Burning Earth: How AI Helps Big Oil Drill More

An episode of the Thinking On Paper podcast, hosted by Mark Fielding and Jeremy Gilbertson, titled "Burning Earth: How AI Helps Big Oil Drill More" was published on November 9, 2025 and runs 4 minutes.

November 9, 2025 ·4m · Thinking On Paper

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Exxon and Chevron are using Microsoft AI to extract more oil. Faster. Cheaper. The goal: every last drop.Holly and Will Alpine (Enabled Emissions) paint a stark picture with Microsoft's own numbers:Exxon deal: 50,000 barrels/day = 6.4 million tonnes CO₂/yearChevron deal: 400,000 barrels/day = 51 million tonnes CO₂/yearMicrosoft's entire FY23 footprint: 17 million tonnes.Carbon removal booked over 15 years: 5 million tonnes.Those two deals alone dwarf both numbers.In Saudi Arabia, Aramco's CEO says AI kept production costs at $3/barrel for two decades. AI makes fossil fuels competitive. It weakens clean energy economics.AI touches every stage of fossil fuel: exploration, drilling, extraction, refining, distribution.We talk about:- How AI cuts production costs 10% while boosting reserves 5%- Why US oil production tripled since 2007 (AI is a major factor)- Projects that took 18 months now take 2 weeks- How aging oil fields stay profitable decades longer- Why Microsoft's "energy principles" are meaningless (they ignore Scope 3)- What guardrails could look like (restrict exploration/extraction, allow safety/methane reduction)Holly and Will left Microsoft to start Enabled Emissions. They're not asking companies to break contracts. They're asking for reasonable guardrails.The lie you're fed: AI will solve climate change.The truth: AI is accelerating fossil fuel extraction.It's ugly. It's real. Learn more.---Guests: Holly & Will Alpine, Founders Enabled Emissions (Former Microsoft)Topics: AI, climate, oil, emissions, Microsoft, Exxon, Chevron, Aramco, enabled emissions--Other ways to connect with us:⁠Listen to every podcast⁠Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠Follow us on ⁠X⁠Follow Mark on ⁠LinkedIn⁠Follow Jeremy on ⁠LinkedIn⁠Read our ⁠Substack⁠Email: [email protected]

Episode Description

Exxon and Chevron are using Microsoft AI to extract more oil. Faster. Cheaper. The goal: every last drop.

Holly and Will Alpine (Enabled Emissions) paint a stark picture with Microsoft's own numbers:

Exxon deal: 50,000 barrels/day = 6.4 million tonnes CO₂/year

Chevron deal: 400,000 barrels/day = 51 million tonnes CO₂/year

Microsoft's entire FY23 footprint: 17 million tonnes.

Carbon removal booked over 15 years: 5 million tonnes.

Those two deals alone dwarf both numbers.

In Saudi Arabia, Aramco's CEO says AI kept production costs at $3/barrel for two decades. AI makes fossil fuels competitive. It weakens clean energy economics.

AI touches every stage of fossil fuel: exploration, drilling, extraction, refining, distribution.

We talk about:

- How AI cuts production costs 10% while boosting reserves 5%

- Why US oil production tripled since 2007 (AI is a major factor)

- Projects that took 18 months now take 2 weeks

- How aging oil fields stay profitable decades longer

- Why Microsoft's "energy principles" are meaningless (they ignore Scope 3)

- What guardrails could look like (restrict exploration/extraction, allow safety/methane reduction)

Holly and Will left Microsoft to start Enabled Emissions. They're not asking companies to break contracts. They're asking for reasonable guardrails.

The lie you're fed: AI will solve climate change.

The truth: AI is accelerating fossil fuel extraction.

It's ugly. It's real. Learn more.