We evaluate the risk of spills occurring and potential impacts while taking numerous precautions to prevent spills and mitigate impact within our operations. Specialized designs, operating procedures, routine maintenance of our facilities, verifications and process safety best practices play a key role in protecting the environment where we operate. We develop and maintain site specific Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans for identified facilities. We have dedicated spill prevention teams in areas with high activity and sensitive ecosystems. If a spill does occur, established practices and resources are deployed to control and mitigate the impact. We are also focused on strengthening our critical incident risk management capability through our systematic, multi-tiered approach to emergency preparedness and crisis management. Hydrocarbon spills impacting a sensitive area and spills greater than 100 barrels are immediately reported to our corporate office. 

Volume of Spills graphs

In 2022, we experienced two hydrocarbon spills to the environment greater than 100 barrels. One spill occurred on land in the U.S. Lower 48 and one occurred on land in Canada, resulting in approximately 300 total barrels being released with a 68% recovery rate.

The number of hydrocarbon spills to the environment greater than one barrel decreased in 2022. We had 99 spills that were greater than one barrel, with 86 of those between one and 10 barrels.  Fifty eight percent of the spilled volume was fully recovered. None of our spills in 2022 impacted a shoreline.

In 2022, our methodology for reporting hydrocarbon spills to the environment was reviewed and updated to better align with Ipieca reporting standards. This approach is consistent with industry best practices and has allowed a more accurate assessment of spill volumes that are impacting the environment by considering site-specific conditions. Additionally, the decreased spill counts and volumes are reflective of enhanced spill prevention awareness and mitigation tactics in 2022.  View our Performance Metrics

Read more about our Process Safety culture. 

Spill Response and Mitigation 

We have both internal and external resources to assist with spill remediation and response. Our investment in spill response technologies includes membership in Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSROs) across the globe, which affords us access to substantial inventories of, and the latest advances in, proven response equipment. 

In the Gulf of Mexico, we are members of two OSROs,  Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) and  Clean Gulf Associates (CGA). Our Alaska business unit has memberships in two large OSROs, including  Alaska Clean Seas (ACS) and Ship Escort/Response Vessel System (SERVS) for our exploration and production operations on the North Slope and our Polar Tanker operations in Prince William Sound, respectively. Our membership in MSRC, as well as a contract with the National Response Corporation (NRC), provides coverage for our Polar Tankers operations along the U.S. west coast. 

In addition to our U.S.-based OSRO memberships, the company also belongs to Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) and  Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO). OSRL provides substantial global response resources staged at various locations around the world, whereas NOFO, also with significant resources, provides regional OSRO support for our Norway operations. We are also members in other, somewhat smaller, local OSROs  associated with many of our global operations. 

Read more about our Emergency Preparedness