Article featured in Harts E&P Magazine   Today global warming is an existential crisis facing our planet and all of its inhabitants. According to the latest IPCC report, average global temperatures have increased by +1 C above pre-industrial levels, and while this may not seem like a lot, this rise is already impacting weather systems and society. At +1.5 C, climate feedback loops may lead to permanent runaway climate change. Climate science tells us that if global average temperatures rise more than +1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, the impact could become catastrophic and irreversible.   In the energy industry, we are all aware of the very real impact the climate crisis is having on society and the planet. However, here is the conundrum: Our world needs more energy so that individuals, communities and countries may attain or sustain socio-economic progress. In most situations, this energy comes at a cost, as the way energy is produced as well as consumed is ultimately leading to climate change. While we continue to develop clean energy solutions, the reality is that ~55% of the global energy mix continues to come from hydrocarbons, and it will take years, if not decades, before the balance shifts to cleaner sources. As suppliers of oil and gas, our industry has a vital role to play in taking action today to ensure a low carbon future. Reducing ‘carbon per barrel’ Every barrel of oil or gas equivalent has a carbon overhead because of the energy consumed to produce it, the flaring of gas, and the leakage or venting of methane from well infrastructure. In 2019 upstream activities released ~2.9 GtCO2e, or ~6% of the total annual greenhouse gases produced by human activity. Total hydrocarbon production in that year was ~60 Bboe, resulting in a ‘carbon per barrel’ overhead of ~48 kgCO2e per barrel equivalent. Clearly, this overhead needs to be cut drastically if we are to avoid the dystopian scenario of runaway climate change.   What can operators do to reduce emissions? One answer lies in understanding the true dynamic behavior of well systems with through-barrier diagnostics. Diagnostics that reach beyond the traditional confines of the wellbore and see more can help operators reduce energy use and resulting emissions in a wide range of scenarios. Decarbonise with Diagnostics_infographics Final V4 Energy from turbines and diesel engines accounts for more than 70% of the CO2 emissions from upstream operations. Through-barrier diagnostics can help operators identify energy inefficiencies in a number of ways. For example, one of the largest demands on upstream energy comes from powering water injection pumps to maintain reservoir pressure. Well and formation integrity issues can divert water from the target, increasing the amount of water needed and wasting resources. Through-barrier diagnostics can reveal diverted water behind casing, aiding remediation and ultimately reducing injection rates and associated emissions.   Gas flaring accounts for roughly ~30% of upstream oil related CO2 emissions. If the associated gas that is produced alongside oil cannot be utilized, it is burned. The reasons could be technical, regulatory or economic, and even though the industry is working to reduce flaring, it remains a global issue. Through-barrier diagnostics can’t provide an alternative to flaring, but it can help track sources of unwanted gas to aid remediation, enabling operators to limit unwanted gas production and flaring.   At 1.9 GtCO2e per year, methane is the largest contributor to upstream carbon emissions. Methane is a potent and insidious contributor to the greenhouse effect, partly because methane has ~30x the warming effect of CO2, and fugitive leaks from active and abandoned wells can go unnoticed for years. However, a major source of methane is intentional venting. Gas leaks inside the well system can build up in between casings, and this may be vented if the pressure exceeds safe levels. Through-barrier diagnostics can locate the source of gas within the well system, informing remediation decisions and ultimately helping to reduce methane venting. The answer for operators is simple Equipped with the right information, evasive action can be taken to improve energy efficiency, decarbonise operations and reduce emissions. Diagnostics that reveal the full extent of flow and integrity dynamics throughout the well system, from the wellbore to its outer reaches, are essential to achieving this goal. An analysis of the entire well system with through-barrier diagnostics can help oil and gas producers deliver energy through the transition, but with significantly lower environmental impact. "As suppliers of oil and gas energy to society, our industry has a vital role to play in helping it achieve a low carbon future" Ken Feather, Chief Marketing Officer