BP targets zero onshore US flaring by 2025

BP aims to cease flaring in the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico by 2025, the company said on April 19.

The UK major acquired its Permian shale assets through a $10.5bn deal with BHP in 2018. Since then it has reduced its flaring intensity dramatically. Some 16% of associated gas from its Permian fields was flared in the fourth quarter of 2019, and this has since dropped to 2% and continues to fall, BP said.

The centre piece in BP's anti-flaring initiative is Grand Slam, an electrified central oil, gas and water handling facility near Orla, Texas. It produces fewer emissions than legacy facilities that rely on gas-driven equipment, compressors and generators.

"Grand Slam utilises a sophisticated separation and compression system that allows the recovery of gas that would typically be flared at traditional well sites, which means we can commercialise the gas instead of flaring it," David Lawler, head of BP's US onshore business BPX Energy said. 

Investment in the electrification of its operations is also key for BP to reach its emissions targets, Lawler explained.

"We are using electricity to power our drilling operations, saving over 50,000 gallons of diesel per well every 20 days," he said. "Our objective is to eventually utilise 100% grid power for all wells."