Environmental Management – An Oilfield Service Company Experience in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Management for continual environmental performance in a developing country can be a challenging affair. Multiple statutory regulations, standards and guidelines frequently are conflicting at the various tiers of government. Prevalent and increasing community sensitivities and awareness, and proximity with other industries that may not be at the same level of environmental practices, all combine to make the achievement of a good environmental performance a formidable task. Statutory enforcement agencies usually focus their efforts on the multinational companies, and this may account for a significant amount of lost time. Consequently, the adaptation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) that is simple, flexible, continuous, and auditable offers a suitable solution to the inherent environmental problems in a developing country. This environmental management system requires the development of a site-specific system (based on corporate policy, structure, personnel training, measurement, recording, monitoring, management review and audit systems) with clearly defined work scope to ensure cost effectiveness even during the downturns common in the oil industry. An oil-field service company in Nigeria has operated an environmental system that combines existing statutory laws and community sensitivities to achieve proactive and sustainable approaches to environmental problems. This paper discusses the environmental status of this service company's operations in Nigeria, environmental laws, community acuteness and practices around its operational bases, environmental management systems in place and compliance levels achieved, and the road map to sustained compliance. It also gives examples of data that are measured and maintained in a database. This service company has demonstrated that improved environmental performance can be achieved through an environmental management system that adopts an awareness of the community lifestyles, employee awareness training, and the measuring, recording and monitoring of environmental parameters and processes. Such a management system is profitable in time and money and protects multinational service companies against future exposures.