OIL AND GAS COMPANIES REPORT MASSIVE EARNINGS WHILE POLLUTING OUR AIR AND WATER

• From 2017-2020, Shell, Chevron, Occidental, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil spilled 4,466,498 gallons of oil, fuel, and other potentially harmful substances totaling 430 spills. 
• In 2023, these oil and gas companies reported more than $105 billion in total earnings. 
• From 2017 to 2020, these companies reported more than $152 billion in profits, $35.2 billion in stock buybacks, and $23.8 million in CEO bonuses.
• Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil reported emitting 778,783.13 pounds of hazardous air pollutants and 16,109,579.64 pounds of volatile organic compounds in 2020.

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The oil and gas industry is one of the largest and most profitable industries in the United States. They achieve their often record-smashing profits by putting the bottom lines of themselves and their shareholders over the health and safety of their consumers, trashing the environment, polluting our air and water, and spilling millions of gallons of oil, sometimes in one spill. 

This review examined spill data from 2017-2020 for five oil companies: Shell, Chevron, Occidental, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil. Over the course of those three years, these companies spilled 4,466,498 gallons of oil, fuel, and other potentially harmful substances across 430 spill incidents. Of the five companies, Shell was responsible for the highest quantity of spilled oil and fuel, spilling 2.1 million gallons during this time period. Occidental Petroleum was responsible for the most spill incidents at 231.

A review of EPA air pollutant excess emissions data for the facilities of Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and ExxonMobil found that these companies reported 778,783.13 pounds of hazardous air pollutants and 16,109,579.64 pounds of volatile organic compounds in 2020. Chevron was responsible for emitting the most hazardous air pollutants in 2020 at 396,168 pounds. In 2020, Chevron was also responsible for emitting the most volatile organic compounds (nearly 13 million pounds), greenhouse gasses (5.3 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent), benzene (32,551.69 pounds), carbon monoxide (12.3 million pounds), and methane (60.8 million pounds).

Meanwhile, from 2017–2020, these companies reported more than $152 billion in profits, $35.2 billion in stock buybacks, and $23.8 million in CEO bonuses. In 2023, these oil and gas companies reported a total of more than $105 billion in earnings.

While the oil and gas industry plots with a failed politician facing 88 criminal charges to gain even more power, they are spilling millions of gallons of oil and spewing toxic chemicals into the air, all while making billions of dollars in profit.

OVERVIEW

2017-2020: Oil Company Spills and Profits
Company	Quantity Spilled (Gallons)	# Of Spill Incidents	Profits Made
Shell	2,060,248	21	$55,689,000,000
Chevron	827,669	34	$35,539,000,000
Occidental Petroleum	694,496	231	$3,033,000,000
ConocoPhillips	453,259	29	$9,066,000,000
Exxon	430,826	115	$48,743,000,000
Total	4,466,498	430	$152,070,000,000

SHELL

Profits

In 2023, Shell reported $28 billion in earnings. The CEO of Shell earned about $12 million in 2022 after energy prices soared due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.  

Spill Data

• From 2017 to 2020, Shell and its subsidiaries were responsible for the highest quantity of spilled oil and fuel among the five companies examined, spilling 2.1 million gallons.
  • Shell was responsible for 21 spill incidents in seven states. 
  • Of the nine companies reviewed, Shell was also responsible for the single largest spill of the 534 identified incidents. The Colonial Pipeline, co-owned by Shell, spilled 2 million gallons of gasoline in 2020.

Emissions Data

• A review of EPA air pollution data for four Shell facilities found that they emitted 378,696.82 pounds of criteria air pollutants in 2020 and 3,679.69 pounds of hazardous air pollutants.
  • In 2020, three Shell facilities emitted 92,031.16 pounds of volatile organic compounds and 1,464.72 pounds of benzene. 
  • In 2020, a single Shell facility emitted 124.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and three facilities emitted 59,875.70 pounds of carbon monoxide.
  • One Shell facility emitted 5,247 pounds of methane in 2020.
  • Three Shell facilities emitted 84,015.32 pounds of nitrogen oxides in 2020.

Recent Chemical Incidents

In 2023, a fire erupted at a Shell chemical plant in Texas that sent nine workers to the hospital and caused a plume of smoke visible for miles. According to Shell officials, the product that ignited included cracked heavy gas oil, cracked light gas oil, and gasoline.

CHEVRON

Profits

In 2023, Chevron reported $24.6 billion in earnings. Chevron’s CEO made $23.6 million in 2022, receiving a raise in his base pay for 2023 while Chevron’s worker pay declined. 

Spill Data

• From 2017 to 2020, Chevron and its subsidiaries were responsible for the second-largest quantity of spilled pollutants among the nine companies examined, spilling 827,669 gallons of oil and water.
  • Chevron was responsible for 34 spill incidents in five states.
  • The largest spill incident involving Chevron saw 794,000 gallons of crude oil and water leak into a California canyon in 2019, which at the time made it larger than the state’s last two major oil spills.

Emissions Data

• A review of EPA air pollution data for 13 Chevron facilities found that the company emitted 35.7 million pounds of criteria air pollutants in 2020 and 37.7 million pounds in 2017.
  • In 2020, Chevron facilities emitted 396,168 pounds of hazardous air pollutants. The company emitted 451,557.45 pounds of hazardous air pollutants in 2017.
  • Chevron facilities emitted nearly 13 million pounds of volatile organic compounds in 2020. 
  • Chevron facilities emitted 5.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent pollution in 2020.
  • Chevron facilities emitted 32,551.69 pounds of benzene in 2020, up from 29,763.78 in 2017.
  • In 2020, the company’s facilities emitted 12.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide and 12.3 million pounds of carbon monoxide.
  • Chevron emitted 60.8 million pounds of methane in 2020.

Recent Chemical Incidents

In 2024, Chevron was investigated over complaints about a New Year’s Eve flaring incident at a refinery in California. The Bay Area Quality Management District said it received six air quality complaints stemming from the flaring.Just weeks prior to the incident, Chevron received four notices of violation connected to another flaring incident at the same facility.

OCCIDENTAL

Profits

In 2023, Occidental Petroleum reported $3.6 billion in profit. 

Spill Data

• From 2017 to 2020, Occidental Petroleum and its subsidiaries were responsible for the third-largest quantity of spilled pollutants among the five companies examined, spilling 694,496 gallons of oil and other substances.
  • Occidental was responsible for the most spill incidents at 231.

Recent Chemical Incidents

In 2022, workers at an Occidental Chemical plant in Texas were ordered to shelter in place after a ruptured valve caused a fire to break out at the facility, releasing chlorine gas into the air.

CONOCOPHILLIPS

Profits

In 2023, ConocoPhillips reported $10.6 billion in earnings, and ConocoPhillips’ CEO made nearly $20 million in 2022.

Spill Data

• From 2017 to 2020, ConocoPhillips and its subsidiaries were responsible for the fourth-largest quantity of spilled pollutants among the five companies examined, spilling 453,259 gallons of oil and fuel.
  • Conoco was responsible for 29 spill incidents in five states.
  • The largest incident occurred in 2018 when 230,000 gallons of tar sands oil spilled into the Little Rock River in northwest Iowa due to a train derailment.

Emissions Data

• A review of EPA air pollution data for 15 ConocoPhillips facilities found that the company emitted 20.5 million pounds of criteria air pollutants in 2020.
  • The company’s facilities emitted 336,284.47 pounds of hazardous air pollutants in 2020.
  • In 2020, ConocoPhillips facilities emitted 2.5 million pounds of volatile organic compounds and 847,163.96 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gasses.
  • ConocoPhillips emitted 16,590.21 pounds of benzene in 2020.
  • In 2020, the company’s facilities emitted 6.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide and 3.3 million pounds of carbon monoxide.
  • ConocoPhillips facilities emitted 3.5 million pounds of methane in 2020.

EXXONMOBIL

Profits

ExxonMobil reported $38.6 billion in earnings in 2023. Their CEO made $35.9 million in 2022.

Spill Data

• From 2017 to 2020, ExxonMobil and its subsidiaries were responsible for the fifth-largest quantity of spilled pollutants among the five companies examined, spilling 430,826 gallons of oil and other substances.
  • Exxon was responsible for 115 spill incidents in six states.

Emissions Data

• A review of EPA air pollution data for 15 Exxon facilities found that the company emitted 9.2 million pounds of criteria air pollutants in 2020.
  • The facilities emitted 42,650.97 pounds of hazardous air pollutants in 2020.
  • In 2020, the company’s facilities emitted 551,232.7 pounds of volatile organic compounds and 812,347.35 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gas pollution in 2020 was up from the facilities’ 2019 total of 811,309.45 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
  • The facilities’ benzene pollution went up from 2,070.82 pounds in 2017 to 2,231.4 pounds in 2020, a nearly 8 percent increase.
  • In 2020, Exxon facilities emitted 826 million pounds of carbon dioxide and 1.3 million pounds of carbon monoxide.
  • Two Exxon facilities were responsible for emitting 396,258.93 pounds of methane in 2020.

Recent Chemical Incidents

In 2021, four people were injured at an Exxon refining and petrochemical facility in Baytown, Texas, when a unit that processed gasoline components exploded.

DATA

Companies Key Air Pollutant Emission Figures
Company	Total HAPs (lbs) 2020	Total VOCs (lbs) 2020	Total GHG (MTCO2e) 2020	Benzene (lbs) 2020	Carbon Dioxide (lbs) 2020	Carbon Monoxide (lbs) 2020	Methane (lbs) 2020
Chevron	396,168.00	12,997,716.90	5,339,085.21	32,551.69	12,395,980,495.25	12,345,037.65	60,844,586.59
ConocoPhillips	336,284.47	2,468,598.88	847,163.96	16,590.21	6,791,191,457.60	3,335,381.54	3,513,154.93
ExxonMobil	42,650.97	551,232.70	812,347.35	2,231.40	826,094,134.57	1,319,370.85	396,258.93
Shell	3,679.69	92,031.16	No data reported	1,464.72	124,575,309.09	59,875.70	5,247
TOTAL	778,783.13	16,109,579.64	6,998,596.52	52,838.02	20,137,841,396.51	17,059,665.74	64,759,247.45

METHODOLOGY

This report analyzes data from the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database on excess facility emissions from five companies. We pulled data on eight air violation types: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOC). These pollutants are generally measured in pounds, while some emissions reports give the pollutants’ MTCO2e, meaning metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. We pulled data on four water violation types: oil and grease, hydrocarbon, ammonia, and total organic carbon.  

We sought complete air and water emissions violation data for the previous five years, going back to 2017. However, the most recent air emissions data available via Detailed Facility Reports was from 2020. For water violations, the most recent data available was for 2022. 

Following our data collection from the EPA’s ECHO database, we collected data for the same time frame (2017-2020), from the 33 states that we found had publicly available data, as well as from news reports. 

Featured chemical incident data spans the period of 2021–2023, the most recent data available on the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters’ Chemical Incident Tracker.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the Center for Western Priorities for its inspiration and work safeguarding the landscapes of the American West. We also thank Coming Clean and The Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform for useful discussions and data, its dedication to reducing harm in the chemical industry, and its fight for environmental justice.