REPORT SPEED/SUSTAINABILITY
We know how relevant nature is to the well-being of communities and the continuity of our business, and use water efficiently and responsibly. Furthermore, we implement measures to protect, conserve and restore biodiversity through managing impacts, risks and opportunities to preserve ecosystem services and functions in our areas of influence.
We know that water is a vital resource, and so our management goes beyond regulatory requirements for its use and exploitation. We are committed to innovation and implementing practices that contribute to rational and efficient water use and reuse, as well as guaranteeing the correct management of the effluents we generate.
For drilling (preparing sludges) and production (hydrostatic testing, boilers, cooling, equipment maintenance, civil works and road dampening for particulate matter control)
For accommodation, canteens and restrooms
During the environmental licensing stage and obtaining authorizations for the withdrawal, use and disposal of water, we carry out environmental studies that allow us to identify and evaluate potential risks and impacts and analyze water supply and the quality in each region where we operate.
Based on these analyses, we define withdrawal limits, the best disposal alternatives, as well as the management and monitoring measures that environmental authorities evaluate and approve. These measures are implemented as projects develop
Every year we assess water-related risks through environmental studies, projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), WWF Risk Filter Suite and the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, the EMS assessment and, in part, through our climate change adaptation plan.
To determine the level of water stress in our operations, we use tools such as the WWF Risk Filter Suite, the Aqueduct Risk Atlas, information from ground stations and satellites, as well as official studies and decrees issued in the countries where we operate, allowing us to establish that our operations in Colombia and Ecuador are not located in areas with water stress.
Our operations extract water exclusively from authorized sources.
(CDP-W7.5) In our operations, using fresh water from surface sources is considered to have a low impact because the percentage of withdrawals of this type of resource (from rainfall, rivers, lakes, lateral borrow areas and wetlands) in 2023 was 3% of total withdrawals (not including produced water) and in no case exceeded the authorized withdrawal volumes.
Our operations have different wastewater management methods including:
Environmental authorities evaluate our water disposal methods during the respective EIA approval process for each project.
The treatment and disposal of water is carried out under the following considerations:
In 2023, we updated the methodology for calculating water consumption based on the difference between total water withdrawn and total water disposed of. According to this new methodology, we recalculate water consumption for previous years.
Water consumption totaled 229,307.5 m3 in 2023, a decrease of 36% compared to the previous year as a result of a higher volume of re-injected produced water.
We expect to have higher levels of activity due to the new exploration activities planned and the operation of mature fields. We are in the process of making the Integrated Water Management Strategic Plan, and its implementation will ensure efficient water use, either reducing final water consumption volumes or keeping them at almost the same levels.
Oil spills are one of the main risks associated with hydrocarbon exploration and production activities, and we pay special attention to preventing this type of incident that can affect soil, water and biodiversity
We have prevention plans and structured procedures that range from identifying risks to activating contingency and remediation plans, in which we work with specialist emergency care partners.
We involve the neighboring communities as overseers and guarantors of the processes to respond to these events and we have prepared actions for institutional coordination and immediate response.
We continued to make zero withdrawals from natural surface water bodies in permanent operations (Llanos 34, Platanillo and Fell), representing 100% fulfillment of our short-term integrated water management goal
We maintained zero direct discharges or discharges into surface water bodies across our operations
For the first time, we started to implement the ISO 14046 standard, to assess the Company’s water footprint and identify opportunities to reduce possible environmental impacts related to this resource and facilitate water efficiency and management in our processes. In 2023 we reached 80% completion of the implementation
We began the identification and assessment of physical and transitional water risks in our operated assets; a starting point for the elaboration of the Water Associated Risk Management Plan. We reached 70% completion of this Plan in 2023
As a regional contribution, we started construction of a sewerage system and a domestic wastewater treatment plant in Caribayona, which lies within Villanueva in Colombia’s Casanare department, a project that will improve basic sanitation conditions for more than 1,300 people. By improving water quality, it will have a positive impact on the Tua River
One of our priorities is to preserve ecosystems and help restore those that have been transformed or degraded, maintaining their services and functions and making sustainable use of biodiversity
1. Green infrastructure, sustainable use and connectivity: This area lays the foundations for applying mitigation hierarchy to the planning and execution model of our operations. It integrates development with the maintenance of ecosystem services and the conservation of biodiversity
2. Conservation of wild flora and fauna species: We recognize that biodiversity is one of the most important resources on our planet, and we are convinced of the ecological benefit of carrying out conservation actions aimed at focal species of flora and fauna.
3. Strengthening protected areas: We reaffirm our commitment to not operate in legally protected areas of high biodiversity value. We work to help preserve ecosystem services and promote their conservation and consolidation
4. Biodiversity knowledge: Knowledge is fundamental for decision-making and attaining a more effective and responsible performance regards conservation and the prevention of biodiversity loss.
We donated 1,600 hectares to the new Serranía de Manacacías National Natural Park in Colombia, contributing to the process by which the Park was declared as such in December 2023 and supporting conservation in this protected area
We carried out recovery actions for core areas in the Mata de la Urama DRMI in partnership with Corporinoquia, implementing plans for the conservation of three species relevant to the region and the protected area:
In partnership with the SINCHI Institute, WCS, ANDI and other companies in our sector, we started implementation of the Rios Diversos project, which characterizes aquatic ecosystems to create management strategies that contribute to restoring, conserving and making sustainable use of water resources in the interfluve of the Caqueta and Putumayo rivers in Colombia. The first phase of the project was implemented in 2023, and its highlights include the registration of new species in this region and in the Colombian Amazon, as well as contributions to new bioindicators for aquatic ecosystems in this region
We support birdwatching in partnership with the respective governments of Putumayo and Casanare, within the framework of the Global Big Day, the biggest birdwatching event in the world
Within the Corporate Management for Nature project, developed in partnership with SiB Colombia, GBIF and ANDI, in 2023 more than 270 students were certified to promote the reporting, consultation and use of open-source biodiversity data in the country
As part of our Strategic Plan for Environmental Culture, we implemented actions to raise awareness and train more than 2,800 of our neighbors in biodiversity, protection of Amazonian ecosystems, strengthening of community environmental governance and formulation of environmental projects
We implemented operational actions and practices to ensure biodiversity protection and sustainable use, such as:
We planted more than 40,000 trees in Colombia as part of restoration actions and within the framework of voluntary partnerships with environmental authorities.
We donated more than 10,000 trees for reforestation and environmental awareness activities with our neighbors.
