exploration and production

A series of measures have been continued to maintain discharges to sea at the ExxonMobil operated fields at a minimum level. Jotun and Ringhorne have been designed with solutions for discharging drilling waste through injection. Substituting environmentally harmful chemicals with more environmentally friendly alternatives, has also made it possible to further reduce environmental risks related to discharges to sea.

Emissions to air, with focus on CO2, NOx, and volatile organic compounds (nmVOC), were kept at a stable level in 2009. From 2009, ExxonMobil has participated in CO₂ quota trade, and quotas equal to our CO₂ emissions in 2009 were bought. In June 2008, all of ExxonMobil’s own operated licenses on the Norwegian shelf joined the Business Sector’s NOxFund. The objective is to reduce NOx emissions by 30,000 tons within 2010, which seems attainable for the industry. Companies joining this fund pay an amount of money equal to their own NOx emissions. Money paid to the fund will be used to implement the most cost-effective NOx reduction measures across all business sectors.

ExxonMobil’s co-operation with other operators to ensure efficient reduction of emissions to air of nmVOC in connection with offshore oil loading to shuttle tankers, have been continued in 2009. The nmVOC recovery facilities in connection with storage of oil on the Balder and Jotun production ships have had a close to 100% efficiency in 2009.

In 2009, sorting and handling of waste was performed on all our offshore installations. On Balder 78% of all waste was sorted, while respectively 45% and 53% of all waste was sorted on Ringhorne and Jotun.

During 2009, there were no permit overruns or breaches of regulations that called for notification of the authorities.