Emissions from the Production, Storage, and Transport of Crude Oil and Gasoline

Abstract

The production, storage, and transport of crude oil and gasoline produces emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), sulfur oxides (SO_X), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and toxic air pollutants. This paper estimates upstream VOC and petroleum refinery emissions from the use of gasoline in the United States in the year 2000. The analysis encompasses the entire gasoline production and marketing cycle, from drilling for oil to refuelling vehicles, and accounts for all emissions regulations likely to be in place by the year 2000. The results are that upstream VOC emissions are likely to be between 6 and 10 grams per gallon of gasoline consumed in the year 2000, and between 3 and 10 grams/gallon in the long run, and that SO_X and NO_X emissions from refineries will be about 3 grams each per gallon of gasoline consumed. If these estimates are accurate, then upstream VOC emissions and refinery SO_X emissions, expressed in grams/mile, likely will exceed tailpipe gram/mile emissions from new cars in the year 2000, and refinery NO_X emissions will be a significant fraction of tailpipe NO_X emissions.