2 Ways the Oil Industry Can Better the Environment

Environmental health is a worldwide concern. Everyone, from individuals to massive corporations, has a responsibility to protect the planet and do what they can to reduce their carbon footprint. This is particularly important for businesses within the oil industry. Oil and gas companies play an important role in fueling homes, businesses, and vehicles, but their mistakes can prove disastrous for any nearby ecosystems. Is it possible for these companies to do more to preserve the natural world? The answer is yes. Find out how with these ways the oil industry can better the environment.

Recycling and Reducing Freshwater Usage

Every day, oil companies use large amounts of freshwater in processes such as fracking and separating oil from other elements in oil sands. Over time, many oil companies have improved their processes and now recycle most of the water they use. However, forward-thinking companies are always looking for ways to increase their recycling ability and, more importantly, reduce the amount of freshwater they use in the first place. These innovations include reusing water for many different processes by improving filtration and reducing contaminants through techniques like using sulfate or iron-reducing bacteria.

Reducing Leaks and Other Pipeline Accidents

Learning how to reduce the environmental effects of pipelines is a huge project for oil and gas companies. Pipelines run across all sorts of landscapes and even close to residential areas. When an accident occurs with a pipeline, it can prove detrimental to nearby vegetation, wildlife, and communities. That’s why prioritizing pipeline safety and maintenance is one of the most vital ways the oil industry can better the environment. Companies must follow industry standards and best practices to maintain a safe and functional pipeline. This includes carefully planning construction and maintenance projects and routinely checking for leaks, corrosion, or other damage to the pipeline. Oil and gas companies can even go above and beyond these standards by offsetting the environmental impacts their pipelines have. If you must tear down trees to install a pipeline, plant new trees to make up for the loss. Practices like this allow companies to complete their work while focusing on environmental health.