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sustainability

ting expenses, and damage reputations and rela-
tionships with regulators and local populations.

At the same time, the oil and gas sector is par-
ticularly well suited to take the lead in managing
water scarcity issues, given its engineering ex-
pertise, access to investment funds and its many
operations in water-stressed regions. Increasingly,
oil and gas companies are tapping their expertise
to develop innovative approaches to solving wa-
ter issues, from programs that increase efficiency a part of a larger, comprehensive approach to
of water usage in their operations to partnerships water management. Oil and gas companies in
that deliver clean water to local populations. A suc- general, and international oil companies (IOCs)
cessful track record of water treatment projects not in particular, will need to define and follow bro-
only ensures that this essential resource remains ad strategies to address water scarcity issues
available for operations; it also strengthens rela- across their operational footprint. Developing the
tionships between oil and gas companies and local capabilities to manage water issues and forge
stakeholders, including regulators and members of partnerships with NGOs focused on water is-
local communities. sues could represent a source of differentiation
for IOCs, one that highlights their unique value
Working on water sustainability proposition for investors, local stakeholders and
issues can strengthen energy national oil company (NOC) partners.

“companies’ relationships with
relevant stakeholders, including A strategic approach to water
governments and local management
populations
A comprehensive approach to water management
begins with a clear understanding of the risks asso-
Shell, for example, worked with the government ciated with water scarcity and potential impacts on
of Oman to develop an industrial wetland to treat the core business, including interruptions in opera-
enormous volumes of water used in production in tions or increases in operating expenses. Leading
that country’s Nimr oilfield. Since 2011, Shell has oil and gas companies continuously assess their
used large fields of sloping wetlands and evapo- exposure to water risks, developing a deep under-
ration ponds to process more than 100,000 cu- standing of their water needs across the value chain
bic meters of (used) water every day, water which and within local contexts. These assessments take
otherwise would have needed to be injected into into consideration the potential economic, social
deep well aquifers. and environmental implications of water risks, as
Projects like the Nimr wetlands are impressive well as the reputational risks associated with water
on their own, but more so when they make up issues (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: The oil and gas value
chain could significantly im-
pact water sustainability

34 34 Impiantistica Italiana - Maggio-Giugno 2019