ConocoPhillips is committed to protecting the environment that we share with all Alaskans. In fact, protecting the natural environment while extracting critical energy is one of ConocoPhillips' highest priorities, and we take a multi-faceted approach to being a good steward. By supporting education and outreach efforts, conducting research and implementing high environmental standards, we work to ensure that our actions today will not only provide the energy needed to drive economic growth and social well-being, but also secure a stable and healthy environment for tomorrow.

Green Initiatives

When it comes to minimizing the company’s environmental footprint, no idea is too small and industrial operations aren’t the sole focus. ConocoPhillips Alaska is working to ensure that the company’s philosophy on the environment is part of the culture for all employees at all Alaska facilities. From reducing the size of our North Slope drilling pads to installing energy efficient lighting, recycling and using eco-friendly cleaning products, ConocoPhillips is working to be the best environmental steward it can be at all levels of the organization.

Research

A wide variety of birds and wildlife move freely throughout the oil and gas fields. ConocoPhillips funds and conducts selected baseline studies and research projects that help to assess the possible effects of exploration and production activities on North Slope fish and wildlife.

For example, the company has conducted aerial surveys of bird species including spectacled eiders, tundra swans and yellow-billed loons. Along with government agencies, we also closely monitor the number of Central Arctic Herd caribou (the primary of four herds on the North Slope) which utilizes lands leased by the oil industry in Prudhoe Bay Unit, Kuparuk River Unit and Colville River Unit (commonly called Alpine). This key herd has increased more than twenty-fold — from about 3,000 in 1972, when development began, to more than 60,000 today.

ConocoPhillips is conducting a multi-year baseline studies program in the Chukchi Sea, involving collection of data that gives us a measurement of baseline conditions on an ecosystem. The program consists of collection of observational data on marine mammals (polar bears, walrus, seals, whales), plankton and benthic invertebrates, as well as baseline information on the chemical composition of sediments and biota.

Air Quality

For decades, ConocoPhillips has been monitoring the air quality in and around many North Slope oil fields. Our studies have shown that air quality is consistently better than national ambient air quality standards.