Environmental and social project screening

BP has developed processes to ensure that the environmental and social impacts of new projects are thoroughly assessed to ensure that potential risks are minimized

Our new group practice

Gaining access to sensitive areas is a serious concern for BP and our stakeholders. Having formal requirements enshrined in our operating practices helps us to approach potential development opportunities responsibly and transparently.

BP has been using its environmental requirements for new projects (ERNP) since November 2006 to make sure we take environmental precautions before entering a sensitive area and to fulfil external obligations to transparency. The ERNP established requirements for project screening, categorization and impact management and defined a set of consistent environmental performance requirements.

Our processes for assessing risk in new projects have led to improvements in subsequent management. After two years of implementation, we began updating the ERNP in 2008. When approved, the resulting environmental group defined practice, part of the OMS, will continue to assess risk through a full life-cycle assessment, but will also include social indicators, have a clearer governance process and be easier to apply.

Several new projects have used the social indicators when screening for environmental and social risks. The findings have helped the projects to focus on the most important social risks when performing the impact assessments.

By embedding the new requirements within the OMS, we are reinforcing our commitment to them, emphasizing that reviewing and mitigating environmental and social risks is an important issue for us and our stakeholders.

Husky Energy Inc., our joint venture partner in the Sunrise oil sands project in Alberta, Canada completed an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the project in 2004. The EIA, carried out in accordance with the Alberta government's environmental assessment programme, included consideration of a broad range of environmental and social impacts. We undertook a gap analysis of the EIA, using BP's environmental requirements for new projects as a guide, and additional BP guidance on the social impacts of new projects. The review confirmed that project design features are seeking to minimize impacts. We continue to work to integrate environmental and social mitigation measures within the project.

For example, baseline environmental studies in the area have been completed. Development plans include the use of horizontal wells, multi-well pads, and centralized facilities designed to minimize surface impacts. By using a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) recovery process, higher bitumen recoveries are achieved using fewer wells. The continuous and lower-pressure thermal process minimizes the potential for impact on the subsurface environment. In addition, the surface disturbance of an SAGD project affects a small portion of the overall lease area.

To further minimize overall land disturbance and environmental impact, use of existing roads and cleared sites will be maximized wherever possible. The majority of water requirements for steam generation will be met from recycled produced water that is separated from the produced bitumen. Deep well-water disposal will be utilized for the produced water that cannot be recycled. Plans include using clean-burning natural gas, produced gas and recovered vapours as fuel, as well as low nitrous oxide burners on steam generators, to minimize air emissions. We are also evaluating the use of alternative fuels. Should an alternative fuel be chosen, we will equip the steam generators with emission controls utilizing the best technology economically available.