Selected results achieved in 2007 from a selection of disciplines relating to the environmental aspect of our business are presented below.
Selected results achieved in 2007 from a selection of disciplines relating to the environmental aspect of our business are presented below.
Water resource management
Requirements for sustainable water resource management have been included in our governing documents. Guidelines for meeting these demands and for supporting business decisions are being implemented, including the use of the global water tool from World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a focus of attention in many of our international exploration and development projects. Challenges related to this aspect were assessed in a number of exploration and development activities during 2007, including the oil sands project in Canada.
Zero harmful discharges/emissions
Our environmental impact factor (EIF) tool is used to evaluate various measures for reaching our goal of zero harmful discharges to the sea or emissions to the air, and to identify the most effective environmental solutions.
Extensive environmental monitoring is used to evaluate relevant impacts of discharges or emissions, both through legally required surveys and through other initiatives such as the global scientific and environmental ROV partnership using existing industrial technology (Serpent). The latter uses spare remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capacity for environmental studies related to exploration drilling.
The average oil content in water discharged to the sea from installations we operate on the NCS was below 10 milligrams per litre in 2007. A number of modification projects are being pursued to achieve further reductions in this level.
Oil spill response
We established overarching principles in 2007 for oil spill clean-up response in relation to our operations. We have also continued to pursue an extensive portfolio of R&D projects for tailoring such response to Arctic regions.
