Managing biodiversity-related risks and impacts

In 2023, we conducted environmental monitoring based on planned activities and our infrastructure footprint, which informs environmental protections and avoidance. For example, we complete aerial infrared surveys across our operating areas on the North Slope, and wherever winter activities are planned, to look for heat signatures indicative of maternal polar bears dens. If dens are located, they are subject to a protective buffer area. Ice roads, snow trail routes or our activities within the buffer area are altered to avoid potential impact to the maternal den.  

We have a history of almost 20 years of funding grizzly bear research to help improve our activities and avoid human influence on bears and bear dens. Grizzly bear dens are also subject to a regulatory buffer (avoidance) area. 

Ice road routes are another example of avoidance planning. Routes are carefully mapped out, avoiding rough terrain and certain habitat types. In 2023, we built the equivalent of 495 acres of winter ice roads and ice pads which melt away in the summer months minimizing permanent development footprint. Ground-disturbing activity on the tundra, such as gravel placement and other construction, occurs outside of the migratory bird breeding season in June and July, and in many areas, there are seasonal restrictions for vehicles or activities based on caribou and/or other mammal presence or movements. 

Sharp-tailed grouse are considered a management indicator species for North Dakota and are present throughout our asset area. We completed a three-year study to gain a better understanding of sharp-tailed grouse nesting, brood rearing and habitat types and local migration patterns. A total of 60 sharp-tailed grouse were tagged with GPS transmitters over the three-year study. 

Results from the GPS tagging indicate grouse within the study area use a wide variety of habitats including areas in close proximity to badland and forested habitat as well as agricultural fields.  Statistical analyses based on the nest locations and bird GPS locations included resource selection models for nest site selection and male and female post-breeding habitat use.  Females selected nest locations in both native and non-native grassland cover types typically at the higher elevations and along ridgetops within our study area, but otherwise did not appear to be avoiding most other landscape features (steeper slopes, forest edges, density of oil/gas development, etc.).  During the post-nesting spring and summer period, habitat use was similar to nesting other than we documented stronger avoidance of existing roads, existing well pad locations within 0.4 miles, and forest cover within 300 feet.  Male sharp-tailed grouse generally remained within 0.6 miles of the breeding lek during the spring and summer (May-August), including well beyond the breeding period.  Consequently, it appeared cover type (grassland vs. cropland) was less significant than proximity to the lek. Habitat use was likely reflective of the available surrounding habitat. Generally, we found males selected higher elevations and lower slopes and avoided grassland cover and forest edges, which was likely a predator avoidance response from the high number of forest raptors (e.g., Cooper’s hawks) in the area. These analyses provide the scientific input needed to determine the most effective way to avoid impacting sharp-tailed grouse populations throughout their life cycle. Learn more about our project-specific approach to avoidance planning in North Dakota. 

Strategic initiatives like voluntary conservation agreements also help to prevent adverse impacts to biodiversity and sensitive habitats near our operations. These formal agreements with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and/or other federal or state agencies include stipulations governing the timing of certain development activities within specific species habitats or sensitive areas. We currently have approximately 700 acres enrolled in conservation agreements that protect the lesser prairie chicken in Texas and over 378,000 acres to protect the lesser prairie chicken and the dunes sagebrush lizard in New Mexico. In addition, we have enrolled more than 95,000 acres in conservation agreements that protect the endangered Texas hornshell mussel. 

The size of well pads has been reduced from 65 acres in 1970 to about 12-20 acres today. At the same time, the drilling radius has increased from 5,000 feet to about 35,000 feet using our extended-reach drill (ERD) rig. Our engineers are integrating biodiversity preservation measures into the design and siting of infrastructure. New pipelines are elevated seven or more feet above the tundra to allow caribou to cross underneath. New roads and pipelines are also typically constructed 500 feet apart to further facilitate caribou movement and there are seasonal speed limit restrictions. For new projects, we place power cables on the pipeline racks to eliminate the need to build overhead powerlines to reduce potential bird collision hazards and for visual landscape considerations.

In 2023, ConocoPhillips Alaska conducted scientific field studies throughout the Colville River Area and northeastern National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A) on the North Slope of Alaska. These studies were conducted by established scientists with many years of experience on the North Slope. Our 2023 environmental field studies focused on several avian species (eiders, loons, geese and shorebirds), air quality, fish and subsistence fisheries, caribou, hydrology, cultural resources and subsistence monitoring.

We have been conducting field-based monitoring of the mangroves near the APLNG facility quarterly since 2012. This has included analyzing leaves, assessing seedling regeneration, measuring trees and assessing water chemistry. We added satellite monitoring to complement our field-based study and to minimize human impact from the on-the-ground monitoring process. The mangrove satellite monitoring includes analyzing annual high-resolution and multi-spectral images back to 2006 to assess long-term mangrove canopy trends over a wider area. Results indicate the facility has not caused an impact to the surrounding mangroves and the canopy circumference has increased.

We also completed a migratory shorebird monitoring study to assess potential impacts on local population trends associated with construction and operation of APLNG. The shorebird monitoring study started in 2009 and continued for five years beyond the completion of construction, which concluded in 2021. Results indicated that population trends are in response to regional effects and are unlikely to be associated with the ongoing operation of the facility. Assessments will continue to be performed where major construction activities are undertaken.

ConocoPhillips Canada led Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) development of a goal to reduce the footprint intensity through surface infrastructure footprint optimization, improved drilling technology and progressive reclamation. COSIA member companies collectively reduced their footprint intensity from 0.34 in 2012 to 0.30 in 2022, a reduction of approximately 11%.

As part of our focus to proactively minimize footprint at Surmont we are participating in the COSIA EcoSeis project. EcoSeis focuses on the challenge of seismic data acquisition, which historically has required cutting a network of narrow corridors through the boreal forest to transport and deploy geophysical survey equipment. The purpose of EcoSeis is to reduce the impacts of new seismic lines by reducing the width and total length of the cut lines. In 2022, we completed a successful EcoSeis pilot at Surmont acquiring high-resolution seismic images reducing the overall footprint by over 40% compared to using conventional seismic technology. Assessment of the seismic data to replace conventional seismic data is expected to be completed in 2024.

In Kuparuk, we began reclaiming gravel mine sites in the late 1970s. We use gravel for roads and pads to provide a stable driving surface and to keep the underlying permafrost frozen. Once the gravel resource is extracted, the mine sites undergo reclamation, returning the area to a functioning habitat. In collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Department of Natural Resources we have selected gravel mine sites near streams to promote eventual flooding, creating deep over-wintering fish habitat and providing fish with vital movement pathways. In addition to local fish habitat, this reclamation approach provides habitat for nesting shorebirds, waterfowl and grizzly bears. Reclamation is continuing at several North Slope gravel mine sites.

• Application of grassland restoration best management practices:
  • 12,574 acres of brush management targeting invasive species.
  • 2,196 acres of seeding utilizing available locally adapted native species.
  • 31.5 miles of fencing replaced with wildlife friendly fencing to facilitate prescriptive grazing and uninhibited movement of wildlife.
• Conducting 270 development reviews for ecological sensitivity, conflicts with ranch operations, and adherence to conservation agreements and best management practices, and 128 wildlife surveys for six different species with ongoing population monitoring via remote sensing for select megafauna.
• Managing noxious and invasive species, including African rue and Lehmann lovegrass.
• Reclaiming and restoring decommissioned frack pits, well and battery pads, roads, surface lines and electrical infrastructure.
• Evaluating efficacy of reclamation practices via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• Participation in programs administered by state wildlife agencies recognizing landowners for efforts to provide high-quality habitat for pronghorn, mule deer and white-tailed deer.
• Hosted or presented at three collaborative educational events promoting land stewardship.

Since 2008, we have contributed over 2,700 acres through compensatory wetland mitigation. Compensatory mitigation refers to the required restoration, creation, or enhancement of wetlands to compensate for permitted wetland losses.