Safety and Environment
Safety First
Safety is paramount in this industry and is ingrained in all that we do. The oil and natural gas industry regularly educates and trains all employees and contractors in the area of safety and health, whether in the office or out in the field. Industry best practices and process safety improvements lead to fewer onsite incidents and injuries. With mandatory personal protection equipment, extensive safety protocols, vehicle safety training, and incident management drills, our industry is dedicated to keeping workers and the communities where we live and operate, safe.
Our companies empower their workforce to practice the highest degrees of caution and safety in a number of ways. All employees hold the power to stop work immediately, no matter their level of authority or seniority, to communicate safety concerns with colleagues. Only when issues have been addressed can work begin again.
Just as our industry holds our employees to the highest safety standards, we expect the same compliance from our contractors, who play a valuable role in our operations. Employees and contractors are trained and re-trained, and are observed closely to guarantee the highest performance standards. The industry constantly re-evaluates its health, safety and environment plans, accumulates and shares best practices.
Protecting Natural Resources Through Responsible Water Managment
Our industry takes a proactive water-management approach. We continually assess the availability of water, design judicious plans for usage, develop conservation technology and conduct inspections to ensure well integrity. This is done by applying the best technology and science to our wells.
Before commencing any operations, our industry takes precautionary measures so we can be good stewards of our natural resources. Before drilling, seismic tests and surveys are conducted to determine if aquifers are present and if so, exactly where they sit. Typically, water aquifers are several hundred feet below the surface of the earth. When drilling a well, companies use multiple layers of steel and cement to provide structural integrity and completely seal the well and surrounding formation from one another. These casings extend several hundred feet below the aquifers, adding several layers of protection.
Finding opportunities to reduce water usage is a key priority for our industry. The primary use for water in oil and natural gas development is the in the drilling and completion phases of operations. The amount of water usage depends on a number of factors including basin and geography. Click here to learn more about hydraulic fracturing.
At all steps in the oil and natural gas development process, water levels and quality around the area are identified, benchmarked, monitored and reported in accordance with local, state and federal environmental and water protection regulations.
Preserving Wildlife Habitats Through Species Mitigation
Whether operating onshore or offshore, the industry is committed to protecting and preserving some of the most complex and diverse habitats on earth. Our industry works with wildlife groups and government agencies like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to develop plans and protocols for protecting wildlife. This type of collaboration has resulted in improved habitat and species health.
Our industry works diligently with many stakeholder groups to understand migration patterns and routes in areas where we operate. Companies adapt operations to avoid impacts on these animal movements and habitats. We recognize the importance of protecting and maintaining these historic migrations, and our industry is committed to protecting wildlife and its habitat.