Advancing Green Drilling Solutions: Emission Reductions and Operational Efficiency — The First Green Well Project in the UAE

Abstract This paper presents the execution and quantified impact of ADNOC Onshore's first UAE Green Well piloted to demonstrate practical, operations-led decarbonization without compromising delivery KPIs. The project deployed a diesel-battery hybrid power system that enabled peak shaving and idle reduction, improving generator load factors and reducing fuel consumption. Cementing operations adopted low-Portland blends with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash and slag to lower clinker-related emissions while maintaining compressive strength. Drilling-fluid optimization involved switching to a water-based mud system for intermediate sections, reducing diesel use and minimizing barite loading through rheology control and solids-management efficiency. Logistics interventions included load consolidation and backhaul utilization, supported by digital scheduling to reduce redundant trips and overall transport emissions. Against a modeled conventional baseline of 1,024,796 kg CO2e and a planning target of 990,600 kg CO2e, actual emissions totaled 824,961 kg CO2e, delivering reductions of 19.5% and 17%, respectively. Emission quantification applied activity-based accounting using rig DDRs, service-line inputs, and verified fuel and material records, combined with Envana/Halliburton emission factor libraries on a 100-year GWP basis. Scenario analysis highlights additional potential through exclusive low-Portland cement adoption and standardized logistics benchmarks. The study concludes with a roadmap for scaling these interventions across multi-rig campaigns and enhancing data quality to support OGMP 2.0-aligned disclosures, reinforcing ADNOC's commitment to emissions transparency and operational excellence. The approach is being readied for integration into ADNOC's OGMP 2.0–aligned methane reporting workflow from end-of-well rollups to asset-level disclosures.