Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

The Issue: Challenge and Opportunity 

Climate change is caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, like carbon dioxide (CO₂), entering the earth's atmosphere. GHGs come from producing and using fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The challenge we all face is how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while demand for energy – and the amount of energy the world is consuming – is growing.

Canadians expect the oil and gas industry to do its part to help fight climate change. As an industry, we account for 23 per cent of Canada’s emissions and 0.5 per cent of total global emissions. It’s a big number and industry understands it must improve its performance.

Climate change is a global issue that requires global solutions. Everyone needs to play a role. Canada, which emits only two per cent of the world’s greenhouse gases, needs to take action to reduce its emissions. And the world has to find ways to both produce and consume oil and gas more efficiently because fossil fuels make up a large part of worldwide emissions. 

Did you know?

Wells-to-Wheels analysis assesses total greenhouse gas emissions from crude oils. The full product life-cycle is considered from production (wells) to the use of the fuel in a vehicle (wheels). About 20 per cent of oil-related GHG emissions come from exploration and production, while about 80 per cent come from vehicle use. Read more about GHGs

GHG Emissions – Canada and U.S.

What we're Doing: Focusing on Technological Solutions 

The world needs more energy, and oil and gas will continue to play a large part in meeting those needs now and in the future. We firmly believe that new, innovative technologies will help produce more oil and gas to meet growing demand, while also reducing GHG emissions. There are a variety of technologies that we’re researching and working with now to make this happen.

Toe-to-Heel Air Injection (THAI™)

THAI™ is an oil sands technology that uses combustion instead of steam to liquefy the sticky bitumen deep underground, allowing it to be pumped to the surface. This technology helps the industry reduce our GHG emissions because it requires less energy than heating water to make steam.

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)

We believe CCS is a promising option to significantly reduce our GHG emissions in the near future. Companies are beginning to capture CO₂ and store (sequester) it underground or transport it to conventional oil and gas wells to help recover more resources from those wells. Several companies are also considering pipelines to connect sources of CO₂ with older oil reservoirs and other sequestration sites. There are several CCS projects currently operating in Canada.

Fugitive emissions

We are working hard to be more efficient in our operations by reducing the GHGs we emit per barrel of oil and unit of natural gas we produce. We’re doing this in a variety of ways, like minimizing small leaks in our equipment – also known as fugitive emissions. In cases like these, small steps can have big results.

Geothermal energy

The oil sands industry is researching how geothermal energy from deep in the earth could provide a low-emission alternative to provide heat and steam in the oil sands production process.