Open-source LCA tool development
Open-source Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool development has become increasingly important in the oil and gas sector for transparent and accessible carbon intensity assessments. This trend is exemplified by the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator (OPGEE) or GHGfrack, both developed by researchers in our group.
OPGEE, introduced by El-Houjeiri, Brandt, and Duffy in 2013, represents a significant advancement in open-source LCA tools. It uses an engineering-based approach to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from crude oil production, incorporating detailed field characteristics and production practices.
The development of OPGEE and similar tools has several key advantages:
1. Transparency: Open-source code allows for peer review and verification of methodologies.
2. Accessibility: Free availability enables widespread use by researchers, industry, and policymakers.
3. Adaptability: Users can modify the tool to suit specific needs or incorporate new data.
4. Collaboration: The open nature encourages contributions from diverse experts, leading to continuous improvement.
These tools have evolved to include more comprehensive data sets, improved modeling of complex processes, and better handling of uncertainties. The trend towards open-source LCA tools is fostering standardization in emissions reporting and supporting evidence-based decision-making in the oil and gas industry's efforts to reduce carbon intensity.
Related Publications
- Masnadi, M., Perrier, P., Wang, J., Rutherford, J., & Brandt, A. (2020). Statistical proxy modeling for life cycle assessment and energetic analysis. Energy, 194, 116882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116882
- Smith, S., Calbry-Mzyka, A., & Brandt, A. (2016). Improved exergetic life cycle assessment through matrix reduction technique. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21, 1379–1390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1118-5
- Wallington, T., Anderson, J., De Kleine, R., Kim, H., Maas, H., Brandt, A., & Keoleian, G. (2016). When Comparing Alternative Fuel-Vehicle Systems, Life Cycle Assessment Studies Should Consider Trends in Oil Production. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 21(2), 244-248. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.12418
- Brandt, A., Sun, Y., Bharadwaj, S., Lvingston, D., Tan, E., & Gordon, D. (2015). Energy Return on Investment (EROI) for Forty Global Oilfields Using a Detailed Engineering-Based Model of Oil Production. PLoS ONE, 10(12), e0144141. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144141
- Brandt, A., Yeskoo, T., & Vafi, K. (2015). Net energy analysis of Bakken crude oil production using a well-level engineering-based model. Energy, 93(2), 2191-2198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.10.113
- Brandt, A. (2015). Embodied Energy and GHG Emissions from Material Use in Conventional and Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(21), 13059–13066. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03540
- El-Houjerir, H., Brandt, A., & Duffy, J. (2013). Open-Source LCA Tool for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Crude Oil Production Using Field Characteristics. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(11), 5998–6006. https://doi.org/10.1021/es304570m
- Brandt, A., & Unnasch, S. (2010). Abstract Thermal enhanced oil recovery (TEOR) is used worldwide to increase the production of viscous heavy oils. The most common TEOR method injects steam into the subsurface reservoir to reduce the viscosity of the crude oil and allow it to flow. Produc. Energy & Fuels, 24(8), 4581–4589. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1021/ef100410f
- Brandt, A., Boak, J., & Burnham, A. (2010). Oil Shale: A Solution to the Liquid Fuel Dilemma. Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Oil Shale Derived Liquid Fuels. ACS Publications. https://doi.org/ISBN13: 9780841225398eISBN: 9780841225404
- Brandt, A. (2009). Converting Oil Shale to Liquid Fuels with the Alberta Taciuk Processor: Energy Inputs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Energy Fuels, 23(12), 6253–6258. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef900678d
- Brandt, A., & Farrell, A. (2007). Scraping the bottom of the barrel: greenhouse gas emission consequences of a transition to low-quality and synthetic petroleum resources. Climatic Change, 84, 241–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9275-y