BP Reaps the Benefit of ISO 14001
Oil major BP realises significant benefits from implementing the environmental standard ISO 14001 by committing to a structured approach on a long-term basis. Air emissions from greenhouse gases have been reduced by 5% worldwide. On one installation this approach has resulted in 50% annual waste reduction.
A business as large as ours benefits from a structured Environmental Management System (EMS) in order to manage the change associated with legal and other requirements. A universal system open to everyone is power for an organisation. We save money and time, and add value in the long term', says Norman Ingram, Manager of Compliance Assurance & Continual Improvement at BP Exploration Alaska (BPXA).
‘The complexity of the U.S. and State of Alaska regulatory framework makes this a daunting task. We are, however, committed to getting it right through our compliance assurance process. And a structured approach is important for a company like BP where individuals periodically transfer from one location to another,’ continues Ingram.
Exceeded Expectations
In many cases BP’s initial environment objectives have been greatly exceeded through the new approach. A great deal can be achieved when all parties involved focus on clear and specific goals. Reducing the impact of emissions to air is one of BP’s key objectives. Having already achieved a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas air emissions, BP is halfway to its goal of 10% by 2009.
Since BPXA is a collection of separately managed business units facing different sets of operating circumstances, it could be a challenging task to maintain a consistent approach to an Environmental Management System while allowing flexibility to meet the unique operating needs of each asset. According to Ingram, implementation of the ISO 14001 standard in Alaska has provided BP with a common framework to allow the assets to develop individual EMS's that are aligned and standardised to the greatest extent practical.
BPXA operates under unique and sensitive environmental conditions on Alaska’s North Slope, bordering the Arctic Sea. Its operations require minimising impact on the environment wherever possible. Environmental laws and regulations affect every aspect of BPXA’s operations in the area.
Identifiable Savings
Spill reduction at the Endicott oil field on the North Slope have resulted in overall annual cost savings of $525,000. ‘These are not "fuzzy" numbers like deferred costs,’ says Ingram. ‘These are real dollars of annual expenditure. By standardising our EMS we have managed to reduce complexity in the existing system, which in turn has translated into efficiency. Overall we believe that the efficiencies gained from a structured versus ad hoc approach are significant.’
BPXA has a standardised process to periodically identify significant environmental aspects across all operations on the North Slope. The process looks at the environmental severity associated with each aspect, the frequency of incidents, and the degree of operational control in place. The environmental aspects they are currently focused on basically break down into impact from spills, emissions from rotating equipment and flares, solid and hazardous waste generation and disposal, and impact on wildlife.
Third-party Assurance
BP was the first international oil major certified to ISO 14001 by DNV</STRONG>, starting in 1997. It is now able to provide third-party assurance to external parties that the EMS meets rigorous international standards for environmental management. ‘BPXA has demonstrated continual improvements in meeting environmental objectives and targets since the certification, specifically in the area of air-emissions reduction,’ says Dolores Mick Tankersley, DNV’s lead auditor who has been assessing BPXA through annual maintenance audits since initial certification.
‘We realise significant benefits from the implementation of ISO 14001, but we are still relatively early in our journey,’ says Norman Ingram. ‘As the organisation seeks further improvements, the challenge becomes greater to identify and take preventive actions. In Alaska we are growing and developing new assets on the North Slope and Kenai Peninsula. By taking full advantage of our EMS in these new operations, we will continue to drive environmental improvement.’
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