Oxy's oil and gas, chemical and midstream operations generate air emissions, including sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide (CO), among other substances. These air emissions are generated from boilers, heaters, engines, flares, compressors, and other process sources. Oxy continues to refine its air emissions estimates, particularly at international facilities.
As a result of applying more site-specific data on gas compositions in certain Middle East operations, estimated emissions of CO from facilities operated by Oxy decreased by 25 percent to 8,200 metric tons, respectively, from 2008 to 2009 (the most recent data available), while estimated emissions of NOx decreased by 11 percent to 12,900 metric tons during the same period. Emissions of SOx increased to 8,900 metric tons as a result of increased flaring of higher sulfur concentration gas streams in the Permian Basin while a third-party gas plant was offline for maintenance. The estimated quantity of VOCs emitted remained unchanged in 2009 at 54,800 metric tons.