An evaluation of the extraction, transport and refining of imported crude oils and the impact on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has analyzed the full life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transportation fuels derived from domestic crude oil and crude oil imported from specific countries. Estimates of the well-to-tank (WTT) GHG emissions associated with producing diesel fuel for each source are shown in Figure ES-1. This analysis reveals that producing diesel fuel from imported crude oil results in WTT GHG emissions that are, on average, 59% higher than diesel from domestic crude oil (21.4 vs. 13.5 kg CO2E/MMBtu LHV). Imported crude oils are on average heavier and contain higher levels of sulfur, and the controls on venting and flaring during crude oil production are not as good as in domestic operations. Figure ES-1 also shows that Venezuela bitumen, Canada oil sands, and Nigeria stand out as having high GHG emissions compared to other sources. Acquisition costs of the crude oil from these three sources are estimated at $62 billion for 2008.