Environmental data

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) comprise carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride. The data are calculated using locally regulated methods where they exist. Where there is no locally regulated method, the data are calculated using the 2009 API Compendium, which is the recognised industry standard under the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. There are inherent limitations to the accuracy of such data. Oil and gas industry guidelines (IPIECA/API/IOGP) indicate that several sources of uncertainty can contribute to the overall uncertainty of a corporate emissions inventory. We have estimated the overall uncertainty of our direct GHG emissions to be around 2%. 2015-2018 emissions are calculated using Global Warming Potential factors from the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report. Data for prior years were calculated using Global Warming Potential factors from the IPCC’s Second Assessment Report.

These emissions were calculated using the market-based method in line with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.

The term upstream in this context includes assets and activities from our Upstream and Integrated Gas businesses.

Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations (0.5 million tonnes flared in 2018) and SNEPCo offshore operations (0.3 million tonnes flared in 2018).

Flaring from the Majnoon field in Iraq and from Malaysia amounted to 0.4 and 0.1 million tonnes of hydrocarbons respectively in 2018.

Methodology was updated in 2012. Data for prior years are not directly comparable.

Data are indexed to 2002, based on Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index 2006 methodology.

All spill volumes and numbers are for spills of more than 100 kilograms. Due to the rounding of numbers, spill volumes for Nigeria and the rest of the world might not add up to the exact total volume of spills.

As of the end of March 2019, there was 1 spill under investigation in Nigeria that may result in adjustments.

All sabotage- and theft-related spills have occurred in Nigeria except in 2016 (0.001 thousand tonnes) and 2015 (0.005 thousand tonnes).

Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations and SNEPCo offshore operations. A single spill at the Bonga field offshore Nigeria amounted to 4.8 thousand tonnes in 2011.

Nigeria includes SPDC onshore operations (15 operational spills in 2018) and SNEPCo offshore operations (0 operational spills in 2018).

2017 data reflect 4 spills caused by Hurricane Harvey in the USA.

Freshwater figures do not include once-through cooling water.

In 2018, we sent waste off-site for recycling or reuse, or sold around 400 thousand tonnes of material that would otherwise have been disposed of as waste.