Environmental Protection
As one of the major domestic oil and gas producers, Gazprom Neft is aware of its responsibility for nature conservation to present and future generations. The Company aims to comply with all requirements of environmental legislation and meet license obligations. The Company's environmental strategy is focused on the sustainable use of natural resources while minimising any environmental impact.
Reducing Environmental Impact
Oil
Gazprom Neft employs a variety of enhanced oil recovery methods to achieve a high hydrocarbon recovery rate and reduce environmental impact. By modernizing its refining facilities, the Group’s companies now boast high conversion rates, making their products more environmentally friendly and conserving considerable amounts of raw materials.
Gas
The group’s companies are constantly working to reduce pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. The Company has developed and is in the process of implementing a Gas Programme to bring the level of associated petroleum gas utilisation at the Company’s facilities to 95%.
In 2010, Gazprom Neft, together with Mitsubishi Corporation and Nippon Oil Corporation started a joint implementation project (JIP). This is the first project implemented by Gazprom Neft in accordance with Kyoto Protocol standards. The project aims to recover associated petroleum gas previously flared at the Ety-Purovskoye oil field, with the subsequent sale of the emission reduction units (ERU). The project is expected to achieve 3.1 million ERU, with each unit corresponding to 1 ton of CO2.
Energy
The Company carries out energy efficiency audits on a regular basis and is introducing energy management and conservation procedures. In 2010, the energy efficiency programme saved 1,401 million roubles. Total savings from the programme since 2006 have amounted to 3,538 million roubles.
Water
The Company’s take steps to utilise water resources in the best possible way: produced water is injected back into wells to maintain reservoir pressure during oil production operations. Water recirculation systems are used for cooling in the downstream sector. Last year these protective measures alone reduced the consumption of water for the Company's own needs by 16%.
Conservation of Natural Resources and Environmental Restoration
The main Gazprom Neft fields currently under development are located in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The tundra ecosystem is extremely sensitive and the Company manages its operations in the region in such a way as to avoid any adverse impact on regional biodiversity, leaving its unique ecosystem undisturbed. The Company also undertakes an Environmental Impact Assessment, which takes into account all factors related to oil and gas production and their possible effect on the ecosystem. Environmental management in the region considers vegetation periods and spawning seasons, as well as bird and animal migration.
Gazprom Neft is consistently reducing the area of land affected by the company’s operations by employing pitless drilling. In 2010, 696 hectares of contaminated lands were recultivated. Lands are recultivated using up-to-date chemical bioagents (Fare Zyme) designed for oil destruction. They are based on mineral components that facilitate land rehabilitation. Biological remediation also involves seeding large batches of area-specific grasses and perennials. The implementation of land recultivation and waste utilisation standards is controlled and analyzed in real time with the help of Azimut computer software.
