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Climate Change 

While the earth's climate has undergone drastic changes throughout the planet's existence, scientific research continues to improve our understanding of climate and how it responds to human activities. At Anadarko, we are keenly aware that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) - have emerged as a specific concern. Anadarko is and will continue to be committed to responsible environmental stewardship. We continually look for innovative ways to minimize the overall environmental impacts of our activities, including reducing GHG emissions.

Anadarko supports ongoing climate change and greenhouse gas mitigation research, while implementing scientifically sound measures to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions and integrating air quality safeguards into our business practices around the world. We are a Production and Processing Partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Natural Gas STAR Program, a founding reporter on The Climate Registry and a participating member of the American Petroleum Institute's Climate Challenge Program and Business Roundtable's Climate RESOLVE Program.

Examples of our efforts include:

  • The use of emission-reduction technologies by incorporating Best Management Practices (BMP) into our operations
  • Working to minimize the flaring and venting of methane to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions
  • Proactively sequestering millions of tons of CO2 that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere. Our enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects in Wyoming use CO2 to stimulate oil production. Instead of venting the gas after use, Anadarko expects to sequester more than 30 million tons of CO2 over the lifetime of the Salt Creek and Monell projects in Wyoming alone. This major geological sequestration is one of the largest projects of its kind in the world.
  • As a result of our CO2 sequestration activities in Wyoming, we have created a surplus of registered and verifiable CO2 emissions reductions. These efforts, combined with growing awareness of the benefits of EOR-related geologic sequestration, have given Anadarko encouragement about the potential growth in voluntary environmental markets.


In 2003, Anadarko formed a Climate Change Committee (PDF) to organize, evaluate and advise on climate change and GHG issues. In 2004, the company approved a GHG Management Plan (PDF), recommended by the Climate Change Committee. The plan addresses the management of emissions of CO2 and CH4 at all of Anadarko's worldwide operating locations.

Fundamental to our operating philosophy is a commitment to adhere to the stricter of two standards: our own policies or an individual country's regulations. This includes adopting new standards in countries that are modifying their regulations to meet goals set forth in the Kyoto Protocol. In our view, it's possible to achieve reductions in GHG emissions in a cost-effective and voluntary manner. We believe that it's important to balance economic and environmental concerns with sound science so that industries are able to innovate, develop and grow the global economy in a safe and responsible manner.

In 2007, Anadarko reassessed its corporate-wide GHG emissions inventory baseline, following the acquisitions of Kerr-McGee Corporation and Western Gas Resources. We completed our new corporate-wide baseline GHG inventory and GHG intensity using our established and updated Corporate GHG Protocol. Further, we completed the inventory of our GHG emissions reductions from our EOR projects including third-party audit and registration. Our methodology is consistent with established industry guidelines found in the IPIECA/API/OGP Petroleum Industry Guidelines for Reporting GHG Emissions and standards set by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resource Institute.  

 Following the acquisitions of Kerr-McGee Corporation and Western Gas Resources, Anadarko's midstream position grew substantially. As a result the inventory has been broken out into midstream activities, and exploration and production (E&P) activities.

Anadarko also has responded to inquiries by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a coordinating effort of institutional investor’s collaboration regarding climate change. Annually, reports outline key issues and company responses to climate change.  Anadarko’s responses include:  CDP3 (PDF), CDP4 (PDF) and CDP5 (PDF).  Further information is available at the Carbon Disclosure Project Web site.

 



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