Electrifying bp’s oil and gas operations is a decisive step towards reducing their emissions, and at its bpx energy site in the Permian Basin in Texas, it’s already well under way.

At the bpx energy operations in Texas, bp is producing natural gas with clean electricity – tying the wells directly into the grid means no gas-driven generators, no tanks, and no flares.

Electricity is the cleanest, most efficient, reliable and cost-effective way to distribute power across an oilfield. But when bp purchased the Permian Basin assets in 2018, only 4 per cent of the operated wells were electrified.

By the end of 2021, the team had moved that number up to 75 per cent, and today that figure is at 80 per cent. bp is now on its way to its goal of 95 per cent electrification by the end of 2023.

By removing combustion engines in compressors and generators at its well sites, the team achieved emissions reductions of approximately 140,000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by the end of 2021. The equivalent to removing approximately 30,000 cars from the road.

The electricity comes from low carbon sources procured through its gas and power trading team.

The Texas site will be used as a model of the future for bp’s net zero ambition. By 2025, the company plans to invest $1.3 billion to build three new centralised delivery systems to further lower emissions from its Permian operations. And by 2030, the aim is for all its onshore assets to be net zero.

bp America bpx energy CEO and chairman and president Dave Lawler said, “My hope and message is that we can perform while we transform for the future, decarbonising oil and gas production, all while investing in and developing technologies that will help the world reach net zero.

“I’m very excited about the future.”