Oil Search’s core Environmental Objective is “to make sure that all Oil Search activities are planned and managed to ensure minimum environmental impact”.
The Company operates its production interests in a pristine environment in Papua New Guinea and close attention is paid to both the physical and social impacts of its business.
Oil Search manages its environmental performance through the implementation of its Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSES system). The Environmental Management System component of the integrated HSES system is accredited under the ISO 14001 EMS Certification System.
The Company undertakes all necessary steps to ensure that environmental issues are considered prior to and during the various stages of any development and that appropriate controls are put into place to either prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. This approach is achieved through the use of Environmental Risk Assessments, which form an integral part of Environmental Management Plans developed for all new and existing projects.
The Environmental Management Plan provides Oil Search and its contractors with a written plan that sets out the performance objectives and standards against which environmental performance will be measured. Oil Search environmental performance objectives and standards outlined within the Environmental Management Plan are audited on a regular basis to demonstrate that environmental commitments are being met.
The Company also undertakes monitoring programmes on all atmospheric emissions and discharges from its operational activities. Under this framework, the Company reports all environmental incidents throughout the year, regardless of the potential severity of the discharge. All discharges made to the environment from Oil Search activities must be within licence and regulatory limits. Any deviation from compliance is investigated through the Company’s incident reporting system and appropriately addressed to prevent future occurrences.
As part of its commitment to environmental responsibility, the Company undertakes comprehensive communication programmes, involving government, the community, stakeholders and other interested parties. These are undertaken prior to any new development taking place, to ensure that all concerns of other parties are adequately addressed. Arrangements are also made for on-going consultations during the various phases of the Company’s activities.
Oil Search recognises that its environmental responsibility does not end on completion of its operational activities. Emphasis is placed on the rehabilitation of all areas disturbed by its exploration and production activities. As such rehabilitation, revegetation and assessment programmes are carried out on all impacted areas on an ongoing basis. These programmes (which may include reforestation) are developed to ensure that the Company’s and the community’s expectations and requirements are achieved.
The Company is actively engaged in collaborative programmes in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), focussed on biodiversity and conservation. Oil Search’s footprint in the PNG operational areas covers 0.0054% of a total project area of 2.3 million hectares. In comparison, through the partnership with WWF, conservation areas (known as Wildlife Management Areas) have been established over 5.7% of the total project area. The Company is also supporting studies on flagship species in the area including work on the pig-nosed turtle, Boelen’s python and conservation of unique/rare orchids.
Oil Search’s Environmental Policy, which is displayed in all the Company offices, is as follows:
Oil Search, its officers, employees and agents must:
Lake Kutubu, Southern Highlands, PNG