Oil and natural gas companies are on the leading edge of innovative technologies to find resources more efficiently and precisely, thereby reducing environmental impact. Some technological advances include 4-D visualization (using seismic imaging), directional drilling and deepwater drill ships. These new technologies are applied on land, in the deep waters of our oceans, and in the refineries that create products for consumers.
Today, after decades-long investments of hundreds of billions of dollars, technology is enabling America’s oil and natural gas companies to access more resources with significantly less impact on the environment. Companies remain hard at work reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving environmental performance. For example:
- Between 2000 and 2008, the industry invested more than $58 billion in new low and zero emissions technologies.
- The industry has invested $175 billion since 1990 toward improving the environmental performance of its products, facilities and operations—$582 for every man, woman and child in the United States
- The industry has invested nearly $100 billion in emerging technologies that allow offshore operations to be cleaner, safer and more efficient.
And it’s not just in exploration and production where technology is making a difference. Many refineries are using technological advances to get more out of each barrel of oil.
As with refineries, the pipelines and tankers that transport our energy products use advanced technology to meet increased demand safely and effectively:
- "Smart pig" in-line inspection tools travel inside pipelines scanning for problems before they occur, thus contributing to safe and reliable operations.
- Aircraft equipped with infrared photography can locate pipeline problems before leaks occur.
- Electronic navigation used by tankers with side scan and multi-beam sonar technologies map shipping lanes and other waterways to enhance safety.
- Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) is being implemented in major U.S. ports to help vessels use the Internet to monitor oceanographic and meteorological data to move energy supplies safely and efficiently.