Environmental responsibilities

All oil-related operations involve environmental risks and are governed by legislation and regulations in the country concerned. These regulations cover air pollution, water usage, discharges to watercourses, handling of hazardous chemicals and waste, land and groundwater pollution and restoration of the environment around the production facilities after operations have ceased.

Activities in 2009

Examples of activities conducted during the year with a view to reducing our environmental impact:

  • PA Resources UK Limited obtained environmental certification to ISO 14001:2004(E).
  •  Investment in equipment to reduce the risk of discharges of oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide and other hazardous substances to sea and air, for example at the Didon field in Tunisia. Two exercises were carried out to practise dealing with oil discharges at sea.
  • Installation of equipment on the Didon platform in Tunisia for environmentally friendly treatment of process water.
  • Introduction of a management system for disposal of waste from our facilities in cooperation with local authorities in Tunisia.
  • Membership of the British Offshore Pollution Liability Association (OPOL), which involves taking strict responsibility for damage arising from pollution at facilities and the costs of remedying this.
  • Installation of modern, efficient technology and equipment for oil production in the development of the Azurite field in 2009.

 

PA Resources abides by the environmental legislation and regulations that apply in each country. At those facilities where we are operator we have the most opportunity to be a driving force in developments and we strive for continual improvement in the way we work.

Priority areas

  • Oil is a finite resource, so it is important to produce it as efficiently as possible – we choose equipment and technology that allows this both when constructing new facilities and when replacing old equipment.
  • PA Resources focuses on reducing discharges of oil, natural gas and other hazardous substances to sea and air. In 2009 there were no oil leaks or discharges of hazardous substances at the production facilities where PA Resources is operator.
  • We endeavour to reduce flaring of natural gas that cannot be sold – instead we utilise the gas for our own energy supply at the production facility or, if possible, pump it back into the reservoir. Burning the gas by flaring is only carried out as a last resort.
  • It is important to treat and manage process water that is pumped up with the oil and gas at a production facility – the water is separated, treated and managed in an environmentally friendly way.