We proactively identify mitigation measures through our established risk management processes.
Identifying risks early in the project life cycle and planning for and addressing potential environmental impacts associated with our activities are central to our efforts to have as minimal an environmental footprint as possible.
Waste management is a critical component of our operations. This includes:
Identifying and segregating waste types (i.e. hazardous, non-hazardous, recyclable)
Transporting and disposing of waste in line with industry best practices
Assessing contractor waste management performance
Auditing and approving disposal facilities prior to use
Updating waste management programs based on risk assessment results ensuring continuous improvement
In 2021 there was a significant increase in recycling in the company due to the remodeling of the Dallas campus and additional maintenance activities conducted at the LNG Plant in Peru.
In 2021, our drilling and completion activities in North America increased, as anticipated post-2020, resulting in a correlating increase of non-hazardous waste production. This increase, along with significant maintenance activities at the LNG facility in Peru contributed to an overall waste increase of 66%. However, our historical waste trends continue to decline recognizing 2020 waste production was a result of halted operations due to the pandemic. 2021 waste produced is currently 24% and 45% below the recorded 2019 and 2018 levels respectively.
Hunt refining recycling volumes have almost doubled over the last 5 years through their handling of hydrocarbon sludges and other organic byproducts. Reintroducing these waste streams into our refinery delayed coker and incorporating them into the solid coke has significantly reduced volumes of hazardous waste being disposed off-site.
We maintain a “keep it onsite” approach in regard to spill prevention and management. Through our spill prevention and management programs, we proactively plan for and address potential environmental impacts associated with our activities.
Partnering with Industry Experts
Hunt is not currently operating offshore but over the previous decade we have conducted exploration activities offshore in Australia and Benin. In both cases, we partnered with Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL), an industry-funded cooperative that maintains global credibility for its proficiencies in oil spill preparedness and response service. By partnering with subject matter experts and complying to their standards of excellence, we ensure Hunt’s offshore activities are managed and prepared to the industry best practices for spill preparedness and response.
Spill Prevention
Comprehensive site selection considering
- Wildlife habitats
- Water bodies
- Protected areas
- Populated regions
Containment Integrity
- Robust facility design
- Regular maintenance
- Routine inspection
Spill Response
Secondary Containment
- Tank and vessel berm design
- Stormwater management
- Inspection and maintenance
Site-specific Plans
- Equipment
- Dedicated spill response teams
- Regular exercises
- Third-party support
We have decreased both the count and volume of spills due to lessons learned from spill investigations and proactive equipment maintenance programs. We always strive for 100% spill recovery. 2021 has seen a significant reduction in spills, with only 103 barrels of hydrocarbon spilled. Of these, 38 barrels were contained on site, while the remaining 65 barrels were cleaned and disposed of.
Access to clean water is a basic human right. We understand the critical importance of water as a resource and therefore handle it with care.
Water availability can vary drastically across our operations around the world. We conduct risk assessments at the development stage of every project to understand how to manage and mitigate any potential impacts on water.
Our operations in Peru are located in areas of intense water scarcity along a coastal desert, so the decision was made in the early planning stages to employ reverse osmosis technology to desalinate ocean water for all water usage on site.
Similarly, areas along the pipeline route through the highlands have limited access to water. Our community needs assessments determined a very high priority on water infrastructure and conservation.
In North America, water usage is primarily associated with drilling and completions activity. Through added technologies and refined completions techniques, Hunt has reduced the amount of water used to produce each barrel of oil.
Our West Texas divestiture contributed to the reduction in water usage in 2021, with West Texas accounting for 25% of water usage in 2020. The Dallas campus usage increased by 7%, in 2021 due to the increase in activity in the office following the 2020 COVID restrictions.
Spotlights
The Hunt corporate headquarters, located in Dallas, Texas, maximizes the use of natural light through an innovative system known as “daylight harvesting”. This technique employs light-level sensors to detect available daylight and then automatically adjusts the output of electric lights throughout the building based on the actual needs. For example, when it is very bright outside, the inside lights will dim, and when it is cloudy outside, the inside lights will brighten. This automation produces 2 distinct benefits:
- Improves the workplace environment by reducing eyestrain for people working and normalizing brightness inside the building
- Increases energy efficiencies through automation and decreases electricity billing
Design elements of Hunts headquarters have received the following recognitions
- 2009 U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), “Silver” certification, commercial interiors, Dallas Headquarters.
- 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 ENERGY STAR certification, Hunt Headquarters
The LNG plant in Peru is completely self-sufficient in its water use, meaning it produces all of its own water using a desalination plant and eliminates any impact on freshwater bodies. The water treatment system is certified for potable drinking water.
In 2021, approximately 330,000 barrels of wastewater generated at the plant were treated using an activated sludge system for use in irrigation of green areas and dust control on interior roads, eliminating any discharge to the environment. Monitoring is conducted to ensure compliance with environmental standards prior to utilization.
The Hunt corporate headquarters in Dallas TX, was designed with trees and plants in the landscape that are a selection of native and adaptive species that provide year-round interest and color while reducing the demand for irrigation. The efficient landscape system is designed to save up to 50 percent of the water compared to a conventional irrigation system. In 2010, the landscaping received a Merit Award from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
