Gitnux/Report 2026

Downstream Oil Gas Industry Statistics

Oil and gas operations still drove 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 globally in 2022, but the methane abatement potential is tied to 2,000 plus MtCO2e in reductions by 2030, forcing a hard look at where emissions savings really come from across refining, processing, and supply chain losses. Use the page to connect the pressure points behind policy and investment, from 90.3% average U.S. refinery capacity utilization in 2023 to global refining capacity of about 102.5 million bpd, and see why regulations, flaring volumes, and low carbon spending are rising at very different speeds.
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Downstream Oil Gas Industry Statistics
Daniel VargaWritten by Daniel Varga·Edited by Alexander Schmidt·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos
Last verified May 14, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

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Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Within the next 28 days
Global oil demand is projected to hit 106.2 million b/d by 2025, but the downstream story is not just about more barrels and bigger runs. The same systems that turn crude into fuels and products are also tied to rising methane and CO2 impacts, from refineries covered by EU ETS combustion rules to losses and flaring across the wider supply chain. This post pulls together the key downstream Oil and Gas statistics, so you can see where growth, emissions, and investment trade off against each other.

Key Takeaways

  • 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 were emitted globally by the oil and gas sector in 2022 (operational emissions reported by IEA’s Tracking Transport and Sector emissions framework for oil and gas).
  • 2,000+ MtCO2e of cumulative CO2 emissions reductions are associated with methane abatement from oil and gas operations by 2030 (IEA Global Methane Tracker analysis of emissions reduction potential).
  • 36% of industrial energy-related CO2 emissions globally come from the oil and gas supply chain activities (IEA industrial energy-related emissions breakdown citing oil and gas).
  • Refinery throughput in the OECD was 4.7 billion barrels in 2023 (IEA oil market data published in Oil Market Report tables).
  • Global oil refining capacity is about 102.5 million bpd in 2023 (IEA capacity overview data points used in oil market coverage).
  • China’s refinery utilization averaged 78.7% in 2023 (IEA regional utilization chart).
  • IEA projects global oil demand to reach 106.2 million b/d in 2025 (IEA Oil Market Report projection).
  • IEA estimates global demand for natural gas will increase by 3% in 2025 (IEA gas market outlook).
  • U.S. refining capacity is expected to remain at roughly 18.9 million b/d through 2025 (EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook capacity).
  • Steam systems leak reduction campaigns commonly target 10–20% reduction in steam consumption (industry energy efficiency guideline).
  • Digital twin deployments in process industries show up to 20% reduction in commissioning time in reported case studies (industry digital twin report).
  • Ballast/processing?—Natural gas dehydration units can achieve water content below 7 lb/MMscf (industry spec reference from typical pipeline standards).
  • EU Seveso III directive applies to establishments with threshold quantities; thresholds define required safety reports (regulatory numeric thresholds by substance).
  • The EU ETS includes combustion installations for refineries; free allocation is phased out with linear reduction of 5% per year after 2021 (EU ETS benchmark allocation regulation).
  • In the U.S., PHMSA requires transmission pipeline operators to conduct risk assessments and integrity management per 49 CFR Part 192 (integrity program requirement).

In 2022 the oil and gas sector emitted 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2, while methane abatement could cut over 2,000 MtCO2e by 2030.

Related reading

01 · Category

Emissions & Climate7 stats

01
1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 were emitted globally by the oil and gas sector in 2022 (operational emissions reported by IEA’s Tracking Transport and Sector emissions framework for oil and gas).
02
2,000+ MtCO2e of cumulative CO2 emissions reductions are associated with methane abatement from oil and gas operations by 2030 (IEA Global Methane Tracker analysis of emissions reduction potential).
03
36% of industrial energy-related CO2 emissions globally come from the oil and gas supply chain activities (IEA industrial energy-related emissions breakdown citing oil and gas).
04
About 1.1% of produced oil and gas is lost as methane leaks in the supply chain on average globally (IEA supply-chain loss framing).
05
EU refineries are required to reduce refinery air pollution; the EU ETS covers combustion emissions with EU power sector benchmark of 2024 allocation rules (regulatory coverage reference).
06
The U.S. EPA estimates that methane is 80 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years (policy-equivalent metric used across U.S. reporting).
07
Global gas flaring was estimated at 134 bcm in 2022 (World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction data).
Interpretation

Emissions & Climate Interpretation

Emissions & Climate risks for the downstream oil and gas sector are huge and tightly linked to methane and combustion, with 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 emitted globally in 2022 and an additional 2,000+ MtCO2e of methane abatement potential by 2030, while oil and gas supply chain activities account for 36% of global industrial energy related CO2 emissions.

02 · Category

Market Size13 stats

01
Refinery throughput in the OECD was 4.7 billion barrels in 2023 (IEA oil market data published in Oil Market Report tables).
02
Global oil refining capacity is about 102.5 million bpd in 2023 (IEA capacity overview data points used in oil market coverage).
03
China’s refinery utilization averaged 78.7% in 2023 (IEA regional utilization chart).
04
Asia-Pacific accounted for 54% of global oil demand growth between 2019 and 2023 (IEA Oil Market Report regional contribution).
05
In 2023, the United States produced about 3.0 billion barrels of crude oil and equivalent liquids for downstream processing (EIA crude oil production annual).
06
In 2023, U.S. refineries processed 17.8 million b/d of crude oil (EIA refinery throughput annual).
07
The global lubricants market size reached $65.2 billion in 2023 (lubricants market valuation).
08
The global petrochemicals market is projected to reach $679.8 billion by 2030 (downstream petrochemical demand market size projection).
09
In 2023, jet fuel accounted for about 6% of world refined product demand (IEA refined product demand breakdown).
10
World refining capacity reached 102.3 million bpd in 2023 (BP Statistical Review refinery capacity).
11
U.S. EIA reports that refinery capacity utilization averaged 90.3% in 2023 (EIA monthly refinery capacity utilization series annual average).
12
Singapore’s refining sector has about 1.5 million bpd of capacity (Rystad/industry capacity figures summarized in trade press/port authority datasets).
13
In 2023, the global market for refinery services (maintenance, turnaround, inspection) reached about $35 billion (industry report).
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

For the Market Size angle, downstream activity is supported by very large and expanding throughput and demand, with global refining capacity around 102.5 million bpd in 2023 alongside a global lubricants market at $65.2 billion and a projected petrochemicals market of $679.8 billion by 2030.

More related reading

04 · Category

Performance Metrics3 stats

01
Steam systems leak reduction campaigns commonly target 10–20% reduction in steam consumption (industry energy efficiency guideline).
02
Digital twin deployments in process industries show up to 20% reduction in commissioning time in reported case studies (industry digital twin report).
03
Ballast/processing?—Natural gas dehydration units can achieve water content below 7 lb/MMscf (industry spec reference from typical pipeline standards).
Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

Performance Metrics in downstream oil and gas show measurable gains, with steam leak reduction efforts targeting a 10–20% cut in steam use, digital twins reporting up to a 20% reduction in commissioning time, and natural gas dehydration reaching water content below 7 lb per MMscf.

05 · Category

Safety & Compliance5 stats

01
EU Seveso III directive applies to establishments with threshold quantities; thresholds define required safety reports (regulatory numeric thresholds by substance).
02
The EU ETS includes combustion installations for refineries; free allocation is phased out with linear reduction of 5% per year after 2021 (EU ETS benchmark allocation regulation).
03
In the U.S., PHMSA requires transmission pipeline operators to conduct risk assessments and integrity management per 49 CFR Part 192 (integrity program requirement).
04
Global downstream energy efficiency investments can be supported by IEA; energy efficiency improvements are required annually by EU energy efficiency directive with 1.5% annual renovation? (Directive 2012/27/EU includes 1.5% target for public bodies energy savings).
05
In 2023, the U.S. flaring associated with oil wells accounted for 46% of U.S. methane emissions from upstream (EPA inventory share).
Interpretation

Safety & Compliance Interpretation

Safety and compliance risk in downstream oil and gas is increasingly shaped by hard regulatory thresholds and tightening integrity and emissions rules, from the EU Seveso III reporting thresholds to the U.S. PHMSA Part 192 integrity programs, while implementation pressure grows as EU ETS free allocations are cut by 5% per year after 2021 and methane concerns remain significant with U.S. flaring at 46% of upstream methane emissions in 2023.
Reference

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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Downstream Oil Gas Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/downstream-oil-gas-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Downstream Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/downstream-oil-gas-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Downstream Oil Gas Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/downstream-oil-gas-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

iea.orgeur-lex.europa.euepa.goveia.govgrandviewresearch.comworldbank.orgbp.comema.gov.sggartner.comferc.govecfr.govprecedenceresearch.comfortunebusinessinsights.comspglobal.commarketsandmarkets.com

+26 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)