Unlocking sustainability: Navigating the vital transition in oil and gas field decommissioning

In today's dynamic oil and gas landscape, effective decommissioning stands as a pivotal challenge. It's a realm where decisions can no longer be deferred, where the stakes are high, and the path forward demands innovation. This paper embarks on an energy transformative exploration offering a Life Cycle analysis approach to estimate emissions entwined with decommissioning efforts. Through a meticulous gate-to-gate lifecycle analysis, this paper traverses the entire lifespan of oil and gas fields, from inception to closure. The model presents a methodological rigor, delves deep into the intricacies of decommissioning processes: from well plugging to plant dismantling, from onsite cutting to offsite fabrication. With a keen eye on sustainability, the study explores avenues for recycling and minimizing environmental impact. The analysis unveils the carbon footprint of decommissioning, with emissions quantified at 2.31x10-2 Kg CO2 Eq. per Mcf of natural gas produced and in this intricate tapestry, one truth emerges: well plug and abandonment, a seemingly mundane task that is part of each field development project, emerges as the primary contributor to emissions, casting a spotlight on areas ripe for improvement. The research charts a course towards a greener, more sustainable future for oil and gas decommissioning through better understanding of each stage of decommissioning through emission lens.