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Approach: Conserving a Natural Resource
Future Goals: Developing a Comprehensive Strategy
Approach: Conserving a Natural Resource
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| Steven Carter and Mike Carter take water samples at Richmond Refinery wetlands in California. |
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Availability of and access to fresh water is one of the world's most pressing challenges. ChevronTexaco and other energy companies use relatively large volumes of both fresh water and sea water in their operations such as for oil and gas drilling and production as well as in processing and manufacturing operations, for cooling and steam generation. Our use of fresh water can affect local ecosystems and communities, particularly in places where it is scarce.
ChevronTexaco also discharges water from operating facilities and from oil and gas production. Water sometimes resides in underground reservoirs with oil and gas. When the oil and gas are extracted, water also may be extracted. This "produced water" is either reinjected into the subsurface it came from or is treated and discharged. If the water discharged from our operations is not adequately treated, it can negatively affect the environment.
ChevronTexaco requires its business units to evaluate their use of and impacts on all natural resources and to identify and implement conservation opportunities. At many of our facilities, we track discharges to water and take steps to minimize the environmental and health risks associated with those discharges.
Some of our facilities have implemented process changes designed to minimize the use of fresh water, particularly where supplies are limited. For instance, our California refineries in Richmond, and El Segundo, use "reclaimed water," which is treated domestic sewage, instead of fresh water, for cooling in the manufacturing process. Other ChevronTexaco refineries around the world are investigating water reuse opportunities.
The company also continually looks for ways to minimize the effects of discharged water and, in some cases, put it to beneficial use. For example, in California's Kern River region, where fresh water is limited, the company's upstream operations provide appropriately treated discharged water to a local utility for agricultural irrigation.
Future Goals: Developing a Comprehensive Strategy
ChevronTexaco's upstream operating companies are developing a comprehensive strategy to manage produced water. The strategy will address reinjection of produced water, minimizing the environmental and social impacts, as well as the potential beneficial uses of discharged water.
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