The extraction, production, refining and manufacturing of petroleum products are highly marketable for both domestic consumption and export. Crude oil, gasoline, heating fuel, diesel, propane, and other liquids, including biofuels and natural gas liquids, are all produced from the Midway-Sunset oil. This oil is heavy and complex, requiring large amounts of energy to extract and refine it into final products such as gasoline and diesel fuel. The Climate TRACE platform provides a comprehensive global inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, including a country-by-country breakdown of oil and gas sector emissions.
This is especially important for climate-conscious states such as California, which need to understand the process of producing and refining petroleum products and the emissions that result. The rupture of an oil pipeline off the coast of Orange County serves as a reminder of the importance of the oil industry in California. California is one of the top oil producers in the United States and is home to some of the dirtiest oil operations in the world. Oil companies are now injecting steam into oil fields using “improved recovery techniques” to force crude to the surface.
California remains the third largest oil-refining state by refinery capacity, after Texas and Louisiana. The production and refining of heavy oils, such as Canadian oil sands, has been shown to generate significant amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2) and other air pollutants. Data is now available to compare oil-producing regions, and even individual oil and gas operations. The Oil-Climate Index Plus Gas (OCI+) project will provide an analysis of the life cycle emissions of most of the world's oil resources, along with the specific production, processing and refining activities that contribute to those emissions.
California's position among oil-producing states has fallen slightly in recent years, from third to seventh place, as states such as New Mexico and Colorado have increased their production. Giving greater visibility to this sector will allow companies, investors, advocates, legislators and regulators to take steps to curb the dirtiest production and refining operations and dramatically reduce emissions associated with fossil fuels in California. This will help ensure that California remains a leader in electric vehicles, solar energy and other clean energy technologies.
