The symbolic cost of keeping a barrel of oil in the ground is five dollars.

If we consider the cost of cleaning up a ton of carbon, internationally estimated at 20 dollars, then each barrel would represent close to 0.44 tons of CO2 and thus be worth 8.8 dollars.

If we consider the cost of the lost market opportunity, and deduct the initial investment, operation costs, and the costs of corruption, then a barrel would be worth five dollars, and even less if we factor in the environmental liabilities.