ConocoPhillips To Make Switch To Propane Pickups For Oil/Gas Field Fleet

Updated May 14, 2015

ConocoPhillips Autogas Truck-X2Propane autogas technology chosen to power more than 300 of the company’s San Juan Basin field fleet trucks over the next five years

There’s a big change coming in the pickups used by ConocoPhillips’ employees in the oil and gas fields in the next few years: Propane-powered F-Series.

ROUSH CleanTech propane vehicles have been tested by U.S.-based energy company ConocoPhillips in the field since 2011, logging thousands of miles in sometimes challenging conditions in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado.

As a result of the tests, ConocoPhillips recently announced it will convert 30 trucks to propane autogas this year and replace more than 300 more trucks over the next five years with vehicles powered by propane fuel technology.

Each propane autogas truck emits about 67,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime than a gasoline powered vehicle. Propane autogas is a low carbon fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25 percent, carbon monoxide by up to 60 percent, and nitrogen oxide by 20 percent compared to gasoline.

Other benefits include safety of the fuel, size of the fuel tanks, performance, reduced fuel costs, extended maintenance intervals and drivability. The vehicles will be powered by propane produced in the San Juan basin.

“The addition of propane autogas trucks will greatly reduce ConocoPhillips’ carbon footprint while using a fuel they produce here in the U.S.,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “And with autogas’ low-priced fuel and infrastructure costs, this investment will pay off for their bottom line.”

The cost for propane autogas averages approximately 30 percent less per gallon than gasoline.