WES is committed to responsible environmental stewardship across all facets of our operations. We uphold this commitment through the application of industry-leading best practices and technologies, a focus on continuous performance improvements, and holding ourselves accountable through transparent reporting on our progress.
Our approach to environmental management is governed by our Health, Safety, Environment, and Security (HSE&S) Policy. This policy outlines our commitment to compliance with internal plans and programs, external regulations, and industry best practices for avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating environmental impacts. Our executive team oversees environmental performance, which is a coordinated effort among our employees. We support compliance through a comprehensive environmental management system (EMS), which is informed by ISO 14001, and includes programs on Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Management, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials, Site Reclamation, Release Reporting, Spill Prevention, Storm Water Management and Waste Management.
Our management system defines roles and responsibilities, the work authority for each area, specific job responsibilities for relevant workers at different levels and functional teams, and requirements and processes for each area.
Managing our emissions and operating efficiently are key priorities for WES. Natural gas, one of the primary products we transport, plays a vital role in meeting the growing demand for energy securely and affordably, while supporting the global transition to lower-carbon energy sources. As a lower-emission fuel, it can complement renewable power generation by providing a versatile, quick-to-ramp-up fuel source at times when wind, solar, or other alternative fuels are not available or cannot meet peak demand. We also work with external partners to evaluate emerging emissions-reduction technologies and identify cost-effective opportunities to reduce emissions and prepare for future regulatory requirements.
We have implemented several projects to help us manage emissions in our operations:
We reduce energy use and indirect emissions through:
We work to conserve biodiversity and protect sensitive habitats and ecosystems including rivers, wetlands, and nesting areas across our operating areas. We aim to avoid – rather than mitigate – impacts to the environment throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Prior to beginning a new project, we assess sites for the presence of natural and cultural resources that could potentially become affected by our operations. In addition, we hire third-party, independent biologists to monitor activities at each major stage for our new and major maintenance projects.
We strive to minimize the generation of hazardous and nonhazardous waste from our operations by implementing programs to increase reuse and recycling across our supply chain.
Whenever possible, we recycle materials used in our operations, including, for example, engine exhaust catalysts, scrap metal, and used engine oil.
We follow a range of best practices to minimize the production of waste, including:
Preventing the release of potentially harmful substances into the environment is a top priority for WES. We use a comprehensive monitoring and avoidance system to identify and stop potential releases. We remotely monitor equipment, including tank levels and pipeline pressures, through our Remote Operations Center (ROC) and local operations control centers, which can shut down infrastructure remotely if needed. We install secondary containment around all containers holding 55 gallons or more of chemicals and process fluids. We conduct periodic third-party inspections to confirm Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans accurately reflect onsite equipment and to ensure oil storage containers are in proper working order.
We recognize the critical importance of water as a resource for the communities and ecosystems where we work, and we strive to reduce our impacts throughout our operations. Our primary potential water impact stems from the disposal of produced water, which we gather and dispose of for oil and gas production customers.
Our produced-water pipelines and facilities transport and remove hydrocarbon products and other sediments from the produced water, and reinject it through permitted disposal wells, in compliance with applicable regulations. We also redeliver recycled water back to producers for oil and gas operations, extract minerals for sale and deliver fresh water to producers. We understand the risks associated with the volume and corrosivity of the water we transport. To mitigate these risks, we follow industry-leading engineering, design, and operational best practices for the transportation and disposal of produced water.
WES takes a thoughtful, science-driven approach to responsible water management that includes both water recycling for operational reuse and beneficial reuse for potential applications beyond oil and gas. We are applying well-established water industry principles to advance a responsible path to beneficial reuse, and our work is guided by rigorous science, comprehensive safety and feasibility analyses, and the expertise of experienced water-treatment professionals.