The link between petroleum operations and biological diversity is being studied by the Energy and Biodiversity Initiative (EBI), an international partnership which includes Statoil.
Oil companies world-wide are required to compile environmental impact assessments before entering a new area, notes Bjørn Kristoffersen.
He is special adviser on the environment in the International Exploration & Production business area.
“The problem today is the lack of measurement tools which can provide sufficiently clear results.”
Specifying the impact of oil operations on biological diversity in a broad sense and devising good measurement methods are among the goals of the EBI, he says.
The partnership will also seek to come up with development and production practices which take the best possible care of the surrounding environment.
Embracing BP, Chevron, Enron and Shell as well as Statoil and five international environmental organisations, this collaboration is due to run for three years.