Being an energy leader in a world of changing energy demand, we embrace our role to find effective energy solutions. The circular carbon economy is a pragmatic concept that can provide direction for a sustainable future.
The circular carbon economy
Planet
What is the circular carbon economy?
For more than a century, carbon has been a primary component of energy systems that have enabled economies to prosper. But as the world seeks solutions to address the emissions challenge, the concept of a circular carbon economy has gained prominence. It encompasses the 4 Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Remove; restoring the human-earth balance and harmonizing the carbon cycle.
The Earth has been achieving this balance for billions of years; a natural and stable flow of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial ecosystems. Until recently, humans have played a simple role within this cycle, employing a linear model whereby we extract carbon from the ground and release it into the air. But by mimicking the natural process of the Earth, we can achieve our own balance, closing the loop to not only reduce emissions through energy efficiency and use of renewables, but also to reuse and remove carbon emissions entirely.
The 4 Rs
Reduce
Energy efficient technologies can mitigate the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere, while noncarbon emitting renewables and nuclear can also play a part.
Reuse
By capturing carbon through innovative technologies, it can then be used to create useful products, or be injected back into oil and gas reservoirs to increase productivity.
Recycle
CO₂ is chemically transformed into new products such as fertilizer or cement, or other forms of energy such as synthetic fuels.
Remove
The removal of carbon from the atmosphere can be both engineered – such as through direct air capture and sequestration – or natural, through carbon sinks such as mangrove forests.
What are we doing?
We believe the circular carbon economy is the best framework for achieving the greatest impact in reducing global emissions, while ensuring consistent economic growth.
We have undertaken a number of initiatives that move toward this framework by deploying technology solutions that provide more reliable access to affordable energy, reduce CO2 emissions, enhance fuel efficiency, conserve water, and create next-generation materials that make consumer products greener.
We also use Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to reduce emissions by monitoring Company energy consumption and optimizing operations, improving seismic processing and analysis, optimizing crude oil recovery methods, and enhancing oil well productivity. The carbon intensity of our upstream operations is already among the lowest in the industry, and we will continue to innovate and explore effective carbon management solutions that minimize the environmental impact of our activities.
Reduce: zero routine flaring
Gas flaring is the combustion of associated gas generated through oil production, which is both wasteful and a source of CO2 emissions. We have long been pioneers in gas flaring reduction, from our Master Gas System in the 1970s, and we continue to develop and deploy innovative 4IR technology in our Flaring Minimization Program. Not only does this help us to recover and make use of a previously wasted energy source, but it also significantly reduces our emissions. This is part of our ongoing commitment to achieving zero routine flaring by 2030, in alignment with the World Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2020.
Reuse: enhanced oil recovery (EOR)
EOR is the process of injecting a substance (such as captured CO2) into an oil reservoir to increase its productivity. At Hawiyah Gas Plant, we have the capability to capture and process 45 million standard cubic feet of CO2, which is then piped 85 km to the ‘Uthmaniyah oil field – one of the Middle East’s largest carbon EOR initiatives – to be injected into the oil reservoir, helping us to reduce emissions as well as improve our oil recovery.
Recycle: CO2 into products
CO2 can be recycled by chemically transforming it into new products. With Converge®, our polypropylene carbonate polyols product line, we are able to recycle CO2 into clean, high-value materials with significant performance, cost, and carbon footprint characteristics. Converge® polyols are used in everyday applications such as: consumer and industrial adhesives; insulation; food packaging; sealants; and elastomer applications. They also store carbon dioxide for an extended period, removing greenhouse gas (GHG) from the environment.
Remove: mangrove initiative
We are working on a number of technologies around carbon capture, utilization, and storage, which capture CO2 and sequester it in geological formations, thus removing emissions from the atmosphere. But we are also investing in a number of initiatives that utilize the Earth’s natural carbon sinks. For example, mangroves play an important role in sequestering carbon – up to 100 times faster and more permanently than terrestrial forests. Our mangrove initiative has seen us plant more than two million mangrove seedlings in the Kingdom, thereby removing CO2 and protecting sensitive areas of biodiversity.
A global conversation
Under the theme “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All,” Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency features Safeguarding the Planet as one of its key aims – and includes the concept of a circular carbon economy as a cornerstone to help rebalance the global carbon cycle. This was reinforced at the inaugural International Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (iCCUS) conference, held in Riyadh during February 2020. Thought leaders from across the industry, including Saudi Aramco’s President and CEO, Amin H. Nasser, and Chief Technology Officer, Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, discussed the dual challenge of meeting the world’s growing energy needs in a reliable yet sustainable manner.
Additionally, as a founding member of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), we partner with many of the world’s leading energy companies, working together on practical solutions to address climate change. A key focus is on injecting momentum into a global CCUS industry, using our collective expertise to support shared infrastructure and operations, and implement CCUS at a lower cost.
Planet
Carbon capture utilization and storage
Global demand for energy is growing, and we are committed to ensuring a sustainable energy future.
Technology development
Carbon management
Energy is an essential enabler of human progress. Advancing human progress and economic development while tackling the global climate challenge is the great challenge of our time.