Zephyr Energy, the Rocky Mountain oil and gas company focused on responsible resource development, has successfully commenced 100% carbon neutral operations ahead of its 30 September 2021 target. This leading initiative is designed to ensure that all hydrocarbons produced by the Company from this point forward have a "net-zero" operational carbon impact.

Over the last four months, Zephyr worked with the Prax Group - a British multinational independent oil refining, trading, storage, distribution and retail conglomerate dealing in crude oil, petroleum products and bio-fuels - to prepare for the commencement of this initiative.  Prax, which has trading offices in London, Singapore and the U.S., helped Zephyr measure and mitigate the Company's greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions, with mitigation efforts primarily focused on the purchase of Verified Emission Reductions (or "VERs") from reputable pre-vetted developers of sustainable projects. Emissions to be mitigated include those from Zephyr's current corporate carbon footprint, its non-operated production assets in the Williston Basin, and from its operated project in the Paradox Basin.

The cost to purchase the appropriate number of VERs to offset Zephyr's growing operational footprint currently averages under $1 per barrel of oil equivalent produced, although the net cost to Zephyr may be considerably less given the potential to sell oil volumes at a premium as a result of the anticipated "net-zero" operational carbon status of those volumes. Zephyr has further entered into an agreement in which Prax will be responsible for marketing the oil produced from its Paradox project, with the purchase of the VERs offset from revenue payments due to Zephyr.

Zephyr's work to establish a carbon-zero footprint has been focused on its Scope 1 GHG impacts1, which cover all direct emissions from Zephyr-owned or controlled sources - from the drilling and production of operated and non-operated hydrocarbons through to transport to the refinery, as well as all other corporate emissions. 

Zephyr's Board also understands that mitigating the Company's operational CO2 impact is only a first step - emissions from the ultimate end-use of produced volumes have a significant CO2 impact as well.  Going forward, Zephyr pledges to work with potential end-users of its products to explore routes to more fully offset its product CO2 (Scope 3 Emissions1) to the greatest extent possible. 

Colin Harrington, Chief Executive of Zephyr, said :
"I am delighted we've now achieved our ambitious target to commence carbon-neutral operations this year. This groundbreaking initiative is a tangible demonstration of our determination to deliver on our core values of being both responsible stewards of our investors' capital and responsible stewards of the environment. It's also work that will continue as we grow the Company.

"From an operational standpoint, Zephyr is working to increase oil production volumes from our non-operated portfolio as well as finalising preparations to complete and test production from the first well on our flagship Paradox project. With this new phase comes an increased carbon impact, which is why the timing is absolutely right to launch our carbon-neutral initiative.

"Delivering on the target to reach carbon neutrality by the end of September was a challenge, and the work will continue as our volumes increase and the VER market evolves. I am highly grateful for our continued collaboration with Christopher Dillman and his team at the Prax Group for their overall assistance, especially regarding our measurement, mitigation and marketing efforts.

"Zephyr's Board is unanimous in its belief that good environmental & operational performance + good governance = superior investor returns. Today's announcement is illustrative of our determination to embed these key principals at the very heart of the Company."

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Zephyr Energy