Protecting and enhancing nature

Examples of member action

• Aramco
• Woodside Energy
• ExxonMobil
• Baker Hughes
• PTTEP
• EOG Resources

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  Artificial reefs

  Saudi Arabia

  Coral reefs play a crucial ecological and economic role by supporting marine biodiversity and acting as natural barriers against coastal erosion. However, reefs worldwide, including those in the Arabian Gulf, face degradation due to climate change, fishing, dredging, and marine pollution.

  Aramco has taken proactive steps to enhance marine life in the Gulf through both planned and unplanned artificial reefs. While offshore oil and gas facilities naturally function as artificial reefs by providing a substrate for marine organisms, the company has expanded this approach by establishing stable, long-lived artificial reef structures across the region.

  A total of 3,247 reef blocks have been deployed at 25 sites in the Arabian Gulf, along with a reef structure in Jizan, Red Sea. Deployment locations in the Arabian Gulf include Manifa, Abu Ali, Jubail, Ras Tanura, Jana Island, Safaniya, and Khafji.

  Seasonal monitoring of the artificial reefs assessed productivity, species biodiversity, and fish populations. Findings revealed that the central part of the Arabian Gulf—particularly in Manifa, Abu Ali, Jubail, and Ras Tanura—demonstrated the highest abundance of reef fish, the greatest biodiversity of reef organisms, and the highest biomass productivity. These results highlight the effectiveness of Aramco’s initiatives in fostering marine ecosystems and promoting biodiversity in the region.

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  Understanding underwater noise and whales

  Australia

  Woodside is committed to minimising underwater noise emissions to reduce impacts on marine mammals, particularly whales. As whales rely on sound for communication, navigation, and detecting predators, increasing human-made noise in oceans poses a challenge.

  To address this, Woodside leverages emerging technologies to enhance its understanding of whale behaviour, movement, and timing. The company is also exploring novel whale detection methods and implementing marine fauna observer programmes to engage offshore workers in whale observation efforts. These initiatives ensure that visual whale sightings help inform and support the implementation of whale management mitigation strategies.

  In 2024, Woodside actively contributed to industry collaborative projects and knowledge-sharing efforts through the Australian Energy Producer (AEP) and International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) Joint Industry Programme on Sound and Marine Life. The company continues to integrate technological advancements to track and detect whales, further improving its approach to responsible offshore operations.

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  Conservation milestones in Papua New Guinea

  Papua New Guinea

  In 2023, 109 clans in the Lower Kikori region of Papua New Guinea’s Gulf Province signed 11 conservation deeds to protect over 20,000 hectares of land—a landmark achievement for the area. These deeds provide a legal framework to establish formal protected areas within the Kikori Delta. ExxonMobil’s affiliate played a key role in supporting this initiative for over a decade through collaboration, engagement, and facilitation.

  ExxonMobil’s operations in Papua New Guinea extend into areas of significant biodiversity and conservation value, with the upstream project area designated as critical habitat. The company’s biodiversity strategy is designed to ensure the long-term preservation of the region’s ecological integrity.

  The strategy focuses on:

  • Maintaining the integrity of ecosystems within the upstream project area
  • Conserving priority ecosystems, including Hides Ridge and Lake Kutubu
  • Protecting key habitats and significant ecological features, such as caves and swamp forests
  • Identifying and offsetting residual environmental impacts, such as land cover changes caused by infrastructure development

  Through this commitment, ExxonMobil aims to balance responsible resource development with environmental conservation. By working closely with local communities, the company is helping to establish sustainable conservation practices that preserve biodiversity while respecting traditional land stewardship.

  This collaborative approach highlights the potential for industry and local communities to work together in achieving long-term conservation goals.

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  Performing biodiversity risk assessments for sites

  United States of America

  Baker Hughes works to limit the impact that its operations have on the wildlife and biodiversity around them. To accomplish this, Baker Hughes requires assessments of all of its sites and processes to limit exposure to at-risk sites.

  In 2023, Baker Hughes started developing a comprehensive risk assessment programme based on its current annual biodiversity survey. This will serve as the backbone for measuring the level of biodiversity and environmental risk at each of their locations. Laying the groundwork and defining these reporting parameters prepares the sites with the knowledge to assess and understand the requirements for upcoming biodiversity regulations accurately.

  Baker Hughes aims to assess 100% of sites for biodiversity risk by 2030 and implement risk management programmes for high-risk sites.

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  Ocean for Life strategy

  Thailand

  PTTEP's 'Ocean for Life' strategy, driven by its offshore operations, aims to achieve a net-positive impact on ocean biodiversity and ecosystem services value for all offshore operations (from base year 2019), increase community income by 50%, and establish 16,000 conservation networks by 2030. This initiative aligns with Thailand's Ocean Health Index target and SDGs 14 (Life Below Water), 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 13 (Climate Action). The strategy is structured around three workstreams:

  1. Sustainable Ocean-Friendly Operation: PTTEP aims to minimise environmental footprints across operational sites, and achieve zero produced water discharge to the environment. Advanced technologies, including autonomous underwater vehicles, contribute to safe and cost-effective underwater maintenance, thereby safeguarding marine ecosystems.
  2. Sustainable Ocean Health and Blue Carbon Solutions: Initiatives, in collaboration with universities and government agencies, include an ocean data platform, microplastics monitoring, and feasibility studies of carbon absorption by seagrass, seaweed, and seashells . PTTEP also deploys current mapper buoys, contributing valuable data for ocean conservation and emergency planning.
  3. Sustainable Community around the Ocean: PTTEP expands social development projects across 17 provinces around the Gulf of Thailand, promoting biodiversity, restoring resources, and building conservation networks. Initiatives such as aquatic animal hatchery centres, coastal conservation areas and fish homes, as well as sea product development empower local communities, generating sustainable income and promoting economic development.

  The comprehensive implementation of these workstreams has resulted in a 68% progress toward a net-positive impact on ocean biodiversity and ecosystem services value, a 40% increase in community income, and the establishment of 5,795 community networks in 2023. PTTEP's initiatives not only support SDGs but also contribute to Thailand's decarbonisation targets by promoting biodiversity and carbon sinks.

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  Supporting native Texas grasslands

  United States of America

  Since 2015, EOG has supported Texan by Nature, a collaborative partnership between natural resource users and conservation experts to promote conservation efforts that help sustain Texas's working lands, water supplies, and wildlife.

  In the Eagle Ford, EOG is working in partnership with Texan by Nature and private landowners to create over 350 acres of native pollinator habitat by reseeding well pads, pipeline rights of way, and other areas associated with our leases with native grasses and nectar-producing plants. These grasses and plants can provide highprotein forage and food plots, which maintain and improve habitat conditions for the monarch butterfly and numerous other species in this migratory corridor. Additionally, the native grasses require less maintenance and are more drought tolerant than nonnative grasses.

  Since starting this project in 2019, over 60% of the 350-acre commitment has been or is planned to be planted, and we continue to identify additional sites for reseeding.

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