Anadarko's Commitment
The earth's climate has undergone changes throughout the planet's existence, and scientific research continues to improve understanding of climate and how it responds to human activities. Although orbital paths and planet positions that influence cyclical climate patterns are documented, the relationship among these cycles of warming and cooling and atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases (GHG), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), is less clear. At Anadarko, we are keenly aware that GHG emissions - particularly CO2 and methane (CH4) - have emerged as specific concerns.
Anadarko is and will continue to be committed to responsible environmental stewardship. We often go above and beyond regulatory compliance by continually looking for ways to minimize the overall environmental impacts of our activities, including the reduction of GHG emissions.
Anadarko supports and participates in ongoing GHG emission-mitigation research. We implement technically tested and proven measures to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions, and ntegrate air-quality safeguards into our business practices around the world. Some programs in which we participate include:
Selected GHG Emission-Mitigation Efforts:
- Incorporating Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce GHG emissions into our operations, including:
- Leak detection surveying and inefficient pipe replacement
- Plunger lift, flare, and natural gas recovery system installation to reduce vented CH4
- Replacement of natural gas-fired pneumatic pumps with solar-powered pumps
- Replacement of older and less efficient compressors
- Anadarko's enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations in Wyoming inject CO2 to stimulate oil production. The CO2 injected into the reservoirs improves domestic oil supply and also sequesters CO2 that would have otherwise been released to the atmosphere. These projects currently sequester enough GHGs annually to offset the equivalent emissions of more than 460,000 passenger cars.
- Anadarko has verified and registered these EOR emissions reductions on the voluntary carbon market via the American Carbon Registry
- Anadarko is a participant in developing robust methodologies to document and monitor GHG emission reductions from EOR projects; Anadarko is on the technical workgroup providing valuable input ot the "Greenhouse Gas Accounting Framework for Carbon Capture and Storage Projects" in development by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
In 2003, Anadarko formed a Climate Change Committee (PDF) to organize, evaluate and take action 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 GHG emissions at all of Anadarko's worldwide operating locations and is currently being revised to incorporate mandatory GHG emission reporting requirements with which Anadarko is complying.
A major component of the GHG Management Plan is developing an annual robust corporate GHG emissions inventory.
Anadarko continues to calculate its GHG emissions and intensity for comparison against the 2006 baseline using its established and updated Corporate GHG Protocol.
Anadarko reports a segment of these emissions to The Climate Registry, of which we are a founding member. In February of 2010, Anadarko achieved the environmental leadership status of Climate Registered™ by successfully registering its GHG emissions in the state of New Mexico according to the regorous third-party verification standards required by The Climate Registry.
Furthermore, Anadarko also has reported this GHG emissions data and additional comprehensive information regarding our carbon management strategies and actions to the Carbon Disclosue Project (CDP). Submitted on an annual basis, these reports outline key issues and company actions around climate change. Anadarko’s responses include: CDP3 (PDF), CDP4 (PDF), CDP5 (PDF), CDP6 (PDF), CDP7 (PDF), CDP8 (PDF) and CDP9 (PDF). Further information is available at the Carbon Disclosure Project Web site.