Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Preface
Presidents Foreword
Introduction
Environmental Recognition
Environmental Technology
12
Environmental Awareness
17
23
Air Quality
24
Marine Protection
27
Groundwater Protection
34
36
38
40
44
46
48
Radiation Protection
50
Preface
Saudi Aramco has maintained a high level of
environmental responsibility since its earliest
days. The Companys first formal policy statement
on environmental protection was issued in 1963.
Over the years, the policy has been revised
several times to reflect the latest environmental
developments. The policy established a strong
mandate from which essential environmental
programs can be derived.
Todays environmental programs focus on
environmental challenges such as clean fuels and
carbon management, air and water quality, waste
management, marine studies, environmental
health, radiation protection, oil spill preparedness
and other operational aspects.
Saudi Aramcos extensive environmental master
plan, accompanied by several environmental
assessment and monitoring programs, aim to
further enhance environmental management
corporate-wide.
Presidents
Foreword
Continually enhancing environmental performance
and protection while meeting dramatically growing
world energy demand is a major focus of the global
petroleum industry. Protecting the environment
is not only a moral duty for energy providers, its
also a sound economic choice and good business
practice.
Saudi Aramcos commitment to environmental
sustainability provides our customer base with
secure, reliable and safe energy supplies, and
assurance of our dedication to minimizing the
environmental footprint of our operations and
products.
From our earliest days, Saudi Aramco established
a pioneering environmental policy and a
fundamental commitment to safeguard public
health and the environment. This vision is not
limited to managing our facilities in a manner
that protects the environment and assures human
health and safety; it also involves enhancing quality
of life in the communities where Saudi Aramco
operates.
Khalid A. Al-Falih
President and Chief Executive Officer
Introduction
Saudi Aramco is the national oil Company of Saudi Arabia. It is
entrusted with managing the Kingdoms natural hydrocarbon (oil and
gas) assets. The Companys environmental efforts include protecting
the Kingdoms environment and responsibly managing the oil and
gas resources.
The Companys effort is intended to achieve the
following corporate objectives:
1 Protecting and promoting the wellbeing of both
workers and community residents
2 E ncouraging environmental education and advancing
environmental awareness Kingdom wide
Historical Background
Saudi Aramcos first formal Company Policy
Statement regarding pollution prevention of
coastal waters was issued in 1963. The Companys
first environmental entity was created during
the same year with five professionals dedicated
to both environmental and industrial hygiene
related work.
The Saudi Arabian government instituted the
Meteorological and Environmental Protection
Administration chartered with environmental
protection in 1982. Today it is known as The
Presidency of Meteorology and Environment
(PME).
Introduction
Introduction
Environmental
Recognition
Saudi Aramco, the national oil Company of Saudi Arabia, is entrusted
with managing the Kingdoms natural hydrocarbon (oil and gas)
assets. The Companys environmental efforts include protecting the
Kingdoms environment and responsibly managing the oil and gas
resources.
Environmental
Recognition
The
award
recognizes
the
Companys
environmental stewardship and its efforts to
encourage environmental sustainability within
the community.
10
Environmental
Recognition
Arab League
In 1998, the Arab League awarded the Company
an Integrated Environmental Management and
Development of Coastal Areas appreciation
certificate for the development of Biotope
Maps of the Western Arabian Gulf. These
biotope maps were a product of partnership
between Saudi Aramco and King Fahad
University of Petroleum & Minerals Research
Institute.
This project was initiated in 1984 and has
provided a wealth of information regarding
the Arabian Gulfs marine ecology.
11
Environmental
Technology
Advanced technology development provides a cost effective path to
achieve environmental protection goals. In 2001, the Environmental
Control and Remediation Technology (EC&RT) Focus Team was
established. EC&RT goals help the development of environmental
control technologies and incorporate newly developed ones.
The objective of the EC&RT team is to ensure
that Saudi Aramco is a regional leader in the
use, adaptation and development of new
and innovative approaches to environmental
management. This team includes professionals from
various environmental disciplines and operating
facilities to facilitate and promote environmental
technology usage within the Company.
The EC&RT team focuses on six key environmental
areas that are critical to the Companys long-term
environmental performance, which advocates
development and usage of technological solutions
in the areas of:
1 Air Quality
2 Industrial Wastewater
3 Marine Environment
5 Radiation Protection
Abandoning off-shore structures and pipelines
6 Site Remediation
12
Waste Management
Bioreactor Treatment of Oily Waste
This technology was evaluated as a potential
alternative to land farming. Several oily waste
streams were treated in a pilot-scale bioreactor.
The results indicated that bioreactor treatment
was more effective and faster than land farming.
This treatment approach can also reduce risks to
workers health and avoid contamination of land
with oily wastes.
To promote the local economy, the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) developed and
facilitated an arrangement allowing conveyance of
technical know-how from the technology provider
to a local vendor.
Before Treatment
Marine Protection
Laser-based Oil Fingerprinting
This initiative is the outcome of a partnership
between Environmental Protection Department,
Research and Development Center and King Fahd
University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM)
Research Institute. The initiative targeted the
development of techniques using laser-induced
fluorescence to identify the source of unknown oil
spills rapidly and economically.
Environmental
Technology
After Treatment
Laser-Based Oil Fingerprinting
13
Environmental
Technology
Groundwater Protection
14
Remediation
Remediation of Hydrocarbon Contaminated
Soils using Low Temperature Oxidation (LTO)
Technology
The conventional method used in treating soils
contaminated with heavy oil is Thermal Desorption.
The contaminated soil is excavated and removed
to a high temperature kiln (800 C). This method is
expensive and very energy intensive.
Environmental
Technology
15
Environmental
Technology
Growth of four selected plants (Sunflowers, Mustard white, Mustard Black and Fescue) in soil contamination
16
Environmental
Awareness
Saudi Aramco has a long-established strategy that promotes
environmental awareness among employees and their families,
general public, and local industries. The environmental awareness
activities associated with this strategy are designed to enhance the
environmental knowledge of employees, the community, and local
industry to cultivate an environmentally responsible culture.
17
Environmental
Awareness
2) P
residents Environmental Stewardship
Award
The Presidents Environmental Stewardship Award
serves two purposes; one is to recognize facilities
environmental excellence, and the second is
to promote awareness among employees. The
Award is an annual event that focuses on:
Promoting stewardship in various environmental
fields
Recognizing organizations with outstanding
performance in environmental protection
Providing an incentive for organizations to
enhance their environmental performance
Enhancing Companys overall environmental
performance
Establishing top performing organizations as
environmental role models.
18
3) O
perating Facilities Environmental
Coordinators Technical Exchange
Meetings
Environmental Coordinators (ECs) are the
liaison officers between EPD and the respective
operating departments or service organizations
Company-wide. They are responsible for assisting
their departments to comply with Companys
environmental requirements, and enhancing
facility environmental performance.
ECs meetings are held bi-annually to provide
a forum for direct interaction and information
exchange between EPD professional staff
and the ECs as well as to train, update, and
enhance the knowledge of the participants.
Topics addressed include the roles and
responsibilities of the ECs in relation to the
Corporate Environmental Scorecard (CES), the
Environmental Health & Safety system (EH&S),
waste management, wastewater management,
environmental health and industrial hygiene. At
these meetings, ECs also exchange experiences
and share ideas for improving environmental
performance of their facilities.
4) O
perating Facilities Environmental
Campaigns
The main objective of environmental campaigns
is to enhance employees awareness and
promote an environmentally responsible culture,
Company-wide, in line with corporate values
of stewardship and citizenship. An enhanced
Company environmental performance is also
an expected outcome. These campaigns are
organized and implemented Company-wide
on an annual basis in cooperation with various
Company organizations.
Environmental
Awareness
5) O
ther Environmental Awareness Support
Activities:
Developing engineering e-courses pertaining to
environmental disciplines such as: Introduction
to Environmental Protection, Air Pollution,
Water Pollution and Waste Disposal, and
Wastewater 1 & 2.
Developing environmental awareness presentations for specific operations requirement.
Developing 3D animation videos addressing
air quality, ground/wastewater, and marine
protection.
Maintaining a library of environmental videos
for operating organizations communication
meetings.
19
Environmental
Awareness
20
Environmental
Awareness
21
Environmental
Awareness
22
Environmental
Performance Assessments
In 1989, the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) Program
was developed in support of Saudi Aramcos Environmental Protection
Policy.
The continued success of the Environmental Performance
Assessment (EPA) Program is attributed to Saudi Aramco
managements aspiration to uphold regional leadership in
environmental protection.
The EPA program is an effective management
tool for assessing facility compliance with
environmental
standards
and
improving
environmental performance. Its continued success
is attributed to Saudi Aramco managements
aspiration to uphold regional leadership in
environmental protection. EPA survey teams
focus mainly on the air quality, wastewater
discharges, management of solid and hazardous
waste, ground water quality and spill prevention
control.
23
Air Quality
Improving air quality is essential to maintain good health and
wellbeing. The typical adult breathes approximately 20,000 liters
of air every day. Air pollutants are known to cause haze, smog,
and reduced visibility. Therefore, it is critical to reduce the level
of air pollutants.
Saudi Aramco has introduced low-NOx systems for its boilers,
process heaters, and gas turbines, which reduce NOx emissions
by more than 50% compared to conventional systems.
24
3 Ozone (O3)
Conventional Station
Air Quality
25
Air Quality
26
Marine
Protection
The Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea are vital economic resources for
Saudi Arabia and the world, and therefore, Saudi Aramcos has a
prime interest in protecting the marine environment of the Arabian
Gulf and the Red Sea. As much as 20 percent or more of the oil
produced daily by Saudi Arabia is locked in reservoirs under the sea
in the Arabian Gulf. Crude and refined products have been shipped
through the Gulf and the Red Sea for over 70 years.
27
Marine
Protection
28
Marine
Protection
29
Marine
Protection
30
Marine
Protection
31
Marine
Protection
32
Marine
Protection
33
Groundwater
Protection
Groundwater is a precious resource for life, and since inception, the
Company has been strategically mindful in preserving groundwater
resources for future generations.
In the mid-1930s, the geologists and explorers
first surveyed the Eastern Province, and the
Company realized the importance of, effectively
and economically, developing all water resources.
In fact, the first well drilled was not for producing
oil, but for water. Without water the first
discoverers could not have survived, let alone
developed the oil fields we have today. The
Company continues to apply new technologies for
protection and conservation of water resources in
its areas of operations in the Kingdom to ensure
that groundwater resources will be available for
future generations.
34
Groundwater
Protection
35
Solid Waste
Management
Waste management is an important part of Saudi Aramcos
environmental protection efforts. The Company works to minimize
waste generation. This is done by identifying waste reuse alternatives
and implementing environmentally sound waste disposal methods.
Saudi Aramco offices, industrial facilities and
residential communities produce a wide range
of waste. The residential communities generate
household garbage and tree & garden trimmings
waste. The operating facilities generate industrial
wastes such as oily sludge and catalysts, while
hospitals and laboratories generate medical and
chemical wastes. Saudi Aramcos waste management
protocols encompass each type of solid waste.
36
Reduce
Recycle
Reuse
Solid Waste
Management
37
Wastewater
Treatment & Reuse
Wastewater
39
Oil Spill
Preparedness
Oil Spill Management is a major challenge to the oil industry. Oil
companies have successfully reduced the number and volume of
incidents. Remember that in any given day there are over 80 million
barrels of crude oil moving around the world.
Saudi Aramco has implemented improvements in pipeline integrity,
vessel designs, loading procedures and tanker inspection systems
to minimize the occurrence of both land and offshore oil spills.
Oil Spill
Preparedness
41
Oil Spill
Preparedness
42
Oil Spill
Preparedness
43
Carbon
Management Efforts
Climate change related issues have witnessed unprecedented global
level of media attention. Saudi Aramco shares the views of the
international community on climate change, while realizing that Carbon
Management brings opportunities and challenges to the industry.
Saudi Aramco is promoting research and development of advanced petroleum
technologies, including carbon capture and storage. The Company supports
Saudi Arabias strategy related to international cooperation in climate change
while encouraging the use of Clean Development Mechanism to mitigate
increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
44
Carbon
Management
Efforts
HRH, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Assistant Minister for Petroleum Affairs and Mr. Khalid Al-Falih, President and CEO of Saudi
Aramco addressing the participants during the inauguration of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), January 2008,
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
45
Industrial
Hygiene Program
Industrial Hygiene focuses on the environmental stresses at the
workplace, which has the potential of adversely influencing workers
health. Since 1957, Saudi Aramco has instituted a series of proactive
industrial hygiene programs to protect the well-being of its workforce.
Today the Company industrial hygienists monitor
and analyze data to control occupational health
hazards. This allows operating facilities to better
manage health risks in the workplace.
46
HAZCOM Label
Industrial
Hygiene
Program
47
Environmental
Health Program
Environmental
Health Program
Monitoring Saudi Aramco communities and
industrial plants
49
Radiation
Protection
Nowadays most people are aware of medical x-ray machines, CT
Scanners, and other similar technologies used in many medical centers.
All these machines use ionizing radiation that allows us to look inside
the body without surgery.
Employees, the public and the environment are the most important part
of a successful radiation protection program. By prioritizing training
and certification of employees, the Company currently has more than
20 certified radiation protection officers, in addition to developing and
issuing a comprehensive radiation protection manual.
50
Radiation
Protection
Radiation
Protection
52