HSE Annual Report 2010 (English) - WINTERSHALL
HSE Annual Report 2010 (English) - WINTERSHALL
HSE Annual Report 2010 (English) - WINTERSHALL
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Health,<br />
Safety and<br />
Environment<br />
ANNUAL REPORT<br />
<strong>2010</strong><br />
Shaping the future.
04 Foreword.<br />
06 Activities And regions.<br />
08 hse – our philosophy.<br />
14 hse – our Actions.<br />
34 hse perFormAnce <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
52 outlook.<br />
55 contActs.
04/05<br />
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,<br />
Energy is our business.<br />
And energy is our future.<br />
We want to make our future a sustainable one. For<br />
us, sustainability is achieved through reconciling<br />
long-term commercial success with protection of<br />
the environment, safety, health for all and our social<br />
responsibility.<br />
We embrace these challenges. After all, lasting economic<br />
success is not possible if we do not protect<br />
health, safety and the environment (<strong>HSE</strong>). The aim of<br />
our <strong>HSE</strong> management system is to systematically<br />
reduce risks to both people and nature. That’s why<br />
we at Wintershall believe that nothing is so important<br />
that it would justify ignoring the principles of<br />
work safety and environmental protection. This is<br />
a substantial basis for our corporate philosophy.<br />
As a responsible company, Wintershall defines its<br />
own ambitious standards toward safety performance<br />
and environmental protection – usually<br />
beyond what is required by law. These are valid for<br />
our executives, employees and contractors alike.<br />
Wintershall lives up to its responsibility.<br />
<strong>2010</strong> was a special year for our company. Apart<br />
from the start of work on building the Baltic Sea<br />
pipeline Nord Stream, the foundation was laid for<br />
one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects:<br />
Construction of the 470-kilometer natural gas pipeline<br />
OPAL in Eastern Germany. Up to 2,500 workers<br />
were and are going to be busy working here until the<br />
pipeline’s planned commissioning date in October<br />
2011. Major projects of such economic significance<br />
are all too rare. They pose great challenges for<br />
everyone involved.<br />
Our economic performance in <strong>2010</strong> was impressive.<br />
Despite a tough climate, Wintershall nearly<br />
maintained oil and gas production at the high level<br />
of the previous year: 133 (2009: 136) million barrels<br />
of oil equivalent (BOE). The company was able to<br />
increase its earnings before income and taxes (EBIT)<br />
by 45 million euros year-on-year to 2,234 million in<br />
<strong>2010</strong>. From this, 1,918 million euros were generated<br />
from exploration and production and 416 million<br />
from gas trading.<br />
Our ambitious health and safety target is zero<br />
accidents in all our activities. We achieved that<br />
mission for our own employees and were once<br />
more able to improve on the previous year in <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
However, to our great dismay, our contractors suffered<br />
three fatal accidents and six accidents with<br />
lost time injuries, which led us to extensively review<br />
the requirements toward our contractors. On this<br />
basis, we have developed an extensive catalogue<br />
of measures to avoid such accidents in the future.<br />
The implementation of these is a joint effort between<br />
ourselves and our contractors. I call on all employees<br />
to play an active part in this process.<br />
In the area of exploration and production, <strong>2010</strong><br />
was impacted by the events related to the Deepwater<br />
Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Even<br />
though we ourselves do not carry out any deepwater<br />
drilling, we have taken the incident and its investigation<br />
reports as an opportunity to identify learning<br />
points and room for improvement in our offshore<br />
activities.
In the oil and gas industry, technological excellence,<br />
innovativeness and technical expertise are at least<br />
as good at opening doors to cooperation deals and<br />
participating interests as billions in capital. As in the<br />
past, Germany must be the first home to innovative<br />
technologies in the future. The potential production<br />
of shale gas in Germany is currently a topic of<br />
debate. In this regard, we may be on the verge of<br />
a new technological leap. And we must not miss<br />
the boat. However, we don’t even know how large<br />
these unconventional deposits are in Germany and<br />
whether they can be developed cost-effectively.<br />
Consequently, our strategy is: Yes to exploration,<br />
yes to research. However, what is technically feasible<br />
can only be put into practice if it makes both economic<br />
and environmental sense. Our policy is not<br />
one of development at all costs.<br />
We intend to invest more strongly in a sustainable<br />
future. That includes genuine innovations, such as<br />
the Schizophyllan biopolymer. The idea came from<br />
nature itself. These biopolymers are biodegradable<br />
and are eco-efficient if applied in oil production.<br />
Wintershall and BASF are jointly researching these<br />
in order to develop a new environmentally friendly<br />
technology which significantly increases oil recovery<br />
rates for the reservoir it is applied to.<br />
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our<br />
production sites, in 2007 we committed ourselves<br />
to discontinuing the flaring of associated gas.<br />
We are determined to achieve this goal by 2012.<br />
This report was created to give our employees,<br />
partners, public authorities and the interested<br />
public a summary of our health, safety and environment<br />
activities in <strong>2010</strong>. To ensure this, we have supplemented<br />
the key figures that are customary in the<br />
international arena, and that have been audited<br />
by KPMG, with many outstanding examples of our<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> activities.<br />
Our success is primarily due to competent, innovative,<br />
extremely motivated and above all healthy<br />
employees. We are well prepared and together will<br />
overcome the challenges ahead of us, especially in<br />
the field of health, safety and the environment – to<br />
achieve a sustainable and safe future. After all, our<br />
ambitious goal for the future remains: zero accidents<br />
and an end to the flaring of associated gas by 2012.<br />
Wintershall – Generating safety.<br />
Dr. Rainer Seele<br />
Chairman of the Board<br />
FOREWORD
06/07<br />
CORE REGIONS AND ACTIvITIES<br />
OF <strong>WINTERSHALL</strong>.
Wintershall, based in Kassel, Germany, has been actively involved in the exploration and production of<br />
crude oil and natural gas for more than 75 years. Wintershall focuses on selected core regions, where<br />
the company has built up a high level of regional and technological expertise. These are Europe, North<br />
Africa, South America, as well as Russia and the Caspian Sea region. It is also expanding its activities<br />
in the Middle East. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF, is now the largest German<br />
producer of crude oil and natural gas, and with its subsidiaries, WINGAS and WINGAS TRANSPORT,<br />
is also an important gas supplier to the German and European market.
08/09<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> – OUR<br />
PHILOSOPHY.<br />
The objective of Wintershall’s <strong>HSE</strong> (Health, Safety and Environment) management system is to reduce<br />
the risks to people and the environment. The guiding principle is: Economic concerns do not have<br />
priority over health, safety and the environment. Nothing is so important that Wintershall would allow<br />
the principles of safety at work and environmental protection to be ignored. Values, standards and<br />
guidelines also serve to protect our most important resource: our people. We offer all employees<br />
opportunities for establishing the best possible working conditions and for personal development,<br />
enabling them to realize their potential.
10/11<br />
SYSTEMATIC <strong>HSE</strong> –<br />
SUCCESSFUL AND SAFE.<br />
Wintershall has laid down its position on <strong>HSE</strong><br />
(Health, Safety and Environment) in a policy. This<br />
policy governs how the company operates within<br />
the global oil and gas industry. The key objectives<br />
of the company’s <strong>HSE</strong> policy are:<br />
• Integration and continuous improvement of <strong>HSE</strong><br />
in all activities.<br />
• “Everyone counts” – rigorous implementation of<br />
the <strong>HSE</strong> guidelines by all employees.<br />
• Living up to our social responsibility.<br />
• Responsibility for global climate protection.<br />
• Compliance with international conventions, local<br />
laws and our own standards.<br />
In order to achieve these objectives <strong>HSE</strong> has to be<br />
effectively integrated in all activities. This is ensured by<br />
the WINS health, safety and environment management<br />
system. It consists of 12 elements, subdivided<br />
into planning, rollout, reporting and system improvement.<br />
The management system is designed so that<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> is integrated appropriately and the business<br />
objectives can be achieved.<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Award Winners <strong>2010</strong><br />
Well-planned<br />
Implemented<br />
Notified<br />
System improved
THE <strong>HSE</strong> AWARD – A PRIzE FOR<br />
INNOvATIvE EMPLOYEE IDEAS.<br />
Innovative solutions for improvement of health,<br />
safety and environment are rewarded at Wintershall.<br />
The company has been conferring an <strong>HSE</strong> Award<br />
since 2007, a prize for outstanding projects in the<br />
field of protecting health, safety and the ecology.<br />
An award category for “Simple Solutions” – a small<br />
and smart solution that has a perceptible impact<br />
on everyday work through minor changes – was<br />
added in <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
The <strong>HSE</strong> Award rewards proactive and creative<br />
measures that have been successfully implemented<br />
at the company during the contest period and<br />
have resulted in a clear improvement in the field of<br />
<strong>HSE</strong>. An additional criteria for the reward is whether<br />
the solution can be applied at other locations.<br />
The aim of the contest is to improve our high <strong>HSE</strong><br />
performance continuously. Each entry is an enrichment<br />
for the whole company’s <strong>HSE</strong> performance,<br />
since all the solutions are communicated within the<br />
company worldwide. Therefore they can be taken<br />
up by other teams and developed further.<br />
In line with the <strong>HSE</strong> mission statement “Everyone<br />
counts,” all employees are urged to join in and submit<br />
innovative ideas from their team. The award is<br />
intended as an additional incentive – above and<br />
beyond the company suggestion system – for<br />
employees to become involved in <strong>HSE</strong> and is<br />
accompanied by a tax-free cash prize.<br />
The winners are chosen by an evaluation committee<br />
consisting of ten permanent jurors and representatives<br />
of the winning teams from the previous contest.<br />
The jury examines all entries and assesses them on<br />
the basis of set criteria – the most important being<br />
the project’s benefit for health, safety and the<br />
environment. Others include the <strong>HSE</strong> solution’s<br />
pro-activity, personal initiative and team spirit.<br />
<strong>HSE</strong>-AWARD <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
22 entries were submitted in the <strong>2010</strong> competition,<br />
eight in the category “Simple Solutions“. The award<br />
in the <strong>HSE</strong> project category was conferred to a<br />
team from Libya that had worked on a way to improve<br />
protection of anchor pipes at wells against<br />
external corrosion in the Libyan Desert for three<br />
years. The solution includes an innovative coating<br />
and intensification of pipeline checks. The winner in<br />
the “Simple Solutions” category is based in Wintershall<br />
Netherlands. He developed a door stopper for containers,<br />
a hook-shaped device that prevents the<br />
container doors from suddenly being blown shut<br />
by the wind and so increases work safety.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
12/13<br />
ECONOMIC AND <strong>HSE</strong><br />
OBjECTIvES HAvE EqUAL PRIORITY.<br />
Corporate <strong>HSE</strong> Manager Guido Schnieders on the importance of <strong>HSE</strong> in<br />
Wintershall’s activities.<br />
Why does Wintershall publish a review of its<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> work?<br />
We want to demonstrate transparency toward our<br />
employees, partners, public authorities and the<br />
interested public. We regard it as our social responsibility<br />
to provide regular information on our activities<br />
in the field of health, safety and the environment.<br />
This is not limited to the internationally accepted key<br />
performance indicators; it also includes selected<br />
positive examples from our work. By this we hope<br />
to inspire others and set an example for successful<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> management.<br />
Interview with Corporate <strong>HSE</strong> Manager Guido Schnieders<br />
How significant is <strong>HSE</strong> for Wintershall?<br />
The clear philosophy of our company’s management<br />
is that our high standards in health, safely and<br />
environment at Wintershall have equal priority<br />
alongside economic objectives. Nothing is so urgent<br />
or important that we would allow <strong>HSE</strong> principles to<br />
be ignored. That also protects our employees – our<br />
most important resource.<br />
Implementation of and compliance with <strong>HSE</strong> standards<br />
entails costs. Doesn’t that diminish commercial<br />
success?<br />
The very opposite – high <strong>HSE</strong> standards are the<br />
key to lasting commercial success. For instance,<br />
avoiding occupational accidents pays off two-fold:<br />
Production remains stable because no time is lost<br />
due to injuries. At the same time, healthy employees<br />
are also motivated, perform well and can channel all<br />
their energy into making the company successful.<br />
What are the employees and contractors contributions<br />
to this?<br />
All of us have a vital part to play when it comes to<br />
complying with the <strong>HSE</strong> policy. We expect responsibility,<br />
pro-activity and personal commitment from<br />
everyone and don’t make a distinction between our<br />
own employees and those of contractors. We have<br />
an ambitious goal: zero accidents in all our activities.<br />
Even though we haven’t been able to achieve<br />
this target in one year, we are still doing all we can<br />
to avoid accidents and operate our facilities safely.
In the past years contractor incidents were reoccurring<br />
events. What do you think is the reason?<br />
We believe the sharp increase in demand for skilled<br />
workers is having a negative impact on the qualification<br />
and experience of staff and thereby on safety.<br />
That’s why we have to work with our partners to<br />
achieve a high standard of training once more in the<br />
oil and gas industry. In addition, we will rigorously<br />
enforce our contractor management processes,<br />
i.e. assess the <strong>HSE</strong> performance of external companies<br />
before awarding contracts to them and<br />
conduct information and training events.<br />
The “E” in <strong>HSE</strong> stands for environment. What are<br />
the challenges here?<br />
Wintershall increasingly explores for new reserves<br />
in areas that are ecologically or culturally sensitive.<br />
That’s why we analyze the effects on people and<br />
the environment precisely beforehand and define<br />
measures to minimize the impact. That also includes<br />
preserving the cultural heritage. Protecting the<br />
environment also means efficient use of natural<br />
resources. That’s why we constantly strive to<br />
improve the energy efficiency of our facilities.<br />
Wintershall minimizes health risks at work. It also<br />
offers events providing information on health and<br />
cancer prevention. Isn’t that the employees’ own<br />
business?<br />
No. We want to keep our staff’s health at a high level.<br />
Prevention and information play a vital part in that.<br />
In the case of cancer of the intestine, for example,<br />
experts attribute the large number of people with<br />
this disease to a lack of knowledge about prevention<br />
and early screening. And the same with exercises:<br />
We want to motivate our employees to walk<br />
8,000 to 10,000 steps a day to avoid being overweight<br />
and the related illnesses.
14/15<br />
<strong>HSE</strong><br />
–
OUR ACTIONS.<br />
Just about everything we do or plan influences people and the environment in some<br />
way or other. That’s why we have fully integrated <strong>HSE</strong> in our activities.
16/17<br />
HEALTH<br />
AND SAFETY.<br />
Responsibility and safety are fundamental values that form the<br />
basis for our corporate philosophy. Employees’ safety is Wintershall’s<br />
highest priority – whether they are our own or from contractors.<br />
Responsibility, pro-activity and personal comittment from everyone<br />
is vital to ensure a high standard of safety in the long term.<br />
Our managers take on responsibility for their employees so that<br />
every single one of them feels safe at work and returns back home<br />
healthy. The same also applies to our contractors, who have to<br />
meet strict requirements and are also actively supported in their<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> work.<br />
Wintershall is a company where people come first. That is because<br />
healthy and motivated employees can contribute to the<br />
company‘s success with their capabilities and creativity.
PROjECT MANAGEMENT –<br />
A GLIMPSE INTO<br />
THE FUTURE.<br />
Wintershall has many years of experience in developing<br />
reservoirs that are difficult to access and are<br />
geologically challenging. Every new exploration<br />
project therefore places high demands on planning.<br />
Above all, exploration in unknown regions<br />
requires particular support for the employees and<br />
contractors on the ground. That is why <strong>HSE</strong> experts<br />
support the project teams from an early stage.<br />
Apart from feasibility studies for a project, examination<br />
of environmental and safety aspects is an<br />
integral part of planning. This includes environmental<br />
impact studies and plant safety analyses, as well<br />
as selection of contractors on the basis of <strong>HSE</strong><br />
considerations. It is also necessary to assess risks<br />
in remote regions, such as car accidents on unpaved<br />
roads, endemic diseases, unsafe food and drinking<br />
water, logistics problems, the climate, crime, violent<br />
attacks or political unrest. During advance expeditions<br />
to the exploration area, risks are identified and<br />
suitable and concrete measures to minimize them<br />
are determined and summarized in an <strong>HSE</strong> project<br />
plan. As part of this, specialists evaluate the standard<br />
of medical care, test communication by satellite<br />
phone, identify landing strips for aircraft or examine<br />
the quality of the water in available wells. Safety<br />
engineers regularly supervise and control activities<br />
during the execution phase. Emergency concepts<br />
formulated at the outset are constantly reviewed<br />
and adapted to the current situation if necessary.<br />
Compliance with the relevant regulations and <strong>HSE</strong><br />
standards is ensured in the operating phase. All<br />
projects at Wintershall are planned and carried out<br />
according to the same <strong>HSE</strong> procedures.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
18/19<br />
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.<br />
Wintershall promotes safety at work through risk<br />
assessments, procedures, seminars, training courses<br />
and audits. <strong>Report</strong>ing and investigation of incidents<br />
plays a key role in prevention and helps increase the<br />
standard of safety even further. Wintershall has established<br />
a reporting system that includes all locations<br />
worldwide and that does not make a distinction<br />
between its own employees and those of contractors.<br />
Detailed analysis of incidents helps identify<br />
and assess their causes. Incidents where there is<br />
merely a risk potential are also investigated. The<br />
results are used to derive measures to protect<br />
against such incidents occurring in future and are<br />
communicated every month.<br />
INSIGHTS.<br />
SAM – SYSTEM FOR RECORDING SAFETY-<br />
RELATED SITUATIONS.<br />
An important aid in safety work has been developed<br />
for Wintershall Deutschland in the shape of the<br />
reporting system SAM. SAM is an abbreviation for<br />
“Situation, Assess and Measures”. Its objective is<br />
to enable prompt preventive measures to counteract<br />
situations where there are risk potentials and near<br />
accidents. Best-in-class examples are also communicated<br />
using the system. Another objective of<br />
it is to improve awareness for, assessment of and<br />
readiness to communicate unsafe situations. <strong>Report</strong>s<br />
are stored in a database after being received.<br />
A working group in Kassel regularly deliberates<br />
on measures to implement the suggestions and<br />
improve the system.<br />
CRISIS MANAGEMENT.<br />
Wintershall’s <strong>HSE</strong> management system is aimed at<br />
avoiding incidents. However, to respond to unexpected<br />
events, Wintershall has an end-to-end,<br />
clearly defined and interdisciplinary crisis management<br />
system comprising strategies and measures<br />
to tackle incidents. The system is embedded in the<br />
existing management structures. Only a planned and<br />
organized approach guarantees the best-possible<br />
prevention and control of emergencies. Emergency<br />
plans, regular safety exercises and annual drills for<br />
major incidents aim to ensure an ideal response.<br />
Training courses help sensitize and prepare employees.<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> experts are responsible for drawing up,<br />
maintaining and supervising the measures and<br />
documentation for emergency planning.<br />
INSIGHTS.<br />
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EMERGENCY<br />
RESPONSE ASSOCIATION.<br />
Almost 40 new companies have qualified as operators<br />
on the Norwegian Continental Shelf since<br />
2000. These companies will account for a significant<br />
proportion of exploration work in Norway during the<br />
next few years. To ensure safety in offshore production,<br />
there are organizations that can respond<br />
rapidly to dangerous situations.<br />
At the initiative of Wintershall Norge and in cooperation<br />
with the Norwegian Oil Industry Association<br />
(OLF) and other companies, a concept to set up a<br />
professional emergency prevention center for the<br />
new companies operating on the continental shelf<br />
was developed. A feasibility study confirmed the<br />
assumption that it would be able to offer a higherquality<br />
and more cost-efficient emergency service<br />
than the solutions currently available on the market.<br />
The Operators’ Emergency Response Association<br />
(OERA) was founded in june 2009 and a joint center<br />
was set up with ten employees. The obvious advantages<br />
of a permanent emergency response organization<br />
are greater safety thanks to improved quality<br />
and training of staff, as well as the fact that there is<br />
one and the same organization for all activities.
CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT.<br />
Many projects in the oil and gas industry are unimaginable<br />
without the support of external experts.<br />
That is why Wintershall uses contractors in various<br />
areas, including large specialist firms to conduct<br />
drilling campaigns, construction companies in infrastructure<br />
projects or smaller subcontractors at the<br />
administrative locations.<br />
Wintershall‘s selection criteria for contractors are<br />
not limited to economic aspects. Environmental<br />
protection and work safety standards are also taken<br />
into account in assessing new and existing contractor<br />
relationships. As regards compliance with<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> standards, the Wintershall Group places the<br />
same high requirements on its contractors as on<br />
its own employees. Consequently, the company<br />
applies strict criteria in selecting them.<br />
Extensive prequalification to examine a firm’s <strong>HSE</strong><br />
performance is conducted before the contract is<br />
awarded. This comprises an assessment of the<br />
contractors on the basis of the <strong>HSE</strong> documentation<br />
submitted. Information events are also held together<br />
with the contractor companies. The objective is to<br />
inform contractors of Wintershall’s requirements,<br />
train them and give precise recommendations to<br />
them in relation to <strong>HSE</strong> and through this help them<br />
improve their <strong>HSE</strong> performance.<br />
Audits complement these measures. As part of<br />
contractor management, Wintershall’s contractors<br />
must also furnish proof of their <strong>HSE</strong> performance<br />
in further regular audits. The audits are conducted by<br />
a team of <strong>HSE</strong> experts and an operational specialist<br />
from the field of work. The findings are complemented<br />
by continuous on-site inspections.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
20/21<br />
PLANT AND<br />
PROCESS SAFETY.<br />
In addition to investments in exploring, developing<br />
and producing resources, the expansion of technological<br />
know-how is the basis for securing the<br />
success of our company. The ability to overcome<br />
challenging geological conditions and in particular<br />
apply innovative exploration, drilling and production<br />
technologies is a key aspect of Wintershall’s technological<br />
expertise, especially in its core regions.<br />
Worldwide, Wintershall operates facilities for exploring,<br />
producing and transporting crude oil and<br />
natural gas that comply with the very highest safety<br />
standards. The company invests continuously in<br />
the construction of new and further development<br />
of existing plants. It is crucial for plant safety to be<br />
state-of-the-art at all times. Availability and efficiency<br />
are also highly important. As early as the planning<br />
stage, aspects such as health, safety and the<br />
environment are integrated in a multi-phase process.<br />
So that all facets can be taken into account, plant<br />
safety reviews – for the most part interdisciplinary<br />
in nature – are conducted and headed by an <strong>HSE</strong><br />
expert. Apart from identification of the measures<br />
needed to protect people and the environment,<br />
decisions on the safest process technology, a suitable<br />
location and logistics are taken. A tailor-made<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> concept containing the points of relevance to<br />
safety in planning, constructing and operating the<br />
facility is created for each project on the basis of processes,<br />
site plans, the existing local infrastructure,<br />
weather conditions and geotechnical information.<br />
Implementation of the concept is reviewed before<br />
the plant is commissioned. A further component of<br />
plant safety is inspections to check compliance<br />
with safety standards.<br />
A MULTI-STAGE SYSTEM ENSURES SAFETY.<br />
For drilling projects special demands on safety and<br />
environmental protection have to be taken into<br />
consideration. It is therefore necessary to define<br />
the <strong>HSE</strong> rules and responsibilities for the projects<br />
in advance and as precisely as possible so as to be<br />
prepared, in particular for unforeseen occurrences.<br />
Alongside the very highest technical standards, this<br />
includes emergency plans backed by regular drills.<br />
The company-wide <strong>HSE</strong> management system<br />
“WINS” and the Well Operations Policy are applied<br />
in all Wintershall activities, thus guaranteeing that the<br />
highest standards are adhered to. This is ensured<br />
by regular reporting, inspections and audits.<br />
With the help of different systems it is possible to<br />
ensure safety during drilling projects. Free-flowing<br />
production wells are protected by a subsurface<br />
safety valve and a Christmas tree with numerous<br />
closing valves, ensuring that the well is automatically<br />
shut in if an incident occurs. Multi-stage blowout<br />
preventers equipped with several independently<br />
operating safety devices to seal the well are used<br />
in exploration and can be activated automatically,<br />
mechanically or by remote control. As a minimum,<br />
Wintershall requires two redundant shut-off systems<br />
to be used at all times in exploration. In offshore<br />
production, an eight-stage barrier system is used,<br />
each with a large number of safety systems. These<br />
barriers ensure the overall integrity of the facility at<br />
all times, even if one or more elements fail.
FRACING: A WORLDWIDE PROvEN TECHNOLOGY.<br />
various factors determine how fast and for how<br />
long oil or gas can be produced from a reservoir,<br />
including the geological structure of the reservoir,<br />
the porosity and permeability of the reservoir rock,<br />
and the consistency and viscosity of the hydrocarbons<br />
it contains.<br />
Special techniques are required to extract oil or gas<br />
enclosed in extremely impermeable reservoir rock.<br />
Alongside horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing<br />
has been in use around the world for decades and<br />
is being improved all the time. The technique is<br />
used to exploit high-density reservoirs which lie<br />
deep underground.<br />
The process involves injecting water at high pressure<br />
at previously defined points into the solid rock<br />
layers to create fine millimeter-thin cracks in the<br />
rock. Sand mixed with the water (proppants) helps<br />
to keep these cracks open longer. The cracks make<br />
it easier for the hydrocarbons in the reservoir to flow<br />
toward the well for production. This method has<br />
also been used for decades in Germany in crude<br />
oil and gas production from conventional reservoirs,<br />
in drilling for hot water or, in recent years, in geothermal<br />
drilling.<br />
99 % of the fluid mixture used in fracing comprises<br />
water and sand, with around 1% being made up of<br />
chemical additives to ensure that silica sand, for<br />
example, blends with the water. The deliberately<br />
created flow channels stay open long enough and<br />
bacteria do not enter the reservoir. Apart from the<br />
natural seal due to the pressure from the mighty<br />
weight of the several hundred meter thick overlying<br />
rock, usually consisting of clay or salt layers, the<br />
well’s system of steel pipes, which are cemented<br />
into place, form secure barriers against the waterbearing<br />
aquifer layers.<br />
For several decades now, Wintershall has used fracing<br />
to produce crude oil and gas, mostly in tight gas<br />
deposits in Russia, Argentina, the Netherlands and<br />
Germany, with high safety and environmental standards<br />
– without any impact on the environment.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT<br />
Fracing facility drilling hole Leer Z4 in Germany
22/23<br />
HEALTH PROTECTION.<br />
The aim of health protection at Wintershall is to<br />
prevent work-related illnesses or impairment to<br />
employees’ health, as well as maintain a high level<br />
of health within the workforce.<br />
Main topics are health promotion and ensuring<br />
effective medical care in the event of emergencies.<br />
As an international company, Wintershall also endeavors<br />
to give its employees the best possible<br />
preparation for journeys and assignments abroad<br />
and avoid unnecessary risks. Travel advice, vaccination<br />
recommendations and information on countries<br />
where Wintershall operates are regularly<br />
compiled and updated. A special <strong>HSE</strong> checklist was<br />
developed to prepare employees for trips abroad.<br />
The package is rounded off by special procedural<br />
instructions and emergency cards for each location.<br />
The issue of health protection in exploration and<br />
production in remote regions and under extreme<br />
climatic conditions requires special attention. There<br />
is often a lack of medical care or the local medical<br />
infrastructure does not meet international standards.<br />
In such cases, special preventive measures<br />
are taken with great care to rule out health risks to<br />
employees and contractors as far as possible.<br />
Medical care by a company physician or a certified<br />
institution is provided at all locations. In addition,<br />
Wintershall offers its employees the chance to<br />
participate in regular health campaigns on topical<br />
issues, such as cancer prevention and screening,<br />
lack of exercise or nutrition, and take the initiative<br />
themselves.<br />
First aid courses
INSIGHTS.<br />
HEALTH PROTECTION IN PRODUCTION –<br />
NORM AND TENORM.<br />
Residues containing naturally occurring radioactive<br />
materials (NORM/TENORM) may arise in the production<br />
of hydrocarbons. Oil and gas themselves<br />
are not radioactive, unlike the enriched salty production<br />
water, which is charged with salts.<br />
The production residues, such as sludge or deposits<br />
on riser pipes, only emit a low-intensity dose.<br />
The values are well below the level of radiation to<br />
which aircraft passengers are exposed. These<br />
production residues are not a hazard to employees,<br />
the population or the environment.<br />
Production residues containing naturally occurring<br />
radioactive materials are disposed of in accordance<br />
with the provisions of the German Radiation Protection<br />
Ordinance. This process has been officially<br />
approved and examined. Storage of waste and<br />
exposure during work are monitored by radiological<br />
safety representative and is documented transparently<br />
at all times.<br />
During cleaning work on production facilities, all<br />
necessary measures, such as instruction, use of personal<br />
protective equipment, control measurements,<br />
etc., are carried out to exclude risk to employees,<br />
contractors and third parties.<br />
NORM/TENORM (technologically enhanced naturally<br />
occurring radioactive material), i.e. material<br />
containing natural radioactivity, arises in many<br />
segments of industry, including the production of<br />
drinking and mineral water, the geothermal sector,<br />
the metal-working industry and coal, ore, crude oil<br />
and gas production. The quantity of NORM/TENORM<br />
produced in Germany from the oil and gas industry is<br />
about 0.3 % of the total for the country as a whole.<br />
HAzARDOUS SUBSTANCE DATABASE.<br />
A hazardous substance database has been developed<br />
for the German production operations and<br />
can also be used internationally. It gives employees<br />
quick access to information on the substances<br />
used, for example in the form of safety data sheets,<br />
risks assessments and operating instructions. Because<br />
the database is available in Wintershall’s<br />
company network, it can be accessed locally and<br />
so is easy to use for all employees. Its content is<br />
maintained and updated centrally and thus is always<br />
up-to-date. However, the database is not only<br />
used in operational business, but also for conducting<br />
employees on the safe use of hazardous substances.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
24/25<br />
ENvIRONMENTAL<br />
PROTECTION.<br />
It goes without saying that Wintershall is committed to the responsible use of natural resources in<br />
exploration, field development and production. We respond to the challenges by applying high standards<br />
and driving technical innovation. Environmental protection is in our own financial interest. Therefore, the<br />
preservation of natural resources, the prevention of emissions and waste are integral parts of the exploration<br />
and production process. A key factor to our success is efficient use of the resources required to find<br />
and produce reserves with new or improved methods and so minimize the impact on the environment.
REDUCTION OF EMISSIONS.<br />
The international community has set out ambitious<br />
goals in order to stop climate change. As laid down<br />
in the Kyoto Protocol, global greenhouse gas emissions<br />
are to be cut by at least five percent compared<br />
to their 1990 levels from 2008 to 2012. The European<br />
Union has committed itself to a reduction of<br />
at least eight percent in the same timeframe. In<br />
December 2008, the EU also agreed on a package<br />
of directives and targets for climate protection and<br />
energy, under which primary energy consumption<br />
and greenhouse gas emissions are to be cut by 20<br />
percent compared to 2005 by the year 2020. This<br />
comprises expanding renewable energies and increasing<br />
energy efficiency by 20 percent.<br />
Emissions are created in exploration, production<br />
and transportation of crude oil and gas as a result<br />
of the energy required in these tasks – energy must<br />
be generated or imported in the form of electricity,<br />
process heat, steam and pressure. Since the production<br />
facilities are often sited in poorly developed<br />
regions, energy must be generated on site, normally<br />
using fossil sources, such as gas, heating oil or<br />
diesel. These emit a number of substances into the<br />
air during their thermal conversion. Other processes<br />
where substances are emitted into the air<br />
are the flaring of associated gas or condensate<br />
during production and the release of unburned gas<br />
(cold flaring / venting) for safety reasons or as part<br />
of maintenance measures.<br />
As Germany’s largest producer of crude oil and<br />
natural gas and a company that operates worldwide<br />
in selected core regions, Wintershall accepts its<br />
responsibility to protect the global climate. Apart<br />
from complying with international conventions, local<br />
laws and our own standards, we help cut emissions<br />
by using leading-edge technologies and new or<br />
improved methods to increase energy efficiency,<br />
thus minimizing the impact on the environment,<br />
reducing energy consumption and also keeping<br />
costs as low as possible.<br />
INFLUENCING FACTORS.<br />
Greenhouse gas emissions in production of crude<br />
oil and natural gas fluctuate for a number of production-related<br />
reasons. Projects, such as development<br />
of new fields, testing of wells, construction of<br />
pipeline links or scheduled plant shutdowns for<br />
maintenance or repair work, as well as safety reasons<br />
may influence their volume.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
26/27<br />
CO ² EMISSIONS TRADING.<br />
Emissions trading was introduced in the European<br />
Union as of january 1, 2005, as part of the implementation<br />
of the Kyoto Protocol. The goal of this system<br />
is to reduce CO ² emissions where it is cheapest to<br />
do so. Market players are facilities that produce<br />
emissions and have an output of more than 20<br />
megawatts capacity, energy-intensive industries<br />
and – as of 2012 – aviation. The second period of<br />
emissions trading in the European Union commenced<br />
on january 1, 2008, and will last until 2012.<br />
The companies involved are currently preparing for<br />
the 3rd trading period which will last from 2013 to<br />
2020 and involve major changes. As of 2013, the<br />
emissions trading system will be extended to other<br />
sectors and applied more stringently. In future,<br />
emissions rights will be auctioned to a greater extent<br />
and no longer distributed free of charge as is<br />
currently the case. The share of auctioned certificates<br />
will increase from 20 percent per annum in<br />
2013 to 70 percent by 2020. In addition, the total<br />
quantity of available certificates will be reduced<br />
continuously by 21 percent overall.<br />
Eleven plants at Wintershall/WINGAS are subject<br />
to the statutory requirements for emissions trading<br />
in the 2nd trading period from 2008 to 2012. They<br />
include compressor stations, the Rehden natural<br />
gas storage facility and the steam flooding plant<br />
in Emlichheim. Greenhouse gas emissions have<br />
already been reduced as a result of numerous<br />
projects aimed at improving energy efficiency.<br />
Wintershall is also involved in research projects<br />
investigating ways of storing and processing CO ² .<br />
Compressor station Mallnow in Germany
INSIGHTS.<br />
NO FLARING POLICY 2012.<br />
The flaring of associated gas not only destroys<br />
valuable energy resources worldwide, but also<br />
emits huge quantities of greenhouse gases into the<br />
atmosphere. To reflect our responsibility for the environment,<br />
we are committed to stopping flaring<br />
associated gas as part of routine operations. Flaring<br />
of it will be discontinued at our existing facilities by<br />
2012, while new plants will be constructed to enable<br />
use of the associated gas. As a result, we will play<br />
our part as a company dedicated to sustainable<br />
production and will also set international standards.<br />
We are regarded as a technological leader in Libya<br />
when it comes to environmental protection: The<br />
gas from the production of crude oil is already<br />
completely processed. The quantities of crude oil<br />
and associated gas are processed at the central<br />
facilities at the Nakhla and As Sarah fields. Following<br />
integration of the Hamid field in December 2006,<br />
flaring was finally ceased in Libya.<br />
STEAM FLOODING TECHNOLOGY.<br />
The crude oil at Wintershall’s Emlichheim site in<br />
Germany is especially viscous and hence difficult<br />
to extract, which is why the company uses a special<br />
technique. Water vapor at a temperature of 300<br />
degrees is forced into the reservoir at high pressure<br />
using steam flooding. The crude oil trapped in the<br />
rock heats up and becomes less viscous, enabling<br />
it to flow through the reservoir to the production<br />
wells more easily. Associated gas and natural gas<br />
are used to produce the steam. Thanks to the use<br />
of tempered and desalinated production water as<br />
boiler feed water, fuel consumption and the specific<br />
greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.<br />
EFFICIENT POWER GENERATION.<br />
Wintershall already supplies all its operations in<br />
Germany independently with electricity it generates<br />
itself. The largest of the facilities which help to<br />
supply the various sites is the combined heat and<br />
power generation (CHP) plant in Emlichheim. Gas<br />
that could not previously be used cost-effectively<br />
is now used to produce electricity and steam. The<br />
heart of the plant is a 5.2-megawatt gas turbine that<br />
drives a generator which produces up to 45 million<br />
kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Wintershall<br />
invested 5.9 million euros in building the new CHP<br />
plant. The exhaust heat, which has a temperature<br />
of more than 500° C and comes from the gas burned<br />
to produce the electricity, would normally be lost in<br />
conventional plants, but is used here to produce<br />
more than 100,000 tonnes of water vapor a year.<br />
Wintershall needs that to extract oil by steam<br />
flooding. The new technology cuts CO ² emissions<br />
by 25,000 tonnes a year.<br />
STEAM TURBINE USES ExHAUST HEAT.<br />
The exhaust heat from the three existing gas<br />
turbines at the Mallnow natural-gas compressor<br />
station near Frankfurt (Oder) is used to power a<br />
steam turbine. A pipe with a diameter of around<br />
four meters takes the exhaust gases of the gas<br />
turbines to a process, where steam is produced to<br />
drive the fourth turbine. Afterwards, the used steam<br />
is cooled and liquefied in a closed cycle. The steam<br />
turbine generates an output of up to 20 megawatts.<br />
Expensive drive power is therefore saved and CO ²<br />
emissions are specifically reduced.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
28/29<br />
WASTE AND WATER MANAGEMENT.<br />
WASTE MANAGEMENT.<br />
Waste emerges during the exploration and production<br />
of crude oil and natural gas. We try to avoid<br />
such waste wherever possible. Unavoidable waste<br />
is recycled and disposed in line with regulations.<br />
The amount of waste and its environmental impact<br />
during recycling and disposal can be significantly<br />
influenced by the source of generation. Wintershall<br />
disposes of waste in due form and in an environmentally<br />
friendly way, even where there is a lack of<br />
public or private means of disposal. A large part of<br />
the waste comes from former drilling mud pits,<br />
which Wintershall is now recultivating and rehabilitating.<br />
It is expected to complete this task by 2013.<br />
WATER MANAGEMENT.<br />
Production and waste water arise in the search for<br />
and production of crude oil and natural gas. Production<br />
water is removed from the oil or gas by<br />
means of separator systems at the surface. After<br />
being processed, the production water is reinjected<br />
into the original reservoir. Other waste water is<br />
produced in construction and operation of cavern<br />
storage facilities, during cleaning work and in treating<br />
water. Apart from that, there is also sanitary waste<br />
water; however, this only accounts for a relatively<br />
small proportion of the total amount of waste water.<br />
Sanitary waste water is cleaned and disposed of<br />
sensibly at locations where Wintershall is not connected<br />
to the public sewerage system.<br />
Wietingsmoor in Germany after recultivation
INSIGHTS.<br />
RECULTIvATION OF DRILLING MUD PITS.<br />
Drilling waste such as drilling fluids and cuttings<br />
used to be stored in pits. Today drilling fluids are<br />
partially reused or removed in accordance with<br />
regulations; drill cuttings are cleaned and then<br />
disposed of accordingly.<br />
Wintershall has been cleaning and renaturalizing<br />
pits in Bohlsen, Emlichheim, Eydelstedt and Wietingsmoor<br />
in an environmentally and landscape-friendly<br />
way since 2003. The deposited drilling mud is processed<br />
according to its nature and composition,<br />
and secured or recycled and disposed of at the<br />
relevant plants. The entire process is accompanied<br />
by extensive examinations. They include controlling<br />
the material to be disposed of, as well as the groundwater<br />
and the earth used to restore the areas.<br />
In Bohlsen new breeding and living grounds for a<br />
multitude of birds, endangered plants and insects<br />
was created by rehabilitation of an area of approximately<br />
24,000 m². After being cleaned up, the areas<br />
at the Eydelstedt and Wietingsmoor sites were filled<br />
with topsoil and ownership of them handed back<br />
with a view to reusing them for agriculture.<br />
Mud disposal pit<br />
Wietingsmoor<br />
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL IN STORAGE<br />
CONSTRUCTION.<br />
Wintershall’s subsidiary WINGAS ensures it meets<br />
the needs both of cost-effectiveness and protection<br />
of the environment during the construction of a<br />
cavern storage facility at jemgum in Germany.<br />
Because of its massive underground salt domes,<br />
the area around jemgum is particularly well suited<br />
to storing natural gas. The cavern storage facilities<br />
there are large cylindrical cavities in the salt layers<br />
that have been flushed out with water. The gas is<br />
then stored securely in the salt formation deep<br />
underground. So that caverns can be produced in<br />
a salt dome, however, water must first be fed deep<br />
into the site and then the brine, i.e. the water containing<br />
the dissolved rock salt, must be pumped<br />
back out of the cavity that has been formed.<br />
The project is conducted subject to strict environmental<br />
protection requirements. The fresh water<br />
used to flush out the caverns is not extracted by<br />
suction, but gravity-fed from the Ems so as to<br />
avoid any detrimental impact on the river’s fish. A<br />
means of minimizing the effects on the ecology was<br />
found by discharging the salt water produced in<br />
forming the caverns into the North Sea at Rysum<br />
just over 40 kilometers away. The original planning<br />
and approval envisaged discharge of brine into the<br />
Ems at nearby Ditzum.<br />
In discharging the brine into the North Sea, WINGAS<br />
strictly adheres to the statutory thresholds, which<br />
are controlled by an extensive monitoring program<br />
with the supervision and collaboration of the public<br />
authorities.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
30/31<br />
IN HARMONY WITH THE ENvIRONMENT –<br />
CONSTRUCTION PROjECTS.<br />
The Wintershall Group invests intensively in finding,<br />
producing and transporting crude oil and natural<br />
gas. Europe is increasingly dependent on commodity<br />
imports for securing its energy supply. The<br />
Wintershall subsidiaries WINGAS and WINGAS<br />
TRANSPORT alone are planning to expand the<br />
European natural gas infrastructure significantly<br />
with investments of around three billion euros by<br />
2015. The investments are mostly earmarked for the<br />
expansion of the transport system as well as the<br />
construction of new natural gas storage facilities<br />
in Europe. The Nord Stream natural gas pipeline<br />
through the Baltic Sea and its pipeline links OPAL<br />
and NEL are set to make a major contribution to<br />
transporting natural gas to Europe in future.<br />
Some of the construction projects extend across<br />
national borders and also cross numerous countryside<br />
areas. Accomplishing such large projects is a<br />
major logistical feat and demands a high degree of<br />
expertise when it comes to minimizing their ecological<br />
impact. The goal, as required by law, is to avoid<br />
spoiling the natural world and its proper functioning,<br />
ensure that it can still be used, and prevent any<br />
impairment to the flora and fauna. In addition, the<br />
group undertakes many more measures – some<br />
of them unusual – to protect the countryside to<br />
an extent above and beyond that required by law.<br />
Landscaping and nature conservation are important<br />
elements at all phases of the projects.<br />
CARE OF THE LANDSCAPE<br />
DURING PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION.<br />
Planning and building natural gas pipelines demand<br />
a large number of tasks and requirements. Especially<br />
the construction in terrain with difficult tectonics requires<br />
experience and know-how. The company’s<br />
experience in constructing pipelines enables it to<br />
live up to its responsibility for the environment and<br />
nature. The planning of a gas pipeline route takes<br />
into account ecologically valuable areas and infrastructure<br />
elements, such as transportation routes<br />
and built-up areas, as well as the supply security<br />
of the region concerned. This means that pipelines<br />
do not always take the shortest route, but the one<br />
that makes the most sense for the requirements of<br />
the population and the environment.<br />
Route planning is geared to nature conservation<br />
areas and the ecological conditions of the landscape.<br />
Protective measures, such as pressing<br />
pipes below rivers and streams, are defined in close<br />
collaboration with the landscape authorities, environmental<br />
offices and experts for environmental and<br />
landscape planning. The company’s building supervisors<br />
are supported from an ecological aspect in<br />
the implementation of tree protection measures,<br />
limiting working strips, and regulating working<br />
hours to protect birds’ breeding seasons. The fertile<br />
topsoil is removed and stored on the side before<br />
construction work begins. When the natural gas<br />
pipeline has been buried in the trench and is ready<br />
for operation, the trench is refilled with the soil that<br />
was previously removed. After work on the route<br />
has been completed, the beds of waterways are<br />
restored using formerly removed river gravel and their<br />
banks are renaturalized. The ground used for the<br />
construction site will be recultivated and loosened;<br />
trees and bushes will be planted. Meadows and<br />
arable land, as well as areas with trees and shrubs,<br />
are restored. Around a year after a gas pipeline has<br />
been laid, there are virtually no signs that there<br />
used to be a construction site. Development and<br />
care of the replanted areas continues for at least<br />
three years. The company also guarantees aftercare<br />
for all areas affected by pipeline construction<br />
after this period. Eventually, the fact that there is<br />
a pipeline can only be recognized by the yellow<br />
poles protruding from the ground every 100 to<br />
500 meters.
OFFSHORE ENvIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.<br />
The North Sea has been one of the world’s most<br />
important hydrocarbon production regions for<br />
decades. Wintershall itself has been involved in<br />
producing natural gas there since 1965 and operates<br />
26 platforms in its southern part. It also has<br />
offshore activities in Argentina and Libya. The expansion<br />
of offshore expertise is generally gaining<br />
importance in the exploration and production of<br />
oil and gas, and the company applies this expertise<br />
to its activities in other regions of the world.<br />
Wintershall Noordzee is based in Rijswijk near<br />
The Hague, and is home to the corporate-wide<br />
competence center for offshore technology.<br />
RECYCLING OFFSHORE pLATFORMS<br />
The conditions for producing oil and gas at sea<br />
are challenging. A production platform must be<br />
equipped to cope with the wind, weather, heavy<br />
seas, water quality and much, much more. The<br />
average service life of a platform is approximately<br />
25 years. After this they are usually disassembled<br />
and scrapped. Wintershall has now logically and<br />
beneficially combined ecology and economy in this<br />
area with the conversion and modernization of two<br />
platforms in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.<br />
In addition to natural gas production platform<br />
L5-C, E18-A has also been completely converted<br />
and modernized so that it can be moved on and<br />
produces elsewhere. The conversion of the old<br />
platforms saves costs, time and material compared<br />
to a completely new construction, as a large part<br />
of the installations can be reused.<br />
The predecessor to the E18-A platform, p14-A,<br />
was built in 1993, later dismantled at its location<br />
in the Dutch sector of the North Sea and towed<br />
to a shipyard in Rotterdam. The platform’s body,<br />
with its several decks and a helipad, were completely<br />
reconditioned and modernized at a yard<br />
in Ridderkerk. Reuse of a large part of the p14-A<br />
platform meant that 500 tons of steel and a considerable<br />
amount of energy – around 2.5 million<br />
kWh – were saved. The E18-A was equipped<br />
solely with electric generators to minimize emissions.<br />
A supply line to the adjacent F16-A provides<br />
the E18-A with electricity and operating resources<br />
and enables data to be transferred. As a result, it<br />
was possible to reduce the number of visits to the<br />
platform, which meant fewer helicopter flights and<br />
ship transports, hence reducing emissions.<br />
MITTELpLATE<br />
The Mittelplate platform in the UNESCO world<br />
cultural heritage site of the Wattenmeer in<br />
Schleswig-Holstein is the only oil producing<br />
facility operated from German waters. New and<br />
innovative technical solutions were necessary<br />
to develop the crude oil reserves at Mittelplate<br />
safely and ecologically. The 70 by 95 meter platform<br />
was built on the tidelands of the Mittelplate<br />
and protected on the sea side by a liquid-tight<br />
concrete-and-steel basin with sheet pile walls<br />
of eleven meters in height, so that there can be<br />
no uncontrolled discharges or seepage from it.<br />
Drilling and production operations are protected<br />
by sophisticated monitoring and control systems<br />
that provide multiple safeguards. Subsurface and<br />
surface safety valves can be activated automatically,<br />
manually and by remote control. Finally,<br />
laying a pipeline to the Dieksand land-based<br />
station eliminated the need for around 2,000 ship<br />
movements to remove the crude oil in doublehulled<br />
vessels.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT
32/33<br />
SOCIAL<br />
RESPONSIBILITY.<br />
Conceive cultural differences as enrichment. Discover that our shared values outweigh our differences.<br />
This is why Wintershall’s international operations not only produce crude oil and natural gas, but also<br />
foster contact between people. Sponsoring cultural and social projects is not a luxury for Wintershall,<br />
but an expression of its social commitment and active steps to enhance the quality of life.
HUMAN RIGHTS.<br />
The Wintershall Group respects human rights and,<br />
as a responsible company, supports observance<br />
and promotion of them.<br />
In its economic activity, Wintershall sees itself as an<br />
attractive employer, dependable partner and good<br />
neighbor that nurtures the development of friendly,<br />
open and respectful relationships and mutual understanding<br />
between nations.<br />
Our employees’ working conditions worldwide<br />
comply at the minimum with basic international<br />
labor standards and the law of the countries where<br />
we operate. That includes preventing child and<br />
forced labor, upholding the principle of non-discrimination<br />
at work and the right to freedom of assembly<br />
and association.<br />
INSIGHTS.<br />
As a company which has operations around the<br />
world and employs more than 2,000 people from<br />
over 40 nations, we experience the enriching power<br />
of exchange across cultural borders daily and<br />
have promoted it for years at the international level.<br />
We feel connected to the regions in which our<br />
company operates. In addition to our cultural commitment,<br />
we also focus on helping people in need.<br />
Where we have activities, Wintershall sees itself as<br />
a neighbor who helps out when needed.<br />
Our employees have lent a helping hand in providing<br />
sports clothing and school uniforms for 30<br />
learners in the Cañadón-Asfalto Basin in Southern<br />
Patagonia, organizing computers and printers for a<br />
neighboring hospital or through supporting a public<br />
kitchen run by Caritas in Tierra del Fuego together<br />
with our partner Total.<br />
In North Africa, Wintershall Libya helped build a<br />
school and renovate a nursery school in jakhira.<br />
The company also gives support to regional festivals,<br />
public institutions and events for the workforce and<br />
the population of the region. When the mosque on<br />
the premises of Wintershall Libya became too small<br />
for the large number of local employees, the company<br />
had a new, bigger one built in 2004. Under<br />
Wintershall is also committed to fundamental values<br />
derived from its corporate philosophy: success,<br />
innovation, increasing value added, health and environmental<br />
protection, safety, intercultural competence,<br />
mutual respect, open dialogue and a high<br />
level of integrity. These values are defined in guidelines<br />
that are applied in our daily activities. That is<br />
because every single Wintershall employee acts as<br />
a role model and contributes to the company’s<br />
success with his or her actions.<br />
Wintershall engages in many cultural and social<br />
projects worldwide in the regions where it operates.<br />
CORPORATE NEIGHBORSHIP.<br />
the supervision of a Libyan engineer, between 15<br />
and 20 employees of a local construction company<br />
worked for five months on the new Omar Ben Al<br />
Khatab mosque. The mosque has been officially<br />
recognized and registered by the relevant authority.<br />
An imam has been appointed, who now calls the<br />
faithful to prayer every Friday.<br />
In Turkmenistan, Wintershall has helped equip a<br />
hospital room to Western standards.<br />
With the assistance of Wintershall’s subsidiary<br />
WINGAS, a home for blind and visually impaired<br />
children in Russia was connected to the public gas<br />
network, electricity lines and water pipes were renovated<br />
and the buildings were expanded. Picture<br />
books and games specially designed for visually<br />
impaired and blind children were also donated.<br />
We have also by now established a tradition of not<br />
giving Christmas presents to customers and business<br />
partners. Instead, we support charities and<br />
humanitarian organizations in Germany and our<br />
operating regions. In recent years, for example, we<br />
have given to schools, homes for children, and an<br />
SOS Children’s village, as well as to voluntary organizations<br />
and facilities for promoting the young.<br />
SOCIAL RESpONSIBILITY
34/35<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Performance<br />
<strong>2010</strong>
36/37<br />
HEALTH AND SAFETY<br />
<strong>2010</strong>
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS<br />
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY.<br />
<strong>2010</strong> was a success story for Wintershall in terms of the occupational safety of its own employees. There<br />
were no lost time injuries (LTIs) among our own employees. However, contractors suffered three fatal injuries<br />
(FAT) and six lost time injuries. The severity of the contractor accidents led the company to critically review<br />
its safety regulations and derive suitable measures to avoid such incidents in future.<br />
<strong>WINTERSHALL</strong> / WINGAS CONTRACTORS<br />
2009 <strong>2010</strong> 2009 <strong>2010</strong><br />
Number of employees* 2,077 2,164 - -<br />
Fatal accidents (FAT) 0 0 0 3<br />
Incident with > 1 day lost time (LTI) 3 0 8 6<br />
Lost time incident frequency rate<br />
per one million man hours (LTIF) 0.65 0 1.68 1.01<br />
The statistical data on its own employees’ performance<br />
demonstrates that Wintershall was able to<br />
surpass its achievements of the previous year. For<br />
own employees the <strong>2010</strong> frequency (LTIF) was zero,<br />
the internal targets were therefore met. Despite an<br />
increase in the overall incidents witnessed in <strong>2010</strong>,<br />
the LTIF rate for contractors declined from 1.68 in<br />
2009 to 1.01 in <strong>2010</strong>. This has to be attributed to<br />
the increase in working hours performed by 42 %<br />
in comparison to the 2009 data. Following the severe<br />
accidents in <strong>2010</strong>, specific prevention measures<br />
were derived during the course of the accident<br />
investigation. The increase in working hours can be<br />
attributed to the construction of the OPAL pipeline<br />
and the jemgum storage facility by WINGAS and<br />
increased exploration activities in Norway, qatar<br />
and Mauretania.<br />
The increase in accidents during contractor activities<br />
can be partly attributed to an increased demand<br />
for experts in the past years. This has had a negative<br />
effect on the qualifications and especially on<br />
experience of personnel, which directly influences<br />
safety performance. Wintershall is working with its<br />
partners to reestablish the high level of training in<br />
the oil and gas industry. We will systematically<br />
apply the contractor management methods we<br />
have developed so that external companies meet<br />
the requirements we have set out.<br />
*Excluding temporary employees; part-time employees pro rata.<br />
The WINGAS Group has derived specific measures<br />
from the investigations into the severe incidents<br />
which occurred in <strong>2010</strong>. They include an external<br />
review of the safety concept, the obligation to submit<br />
applications for all activities at construction sites<br />
outside the agreed working time, monitoring of<br />
compliance by means of helicopter flights over sites,<br />
random checks, including at weekends, and training<br />
and specially tailored courses for different trades.<br />
The goal in 2011 is to avoid any type of accident.<br />
With enhanced standards and even more commitment,<br />
we are working to continuously improve the<br />
high level of safety and our performance.<br />
We are constantly striving to improve the companywide<br />
health, safety and environment management<br />
system (WINS). This is supported by intensive experience<br />
exchange and dialogue between experts<br />
from the Operating Companies (OPCOs) and Business<br />
Units (BUs) at Wintershall’s global locations<br />
and our involvement in committees of the International<br />
Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP)<br />
and the industry association Erdöl- und Erdgasgewinnung<br />
e. v. (WEG).<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
38/39<br />
SAFETY <strong>2010</strong><br />
AT A GLANCE.<br />
WORLDWIDE: REvIEW OF SAFETY STANDARDS<br />
IN OFFSHORE PRODUCTION.<br />
The Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico<br />
had serious consequences for the environment.<br />
The impact of the blowout, which was caused by<br />
the failure of various safety systems, was also exacerbated<br />
by the fact that the platform was located<br />
in waters that are 1,500 meters in depth, leading<br />
to the blowout being considerably more difficult to<br />
control. The E&P industry has responded to the<br />
event by conducting extensive reviews of the existing<br />
safety systems applied in offshore production. An<br />
industry-wide working group set up by the International<br />
Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP)<br />
reviewed the course of the incident and the underlying<br />
causes. The objective of the review was to<br />
reassess the systems currently applied and adapt<br />
procedures where required.<br />
Even though Wintershall itself does not operate any<br />
deep-sea drilling activities, the findings from investigation<br />
report were closely monitored. In order to<br />
improve safety in drilling operations further, the<br />
potential relevance of the courses of events and<br />
failed barriers were assessed. In drilling wells and<br />
producing hydrocarbons, Wintershall adheres to<br />
the very highest standards of environmental protection<br />
and safety. At the same time Wintershall is<br />
constantly seeking opportunities to improve the<br />
safety of existing technologies. A task force was<br />
established in <strong>2010</strong> to implement learning points<br />
and optimize existing processes further.<br />
GERMANY: FIRE DRILL AT THE REHDEN<br />
NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY.<br />
In the fall of <strong>2010</strong>, Wintershall invited safety experts<br />
to attend a drill for a major incident at the natural<br />
gas storage facility in Rehden. During the annual<br />
fire drill, around 60 field personnel from Wintershall<br />
and BASF plant fire services, as well as local volunteer<br />
fire fighters, trained for various scenarios in Rehden.<br />
Additionally safety experts from the Gazprom subsidiary<br />
Gazobezopasnost, from Gazprom export,<br />
Achimgaz and Severneftegazprom observed the<br />
drill for the first time.<br />
During the exercise, a task was to bring an ignited<br />
gas outlet under control at a wellhead. Together<br />
with the volunteer fire fighters, the Wintershall plant<br />
fire service demonstrated various extinguishing<br />
techniques and a personnel rescue maneuver in<br />
front of almost a hundred guests. The Ludwigshafen<br />
BASF plant fire service’s most modern service vehicle,<br />
the turbo extinguisher, played a central role<br />
in the fire drill. The turbo extinguisher is equipped<br />
with two aircraft turbines, and water or foam is fed<br />
into their jet wash. Through this, the special vehicle<br />
generates a fine mist which prevents flames and<br />
escaping gas from spreading. Thus, one hundred<br />
percent of water-soluble gases can be washed out<br />
of the atmosphere. Up to 8,000 liters of water per<br />
minute can be reduced to a fine spray and sprinkled<br />
over an area of up to 3,500 square meters from a<br />
distance of 150 meters.<br />
Fire drill in Rehden (Germany)
GERMANY: MICROTUNNEL – WORKING IN COM-<br />
PRESSED AIR CONDITIONS.<br />
The Baltic Sea Pipeline Link (OPAL) will pass below<br />
the River Peene via a microtunnel that was drilled<br />
in a depth of up to 25 meters. This method was<br />
chosen to protect the sensitive countryside and<br />
surrounding nature reserve. A tunneling machine<br />
with a diameter of three meters was used to drill a<br />
tunnel from the entry pit to the exit pit 1,000 meters<br />
away. As the machine advanced, 4-meter concrete<br />
segments were inserted in the tunnel. At the completion<br />
of the tunnel, the pipes for OPAL, which had been<br />
welded together beforehand, were drawn in.<br />
The discovery of a granite erratic boulder of around<br />
three meters in diameter after 650 meters of drilling<br />
resulted in the cutting tools having to be replaced<br />
on the drill head at a depth of around 22 meters.<br />
The position below groundwater level was a<br />
challenge. Due to the prevailing conditions in the<br />
subsoil, the tool had to be replaced with the front<br />
section of the tunnel pressurized using compressed<br />
air. This ensured stability, enabled access and prevented<br />
an excessive influx of groundwater. Extensive<br />
sealing work for the tunnel and surface were<br />
necessary to make the working area air-tight. The<br />
pressure at the drill head was 2.3 bars, equivalent<br />
to that when diving at a depth of 20 meters. Consequently,<br />
special compressed air equipment was<br />
needed to ensure safe working conditions and<br />
minimize the physical strain and stress. The technicians<br />
worked in three shifts, each lasting 2.5<br />
hours; it also took around 3 hours to prepare the<br />
workers for the face and another 3 hours to return<br />
them to the surface in a compression chamber.<br />
The entire work program was supervised by an<br />
occupational physician and coordinated by a team<br />
of professional divers.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
40/41<br />
RUSSIA: STC –<br />
WORKING HAND-IN-HAND FOR SAFETY.<br />
Over the past few years, the successful collaboration<br />
between Wintershall and Gazprom along the entire<br />
value creation chain – from the wellhead in Siberia<br />
to the customer in Europe – has been expanded<br />
systematically to other important areas for both<br />
companies. Wintershall and the Gazprom safety<br />
experts have been working together regularly since<br />
2008. The goal is to develop the skills and safety<br />
know-how of their field personnel when it comes to<br />
rectifying damage, improve coordinated interaction<br />
between them and test new protective equipment<br />
and devices. Following joint safety drills in Astrakhan,<br />
Russia, and in Rehden, Germany, further projects<br />
are planned for 2011.<br />
LIBYA: vEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM FOR<br />
THE DESERT.<br />
Under challenging climatic conditions Wintershall<br />
produces oil in Libya. In <strong>2010</strong>, Wintershall Libya<br />
equipped its vehicle fleet and an aircraft with a<br />
satellite-based positioning system to enable rapid<br />
localization of vehicles in the desert, where full<br />
coverage by mobile communications and vHF radio<br />
is not possible. The vehicle tracking system enables<br />
vehicles to be tracked down quickly and easily, even<br />
in remote areas, and can navigate teams to their<br />
location if need be. It can be operated from anywhere<br />
in the world.<br />
Exploration in Norway<br />
NORWAY: ADAPTING TO GROWTH.<br />
Wintershall is one of the biggest licensees in Norway,<br />
holding more than 40 licenses and over 20 operatorships.<br />
The company plans to invest more than one<br />
billion euros in this region by 2015 and has discovered<br />
highly promising reserves off the Norwegian coast.<br />
In <strong>2010</strong>, Wintershall Norge and its consortium partners<br />
conducted numerous audits of their contractors<br />
and drilling rig operators to ensure compliance with<br />
the <strong>HSE</strong> standards. Areas such as health and safety<br />
management, environmental protection, maintenance<br />
and repair and emergency management<br />
were audited.<br />
Due to the continuous expansion of its activities in<br />
Norway, Wintershall Norge also pressed ahead<br />
with adapting the existing management system to<br />
changing conditions. One project team is developing<br />
a business management system integrating the<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> quality management system. Both employees<br />
and contractors are to be given access to the webbased<br />
system.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS<br />
HEALTH PROTECTION.<br />
As in 2009, no employee of Wintershall suffered from an occupational disease in <strong>2010</strong>. Together with <strong>HSE</strong><br />
experts, company physicians at the individual locations and Business Units analyze working areas in order<br />
to minimize the risks to employees’ health in their activities. The working conditions in exploration, production<br />
and administration are of a very high standard. A total of 53 plant inspections to check standards were<br />
conducted. Beside this, numerous workplace inspections were performed by the management according<br />
to the requirements of the <strong>HSE</strong> Management System.<br />
In order to ensure that emergency first aid can be administered, there are 557 first aiders who hold a nationally<br />
recognized certificate in first aid at the Wintershall Group’s locations.<br />
501 medical examinations relating to prevention or early screening for work-related diseases and to prepare<br />
staff for travels abroad were conducted worldwide in <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
HEALTH PROTECTION <strong>2010</strong> AT A GLANCE.<br />
Keeping healthy is not only a question of ensuring<br />
that operating facilities are technically safe.<br />
Health consciousness, and the will of each and<br />
every one of us to promote health and safety and<br />
to communicate this issue, is of crucial importance.<br />
Wintershall therefore believes it is vital to give its<br />
employees up-to-date information on important<br />
health concerns. Wintershall staged a campaign<br />
under the slogan “avoid bowel cancer” in <strong>2010</strong>. It<br />
was specifically aimed at providing information on<br />
this form of cancer and measures to prevent it.<br />
Specialist doctors and nutritionists explained the<br />
illness and ways it might be prevented. Around two<br />
hundred employees took part in free early screening<br />
at the headquarters in Kassel.<br />
Wintershall offers its employees regular vaccination<br />
against influenza – a service that was also taken up<br />
by many in <strong>2010</strong>. In addition, company physicians<br />
provide employees assigned abroad with intensive<br />
health advice and services before they travel. That<br />
includes health information on the country they are<br />
traveling to, as well as administering the vaccinations<br />
required there.<br />
An emergency can strike anybody. The persons<br />
affected often only have a chance of survival if<br />
immediate measures are put into effect. Above all,<br />
it is vital to know what to do in emergencies. That<br />
is why Wintershall gives its employees the opportunity<br />
to take part in first-aid courses. Wintershall<br />
and WINGAS also encourage staff to take part in<br />
courses for company first aiders held by the German<br />
Red Cross. The company registers the employees<br />
for courses and also assumes the costs.<br />
Donating blood can also save life. In <strong>2010</strong>, two<br />
blood donation drives were organized at the headquarters<br />
in Kassel and almost 100 employees took<br />
part in them.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
42/43<br />
ENvIRONMENTAL PROTECTION<br />
<strong>2010</strong>
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS<br />
ENvIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.<br />
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF SE, Wintershall is committed to the Responsible Care Initiative. In<br />
accordance with BASF’s Responsible Care <strong>Report</strong>ing Guidelines, environmental emissions relating to<br />
the production of crude oil and natural gas are reported as a ratio of Wintershall’s participating interest in<br />
the consortium in question. As a member of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP),<br />
Wintershall has reported its environmental emissions in exploration and production as part of the OGP’s<br />
“Environmental Performance in the E&P Industry” report since 2006.<br />
ENERGY.<br />
We use electrical energy to produce, process and transport crude oil and natural gas, for example to drive<br />
pumps and compressors, as well as thermal energy in the form of steam to produce oil. Depending on the<br />
location of our production sites relative to the supply networks, we obtain electricity from the public grid or<br />
produce it ourselves at remote locations.<br />
In <strong>2010</strong> we used a total of 977,742 MWh in electrical energy, an additional 4,260 Mio. MWh energy for<br />
production processes and 511,514 tonnes of steam for our processes.<br />
The use and generation of energy are subject to continuous improvement regarding efficient energy use.<br />
Examples are the commissioning of a highly efficient combined heat and power generation (CHP) plant at<br />
our Emlichheim location in Germany and installation of a system to enable use of exhaust heat at a gas<br />
turbine generator plant in Nakhla in Libya. In addition, Wintershall is testing generation of wind and solar<br />
power in a pilot project in the Libyan Desert with the aim of obtaining an energy-efficient electricity supply<br />
for remote facilities.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
44/45<br />
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.<br />
Emissions released into the air are regularly controlled and recorded in accordance with statutory stipulations<br />
and our own standards. Apart from greenhouse gas emissions, we also ascertain emissions of air pollutants.<br />
They include inorganic gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (as NO ² ) and sulfur dioxide<br />
(as SO ² ). Apart from carbon dioxide (CO ² ), nitrous oxide (NOx) and methane (CH 4), no other greenhouse<br />
gases are emitted by Wintershall.<br />
Wintershall was able to cut greenhouse gas emissions last year by 11 percent compared with 2009.<br />
Production operations at Wintershall and WINGAS accounted for total emissions of 1.37 million tonnes of<br />
CO ² (2009: 1.67 million) and 3,318 tonnes of CH 4 (2009: 5,940) in <strong>2010</strong>. Relative to Wintershall’s production<br />
of crude oil, natural gas and condensate, the specific emission is 0.08 tonnes of CO ² /toe (2009: 0.08).<br />
Methane losses in gas production in <strong>2010</strong> were around 0.024 percent of the total quantity of natural gas<br />
produced.<br />
source oF co ² emissions co ² emissions 2009 (t) co ² emissions <strong>2010</strong> (t)<br />
Production processes 1,507,838 828,579<br />
Indirect (import/export of electricity/steam) 46,814 79,715<br />
Direct (electricity and steam production) 123,079 465,135<br />
source of ch 4 emissions ch 4 emissions in (t) 2009 ch 4 emissions in (t) <strong>2010</strong><br />
Production, undifferentiated 5,940 3,318<br />
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is mainly attributable to rigorous measures to improve energy<br />
efficiency, such as commissioning of a CHP plant to produce electricity at Emlichheim, lower emissions in<br />
the Netherlands and further implementation of the No Flaring Policy. Of the produced associated gas 95 %<br />
is used to the date.<br />
FOR AN ENvIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FUTURE: NATURAL GAS.<br />
Natural gas stands out among fossil fuels on account of its high energy efficiency and favorable environmental<br />
properties. When natural gas is burned, it gives off mainly CO ² and water vapor. Sulfur and nitrogen<br />
are found only in low concentrations. Far fewer greenhouse gases and dust particles are emitted compared<br />
to other fossil fuels.<br />
During transportation process from the production field to the customer, natural gas sometimes travels<br />
several thousand kilometers through pipelines. The gas has to be compressed at regular intervals in compressor<br />
stations in order to compensate for the pressure loss caused by friction at the interior pipe wall.<br />
Electric, gas and steam turbines are used to drive the compressors. virtually sulfur-free natural gas is used<br />
as fuel for the gas turbines.
CO ² -EMISSIONS TRADING IN GERMANY.<br />
In <strong>2010</strong>, WINGAS TRANSPORT’s natural gas compressor stations in Mallnow, Olbernhau, Rückersdorf,<br />
Eischleben, Reckrod, Lippe and Haiming, WINGAS’ natural gas storage facility in Rehden and Wintershall’s<br />
CHP and steam flooding plants in Emlichheim as well as two Wintershall platforms in the Netherlands were<br />
required to participate in the emissions trading scheme. In <strong>2010</strong>, the German Emissions Trading Agency<br />
(DEHSt) allotted our plants 744,624 EU allowances (EUA/a). Our German plants that are required to trade<br />
emissions emitted a total of 447,628 tonnes of CO ² in <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Wintershall is currently preparing for the 3rd emissions trading period from 2013 to 2020. It is necessary to<br />
reapply for the EU allowances for this period. In addition, allowances for the OPAL natural gas transfer<br />
station, which is currently under construction in Lubmin, and the new OPAL gas compressor station at<br />
Radeland must be applied for from the Emissions Trading Agency.<br />
EMISSIONS OF OTHER SUBSTANCES.<br />
Fossil sources of energy, such as natural gas, heating oil or diesel, which emit various substances into the air<br />
during their thermal conversion, are used in some cases for power generation and production at our locations.<br />
Emissions of inorganic substances fell by 1,621 tonnes in <strong>2010</strong>. Measures to increase energy efficiency,<br />
improved utilization of associated gas and lower energy requirements are among the reasons for this.<br />
inorgAnic substAnces emissions 2009 (t) emissions <strong>2010</strong> (t)<br />
Total inorganic substances 4,586 2,965<br />
Carbon monoxide (CO) 2,005 1,033<br />
Nitrogen oxides (NO ) as NO x ²<br />
2,276 1,678<br />
Sulfur oxides (SO<br />
²<br />
+SO<br />
³<br />
) as SO<br />
²<br />
Organic substances<br />
305 254<br />
Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMvOC)<br />
Other substances<br />
2,375 2,015<br />
Particulate matter 20 30<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
46/47<br />
WASTE MANAGEMENT.<br />
Waste is classified, stored, handled, transported<br />
and disposed of in accordance with the applicable<br />
legislation of the country in question. In this respect<br />
Wintershall follows international and own standards.<br />
Waste is classified into the categories “hazardous<br />
waste” and “non-hazardous waste” according to<br />
EU regulations.<br />
In <strong>2010</strong> Wintershall incurred 61,268 tonnes of waste<br />
(2009: 185,095). 29,505 tonnes were hazardous<br />
waste (2009: 150,122) and 31,763 tonnes nonhazardous<br />
waste (2009: 34,973).<br />
83 % of the waste was disposed of at approved<br />
dumps. Around 8 % was recycled or subjected to<br />
thermal recovery, approximately 4 % was disposed<br />
of in waste incinerators and 5 % was disposed of<br />
properly in other ways. The volume of waste declined<br />
in comparison to the previous year due to<br />
completion of the recultivation at the used drilling<br />
mud pit at Wietingsmoor.<br />
WATER MANAGEMENT.<br />
A total of 9.5 million cubic meters of water were<br />
used in <strong>2010</strong> (2009: 9.8 million), most of which –<br />
8.5 million m³ (2009: 9.6 million) – was accounted for<br />
by production water. Some 6.55 million cubic meters<br />
of production waster were reinjected into the reservoirs<br />
after being separated from the crude oil and<br />
natural gas at the surface. Production water from<br />
our offshore platforms totaled 1.97 million m³ and,<br />
after being cleaned, was discharged into the sea in<br />
compliance with the statutory threshold limits.<br />
There were also 152,210 cubic meters of sanitary<br />
waste water and 758,322 cubic meters of other<br />
waste water. A total of 501,332 m³ was fed to waste<br />
water treatment facilities.<br />
old oak saved
ENvIRONMENTAL PROTECTION<br />
<strong>2010</strong> AT A GLANCE.<br />
WINGAS: COMPENSATION FOR OPAL.<br />
As compensation for land-use through construction of the Baltic Sea Pipeline Link (OPAL), a multi million<br />
euro sum is being invested to expand, maintain and care for areas of ecological value. In Brandenburg<br />
alone, some 280 hectares have been converted into semi-natural biotopes, including reforestation of an<br />
area of just under 90 hectares. The diversity of heathlands is to be fostered over around 40 hectares,<br />
while a further 40 hectares will be turned into forest monocultures. In addition, hedges and tree rows<br />
will be planted, wetland biotopes created and the renaturation of watercourses supported.<br />
WINGAS SOMETIMES TAKES A DETOUR IN CONSTRUCTING PIPELINES.<br />
In order to protect an oak at least 200 years old and with a diameter of 1.6 meters that was in the<br />
planned path of OPAL, the gas pipeline was diverted around the tree and the adjacent small pond.<br />
WINGAS: ECO GAS WITH A POSITIvE CO ² BALANCE.<br />
Since October <strong>2010</strong>, Wintershall’s subsidiary WINGAS has been offering eco gas, i.e. CO ² -neutral<br />
natural gas. As a result, customers can completely offset the greenhouse gases emitted during the<br />
burning process. The emissions are compensated by CO ² reductions in climate protection projects.<br />
The projects are chosen in accordance with strict international quality criteria, such as those of the<br />
Gold Standard. These are accepted by environmental organizations like the WWF. The certificates,<br />
which are acknowledged and inspected by independent bodies such as the UN Climate Secretariat in<br />
Bonn, are purchased by WINGAS and then taken off the market and deleted. The emission-reducing<br />
processes are regularly monitored by recognized organizations such as Germany’s technical inspection<br />
association TÜv.<br />
WINGAS: BIOGAS IN THE PORTFOLIO.<br />
WINGAS’ eco gas portfolio is also complemented by biogas. WINGAS cooperates with farmers who<br />
supply the company with biogas under long-term contracts. Mixing in biogas can further improve natural<br />
gas’ excellent CO ² values. In accordance with the Federal German Government’s targets, by 2020, six<br />
billion cubic meters of biogas are to be fed into the German natural gas pipeline network each year.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
48/49<br />
NETHERLANDS: <strong>WINTERSHALL</strong> NOORDzEE<br />
CERTIFIED TO ISO 14001.<br />
In june <strong>2010</strong>, Wintershall Noordzee’s <strong>HSE</strong> management<br />
system was recertified in accordance with the<br />
international environmental standard ISO 14001 for<br />
the third time after 2005 and 2007. This requires<br />
the company to have a defined environmental policy,<br />
environmental objectives and a management<br />
system that helps achieve the objectives. These<br />
criteria are met by Wintershall Noordzee with its<br />
system. This is geared toward constant control<br />
and improvement of the company’s environmental<br />
balance.<br />
LIBYA: ABSORBENT TO HELP SAvE WATER.<br />
The company has planted over a hundred palms<br />
and mango, orange and other citrus trees for test<br />
purposes in the Nakhla treatment facility in the<br />
middle of the Sahara as part of testing the absorbent<br />
Luquasorb from BASF. If the test goes<br />
well, the absorbent will be passed on to the local<br />
settlements in the area, so that they can use it to<br />
reduce their agricultural water consumption. Four<br />
kilograms of absorbent are mixed with sand per palm<br />
and incorporated in the root area. The absorbent<br />
sucks up the water into a gel to prevent it from<br />
seeping away or evaporating quickly. A new water<br />
treatment plant is also being built. This cleaned water<br />
will then be used to water the plants and trees.<br />
LIBYA: POWER FROM SUN AND WIND ENERGY<br />
WITH CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION.<br />
A further model project in Libya, which has been<br />
running since early <strong>2010</strong>, will examine whether installations<br />
outside the central production facilities,<br />
such as camps, measuring points and pumps,<br />
can be independently supplied with power from<br />
sun and wind energy. Under desert conditions<br />
the power generated from wind in the project is<br />
compared to the output of a photovoltaic system.<br />
The effects are not limited to savings in fossil fuel<br />
consumption – greenhouse gas emissions are also<br />
reduced.<br />
Libya
qATAR: SAFETY DRILL AND INFORMATION<br />
EvENT HELD.<br />
In <strong>2010</strong>, an initial exploration well was drilled in the<br />
Khuff formation in the western part of exploration<br />
block 4N in qatar. Extensive safety measures were<br />
taken in advance to avoid oil spills. As protection,<br />
Wintershall has concluded service agreements in<br />
qatar with a specialist emergency organization that<br />
keeps safety equipment available on an escort ship<br />
stationed alongside the well. The drillship’s crew<br />
practiced using the equipment in an emergency<br />
exercise. Wintershall is also involved in block 3 in<br />
qatar. Following the first 3D seismic investigations<br />
in <strong>2010</strong>, exploration wells are planned in the coming<br />
years. Before the seismic campaign, Wintershall’s<br />
contractor Western Geco held an information event<br />
for local fishers in order to avoid disruptions for all<br />
parties involved.<br />
RUSSIA: GREEN OFFICE CAMPAIGN.<br />
It is only now that Russians are slowly becoming<br />
aware about environmental protection and resource<br />
conservation. Wintershall Russia therefore initiated<br />
an environmental protection campaign for employees<br />
at its office in Moscow. In addition to an evaluation<br />
of the office building’s environmental compatibility,<br />
the Green Office Campaign also focused on showing<br />
employees small but effective ways with which<br />
they can make a personal contribution to environmental<br />
protection and resource conservation. Many<br />
employees also took part in a campaign to clean the<br />
banks of the Moskva River in their spare time.<br />
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENT <strong>2010</strong>
50/51
OUTLOOK.
52/53<br />
NEWS.<br />
SCHIzOPHYLLAN –<br />
A SMALL FUNGUS WITH A BIG IMPACT.<br />
The production of crude oil and natural gas is no<br />
longer conceivable without modern and highlyspecialized<br />
technology. And yet the best methods<br />
often come from nature itself, as is the case with<br />
the largest research project that the German crude<br />
oil and natural gas producer Wintershall is currently<br />
conducting together with BASF. A fungus is in its<br />
focus – for one simple reason: When it consumes<br />
oxygen and starch, Schizophyllum commune – as<br />
the fungus is called – generates a biopolymer, a<br />
100 % biological thickening agent.<br />
This polymer can be used for oil production: The<br />
gelatin-like substance thickens the water which is<br />
injected into the reservoir to enhance production.<br />
The water can force more oil out of the reservoir<br />
because it increases viscosity. This technique can<br />
raise the recovery rate from a reservoir significantly.<br />
Even more, it does so in an environmentally friendly<br />
way because the biopolymer is fully biodegradable.<br />
START OF CONSTRUCTION OF NEL.<br />
Work on building NEL, the North European Natural<br />
Gas Pipeline, got up and running in 2011. 440 km<br />
in length, it is one of Germany’s largest pipeline<br />
projects and demands extreme precision on the<br />
part of the engineers planning it: Its route takes<br />
into account the factors natural conservation, geography,<br />
safety and cost-effectiveness. All this is<br />
underpinned by sophisticated technology and a<br />
planning process that includes all agencies and<br />
organizations representing public interests. The<br />
pipeline is scheduled for completion by fall 2012.<br />
ExPLORATION OF SHALE GAS DEPOSITS.<br />
Germany has valuable undeveloped gas deposits,<br />
for example in the form of shale gas. Work to quantify<br />
natural gas resources in such unconventional<br />
reservoirs is still in its early stages. The German<br />
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials<br />
(BGR) is currently investigating the overall potential<br />
for domestic shale gas production on behalf of the<br />
German Federal Ministry of Economics.<br />
Wintershall is also involved in the scientific evaluations<br />
and in August 2011 was granted permission<br />
by the mining authorities to carry out geological<br />
tests in two fields. Wintershall’s “Rheinland” and<br />
“Ruhr” concessions cover an area of 3,900 km²<br />
and stretch from the German/Dutch border in the<br />
west as far as the Sauerland region in the east.<br />
Wintershall’s activities in the next three years will be<br />
confined solely to preliminary geological surveys to<br />
assess the resource potential of possible unconventional<br />
reservoirs in these areas. Deep drilling<br />
and fracing operations are not planned. The scientific<br />
work program in North-Rhine Westphalia includes<br />
special rock investigations aimed at providing<br />
information about the gas content of the rock at<br />
greater depths.<br />
We will be focusing on shale horizons which, in<br />
selected locations, are already close to the surface,<br />
thus making it easy to carry out geological tests.<br />
Shallow core holes of up to 200 meters under the<br />
surface which provide rock samples for closer geological<br />
examination may also be drilled and must<br />
be applied for individually.<br />
Wintershall does not currently produce shale gas<br />
either at its international sites or in Germany. The<br />
results of the preliminary investigations must be<br />
carefully evaluated before any shale gas deposits<br />
in Germany can be exploited – needless to say<br />
under the precondition that shale gas production<br />
would make economic sense and would not cause<br />
undue damage to the environment. That is because<br />
there is no hard and fast answer to this question at<br />
present.
ACTION DAYS.<br />
ENvIRONMENTAL DAY 2011.<br />
To mark the United Nations World Environmental<br />
Day, Wintershall is also launching a company-wide<br />
campaign to promote environmental protection<br />
and increase ecological awareness. The company<br />
will provide information on its environmental protection<br />
activities at the Wintershall Environmental<br />
Day 2011. It will also show how every single one of<br />
us can help protect the ecology by small measures<br />
at work and in everyday life. Outstanding projects<br />
from Wintershall’s global locations will be showcased<br />
in an exhibition. International experts will present<br />
environmental protection measures in the oil and<br />
gas industry in a program of talks. Focal issues will<br />
be production of shale gas and construction of the<br />
Nord Stream Baltic Sea Pipeline.<br />
HEALTH CAMPAIGN 2011.<br />
Skin protection is the theme of Wintershall’s Health<br />
Campaign 2011. Since skin diseases are one of<br />
the most widely spread occupational illnesses, the<br />
campaign will provide information on related risk<br />
factors and valuable tips on preventing such diseases.<br />
The emphasis is on work-related skin diseases,<br />
skin and sun protection and early detection of skin<br />
cancer. Within the campaign Wintershall offers free<br />
skin cancer screening for employees.<br />
STC – <strong>HSE</strong> ExPERTS MEET ON SAKHALIN.<br />
In 2011, <strong>HSE</strong> experts from Wintershall will meet with<br />
Gazprom’s safety and rescue service on Sakhalin<br />
in Eastern Siberia to share their experiences and<br />
discuss the latest technologies and methods for<br />
rectifying damage. Gazprom has built Russia’s first<br />
liquefied natural gas plant on the island in order to<br />
supply countries in the Far East. The challenging<br />
climatic conditions and sensitive ecosystem demand<br />
special protective measures in the area of health,<br />
safety and environment.<br />
OUTLOOK LIBYA.<br />
Wintershall is monitoring the developments in Libya<br />
with great concern. The company closed down production<br />
in the desert and shut in the wells securely<br />
at the end of February 2011 for safety reasons. No<br />
more oil has been produced there since then. All international<br />
employees were flown out at the same time.<br />
368 local employees remained in the country, some<br />
of whom are also supervising and monitoring the<br />
operating facilities. Before that, Wintershall had produced<br />
around 100,000 barrels of oil a day in Libya.<br />
It is currently difficult to assess how the situation in<br />
Libya will develop. Wintershall is taking care of its<br />
Libyan employees on site as best it can. At present<br />
it is not possible to foresee whether, when and how<br />
oil production in Libya can be recommenced.<br />
Wintershall’s commitment in Libya is long-term and<br />
sustainable – and one to which the company is<br />
firmly dedicated.<br />
Wintershall is supporting the International Red Cross<br />
(IRC) and Red Crescent in their work in Libya with<br />
100,000 euros of immediate aid. The donations will<br />
be used specifically to help people in Libya and<br />
Tunisia. In addition, a fundraising campaign for employees<br />
was initiated and Wintershall doubles every<br />
euro donated.<br />
Wintershall has been active in exploration and production<br />
in Libya, one of Africa’s biggest oil producers,<br />
since 1958. More than 2 billion US dollars have been<br />
invested in the country since then, and more than<br />
150 wells have been drilled. Wintershall currently<br />
operates eight onshore oil fields in concessions<br />
96 and 97 in the Libyan Desert. The facilities are<br />
approximately 1,000 km southeast of Tripoli.<br />
OUTLOOK
54/55<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> IN FIGURES.<br />
wintershAll perFormAnce unit <strong>2010</strong> 2009<br />
Sales to third parties mil. € 10,791 11,356<br />
• Exploration & Production mil. € 3,819 3,846<br />
• Natural Gas Trading mil. € 6,972 7,509<br />
Profit from operating companies (EBIT) mil. € 2,334 2,289<br />
• Exploration & Production mil. € 1,918 1,781<br />
• Natural Gas Trading mil. € 416 508<br />
occupAtionAl sAFety unit <strong>2010</strong> 2009<br />
Number of employees*<br />
Own employees<br />
2,164 2,077<br />
• Fatalities (FAT) 0 0<br />
• Incident with > 1 day lost time (LTI)<br />
• Lost time incident frequency rate<br />
0 3<br />
per one million man hours (LTIF)<br />
Contractors<br />
0 0.65<br />
• Fatalities (FAT) 3 0<br />
• Incident with > 1 day lost time (LTI)<br />
• Lost time incident frequency rate<br />
6 8<br />
per one million man hours (LTIF) 1.01 1.68<br />
LTIF total (own employees and contractors) 0.67 1.17<br />
occupAtionAl heAlth unit <strong>2010</strong> 2009<br />
Occupational disease own employees 0 0<br />
First aiders Wintershall/WINGAS 557 -<br />
Occupational medical check ups 501 -<br />
environment<br />
Energy consumption (total)<br />
unit <strong>2010</strong> 2009<br />
(general and production process) mil. MWh 5,238 5,933<br />
• General MWh 977,742 140,929<br />
• Production process<br />
Greenhouse gas emissions<br />
mil. MWh 4,260 5,792<br />
• CO<br />
²<br />
mil. t 1.37 1.67<br />
• CH4 t 3,318 5,940<br />
Emissions of inorganic substances<br />
Emissions trading<br />
t 2,965 4,586<br />
• Received emission allowances<br />
• Emissions from facilities regulated<br />
EUA/a 744,624 730,385<br />
under emissions trading scheme t 447,628 493,546<br />
Waste disposal t 61,268 185,095<br />
Water turnover (incl. production water) mil. m3 9.5 9.8<br />
*Excluding temporary employees; part-time employees pro rata.
CONTACT PERSONS.<br />
KASSEL HEAD OFFICE<br />
Contact: +49 561 301-1757<br />
hse@wintershall.com<br />
Guido Schnieders<br />
Corporate <strong>HSE</strong> Manager<br />
jörn Kahle<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Expert<br />
Klaus jantos<br />
Environmental Expert<br />
Georgina Wien<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Manager WINGAS<br />
Malalay Osmani<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Expert<br />
Lars Winkels<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Manager<br />
GERMANY (WIDE)<br />
Dr. Michael Bätcher<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Manager<br />
NETHERLANDS (WINz)<br />
Onno Spinder<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> & Permitting Manager<br />
ARGENTINA (WIAR)<br />
Andres Wertheimer<br />
Human Resources & Administration Manager<br />
RUSSIA (WIRF)<br />
Nikolay Popov<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Manager<br />
NORWAY (WINO)<br />
janne Lea<br />
<strong>HSE</strong>q Manager<br />
qATAR (WIqA)<br />
Axel Barenschee<br />
<strong>HSE</strong> Manager<br />
Responsible for the content<br />
Wintershall Holding GmbH<br />
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 160<br />
34119 Kassel, Germany<br />
Tel.: +49 561 301-0<br />
Fax: +49 561 301-1702<br />
Concept, Design<br />
and Typesetting<br />
Damm & Bierbaum GmbH, Frankfurt am Main<br />
Lithography<br />
ORT, Frankfurt am Main<br />
CONTACT pERSONS