Det norske and the Environment
Det norske has established clearly defined objectives within health,
safety, and the environment (HSE) concerning the planning and execution of its
operations. We shall secure the safety of personnel and avoid undesirable effects
on the environment. We shall ensure that no work-related illness ensue from our
operations.
We shall maintain the technical integrity of field installations owned
or leased. Det norske shall receive no orders nor enter into disputes with
Norwegian authorities.
Det norske shall achieve these objectives through integrating
HSE-related goals, strategies, and action plans in all projects carried out and
managed by the company. Tasks related to HSE shall be prioritized at all levels
within the company.
Oil-spill Preparedness in Det norske
Det norske oljeselskap has incorporated safety
measures against unexpected incidents in all its offshore activities. The
company's management system constitutes a central basis for the company's
operations. Environmental risk analyses and emergency preparedness analyses are
performed in advance of all well operations.
Risk Management in Drilling Operations
There will always be a certain amount of uncertainty related
to the consequences of various activities. No activities can take place without
an element of risk being present. This also applies to petroleum exploration
and production. As an oil company, it is our responsibility to reduce this risk
as much as possible, to avoid that our activities have adverse effects on
people, the environment, or economical values.
Oil and the Environment
After
more than 35 years of oil production on the Norwegian Shelf, no impact on the
marine environment has been established - with the exception of limited areas adjacent
to the oldest platforms. Around these platforms, the discharge of oil-polluted
cuttings has caused pollution of the seabed and resulted in a reduction of
biological diversity. The discharge of oil-polluted cuttings has been
prohibited since 1991 and at present, extensive monitoring indicates small and
merely local effects on the life on the seabed.
Energy Consumption and the Climate
Analyses issued by the International Energy
Agency (IEA) indicate that global energy consumption will continue to increase,
and that it will be decades before this consumption may level off. IEA's analysis
also points out that it will take considerable time before new sources of
energy might replace today's most important energy carriers.
The Barents Sea Det norske seeks to open up larger areas in the Barents Sea for petroleum activities. This is important with regard to maintaining a stable oil production in Norway. The Barents Sea is a large ocean located on the Continental Shelf, with rich natural resources. All future activities in the Barents Sea will be carried out in accordance with stringent environmental and emergency preparedness requirements.
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