land to extract oil and natural gas from shale. We also work to drill multiple wells from a single pad. This reduces our footprint visually and lessens the equipment, roadways and pipelines needed to complete a project.
The production of electricity using natural gas requires the least amount of land for the energy provided than almost any other energy source. While wind and solar require about 6 acres of land to generate enough electricity to power 1,000 homes, gas-fired power requires less than a third of an acre to generate the same amount of electricity.
- Our Approach
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Producing oil and natural gas responsibly involves planning to minimize environmental impact, first by being aware and respectful of the surrounding environment. We work to understand the vegetation and wildlife in the region and how our operations might affect them. We do this through:
- Working collaboratively with planners, land owners, governmental agencies and other interested parties.
- Completing all required environmental studies to assess the habitats of local species and promote healthy ecosystems with guidance from land management agencies.
- Crafting mitigation plans for any impacts that our operations could possibly cause.
Cooperation in Action
In the Wind River Basin of Wyoming, we are working to support revegetation using plants that benefit wildlife, especially sage grouse. Working with two other companies and government agencies, we are currently in the final stage of a three-year cooperative sage grouse study.
We are also working with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to create a prototype for developing natural gas in an environmentally friendly way on federal land at a coalbed gas field near Price, Utah. Our efforts:
- All compression uses electric motors to reduce field emissions.
- All pipelines and power lines are buried.
- No drilling or construction is allowed while big game winters in the area.
- Seed mixes are planted that benefit wildlife.
- Multiple annual reviews are conducted to ensure integrity of equipment.
The company is also collaborating with the BLM and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to improve more than 200 acres of habitat in and around our field near Provo.
We recognize the importance of protecting and promoting biodiversity, particularly in sensitive areas. We are continuously building our knowledge about the ecosystems in which we work to benchmark our performance compared to other extractive-industry companies.
- Conserving and Protecting Water Resources
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We are committed to the development and use of water management practices that conserve and protect freshwater resources and enhance the efficiency of water use in our operations.
Natural gas development outperforms many energy sources in using water efficiently. ConocoPhillips is committed to the continuous improvement of its operations in all areas where the quality and availability of this precious resource are involved. We focus on groundwater protection, proper handling of recovered fluids, minimizing the use of freshwater and evaluating alternatives to freshwater use, including saline water sources and recycling.
When used to produce electricity, natural gas uses significantly less water than all other thermal power generation options, including coal, nuclear, geothermal and solar trough. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, looking at fuel production and power generation, natural gas-fired power plants use about 200 gallons of water per megawatt hour of electricity produced – about 60% less than coal and 75% less than nuclear.
The supply of abundant electricity and other energy uses is heavily dependent on an adequate water supply, just as energy generation and production play a critical role in the availability and quality of water.
