Liquid Fuels Scope 1 (Direct — fuel combustion)

Crude Oil (Including Condensates)

Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026

Crude oil including condensates emits 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e per tonne when combusted (NGA Factors 2025). Worked examples, calculator and NGER guidance.

Emission Factor Value

3,165.56 kg CO₂-e/tonne

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Crude oil combusted Unit

Estimated emissions

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Crude oil combusted in facilities you own or control is Scope 1. Calculated as tonnes × 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e/t (NGA Factors 2025, Table 8).

Official Source & Citation

This emission factor is sourced from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025 , Table 8 — Liquid fuels and certain petroleum-based products, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Citation: DCCEEW (2025). Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2025

View official publication ↗

Notes

Derived from NGA Factors 2025 Table 8: energy content 45.3 GJ/t × combined Scope 1 emission factor 69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ = 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e per tonne combusted. Applies to crude oil including crude oil condensates burned as fuel, typically in oil and gas operations. No upstream Scope 3 factor is estimated for crude oil in the NGA Factors 2025.

Calculation Example

If a facility combusted 50 tonnes of crude oil during the year:

Working	Result
50 t × 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e/t = 158,278 kg CO₂-e	158.28 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Most organisations never burn crude oil directly — it goes to a refinery first. But for upstream oil and gas operators, combusting crude or condensate for process heat and power is a genuine Scope 1 source, and the NGA Factors give it a dedicated line.

The factor below is from the NGA Factors 2025 for the 2025–26 reporting year, expressed per tonne because crude density varies by field. A Scope 1 and 2 calculator can handle the mass and energy conversions for you.

Quick Verdict

Crude oil, including condensates, emits 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e per tonne when combusted, reported under Scope 1. The value is derived from an energy content of 45.3 GJ/t and the combined emission factor of 69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ in Table 8 of the NGA Factors 2025. It applies mainly to oil and gas producers and processors burning crude streams as fuel; most other organisations should use the factors for refined products instead. Unlike diesel and petrol, no upstream Scope 3 factor is estimated for crude oil in the 2025 publication.

How to Calculate Crude Oil Combustion Emissions

Emissions (kg CO₂-e) = Tonnes of crude oil × 3,165.56

Or in NGA energy terms: E (t CO₂-e) = t × 45.3 GJ/t × 69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ ÷ 1,000.

Worked Example 1: Pilot Plant

A pilot processing plant combusts 12 tonnes of condensate during commissioning.

12 t × 3,165.56 = 37,986.7 kg CO₂-e

37.99 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Worked Example 2: Processing Facility

A remote facility burns 50 tonnes of crude oil for process heat over the year.

50 t × 3,165.56 = 158,278 kg CO₂-e

158.28 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

Worked Example 3: Large Operation

An oil and gas operation combusts 500 tonnes of crude across its sites.

500 t × 3,165.56 = 1,582,780 kg CO₂-e

1,582.78 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)

How Crude Oil Compares to Other Tonne-Based Petroleum Fuels

Fuel	Scope 1 factor (kg CO₂-e/t)	Energy content (GJ/t)
Petroleum coke	3,176.50	34.2
Crude oil (incl. condensates)	3,165.56	45.3
Other natural gas liquids	2,849.52	46.5
Refinery gas and liquids	2,349.20	42.9

All values from NGA Factors 2025, Table 8.

NGER and AASB S2 Reporting

Crude oil combustion is Scope 1 fuel use under the NGER scheme, reported in energy terms with the Table 8 factors — separately from flaring and venting, which have their own methods. Under AASB S2, it sits within the mandatory Scope 1 disclosure for oil and gas reporters alongside those fugitive sources.

Fuel Oil

2.9314 kg CO₂-e/litre

Natural Gas Liquids

2,849.52 kg CO₂-e/tonne

Refinery Gas & Liquids

2,349.2 kg CO₂-e/tonne

Petroleum Coke

3,176.5 kg CO₂-e/tonne

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the emission factor for combusting crude oil in Australia?

Crude oil including condensates emits 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e per tonne combusted under the NGA Factors 2025. The value is derived from an energy content of 45.3 GJ/t and the combined Scope 1 factor of 69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ in Table 8.

Who actually combusts crude oil rather than refined products?

Mostly upstream oil and gas operators, who may burn crude or condensate for process heat, testing or power at remote facilities, and refineries handling intermediate streams. Most organisations will instead use the factors for refined products such as diesel, petrol or fuel oil.

Which scope does crude oil combustion fall under?

Combustion in facilities your organisation owns or controls is Scope 1. Note that flaring and venting of hydrocarbons are separate fugitive-emission sources under NGER with their own estimation methods — this factor covers deliberate combustion as fuel.

Why is this factor expressed per tonne rather than per litre?

The NGA Factors publish crude oil on a mass basis because its density varies significantly between fields and condensate blends. If your records are in barrels or litres, convert to tonnes using the measured density of your crude, and document the conversion.

How do I convert tonnes of crude oil to gigajoules?

Crude oil has an energy content of 45.3 GJ per tonne, so 100 tonnes equals 4,530 GJ. NGER reporting works in energy terms, so this conversion sits behind the per-tonne factor: 45.3 GJ/t × 69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ = 3,165.56 kg CO₂-e/t.

Is there a Scope 3 upstream factor for crude oil?

No. The NGA Factors 2025 do not estimate an upstream Scope 3 factor for crude oil, unlike refined fuels such as diesel (17.3 kg CO₂-e/GJ). Organisations wanting full value-chain coverage need to source or model that component separately.

How does crude oil compare with refined petroleum fuels?

Per gigajoule, crude oil (69.88 kg CO₂-e/GJ) sits close to diesel (70.20) and kerosene (69.11), and below fuel oil (73.84). Per tonne it is among the higher liquid-fuel values because of its high energy density of 45.3 GJ/t.

How is crude oil combustion treated under NGER and AASB S2?

It is Scope 1 fuel combustion under NGER, reported in energy terms using the Table 8 factors. Under AASB S2, it forms part of the disclosed Scope 1 inventory, typically alongside flaring, venting and other oil and gas emission sources.

Disclaimer

This page is provided for general information, not professional or compliance advice. The factor shown is reproduced from the official publication cited above, and while we work to keep it current, government factors change — the publication is always the authoritative source.

Before using this value in any formal reporting — including under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 — confirm it against the current official publication and the methods specified by the Clean Energy Regulator.
NetNada is independent of the Australian Government, DCCEEW, and the Clean Energy Regulator. Government data is Crown copyright, Commonwealth of Australia.

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