Integrating Technology and Environmental Footprint

Sustaining economic development while conserving natural resources is a pressing challenge. Our integration of technical innovation with a commitment to high standards of behavior is key to meeting those goals. With a history in innovation of more than 80 years, our scientific knowledge and technical expertise help customers meet their technical challenges while minimizing the environmental footprint. For example, the Schlumberger HiWAY* flow-channel fracturing technique uses 40% less proppant and 25% less water than conventional stimulation treatments. Since its introduction, application of the HiWAY technique has conserved more than 1.2 billion gallons of water—the equivalent of the capacity of more than 1,800 Olympic-size swimming pools.

In a similar approach the Schlumberger R&E organization established a lean manufacturing program as part of its transformation with a goal of continually improving both efficiency and productivity through the identification and elimination of waste. Key to the success of the program has been the involvement of all R&E functions: engineering; manufacturing; product sustaining; supply chain; human resources; health, safety, and environment; facilities; and finance.

In 2010, a complementary “lean and green” program was launched to actively target environmental waste in the form of energy, water, materials, emissions, and other solid and liquid wastes. The success of the program depended on collaboration between teams to achieve environmental savings.

Now in its fifth year, the lean and green program has averaged net project savings of more than $1 million per year from the reduction and elimination of environmental waste. Average annual savings are 2,378 MW in electricity, 19,704 kL of water, and 521 tonnes of waste.

Facilities related projects in the lean and green program include the installation of energy-efficient lighting, sensors and timers for heating and lighting control, air handling systems, and closed-loop water systems. The return on investment from these projects provides both financial and environmental advantages that are potentially repeatable.

The lean and green program brings proactive environmental awareness to the Schlumberger R&E organization that can be expanded to other parts of the company.

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