​The Environment

Ensign actively works to reduce, reuse, recycle and reclaim materials used in our operations.

As part of our efforts to innovate and develop new technologies, we strive to use environmentally friendly procedures and materials when providing our services.

All incidents that could affect the environment are dealt with on a timely basis to ensure that they are properly contained.

Our divisions have comprehensive emergency response plans in place that address environmental concerns.

We take this responsibility very seriously. We view it as a responsibility to current and future generations.

Reducing Our Environmental Footprint

Ensign strives to use fewer material resources to reduce both our environmental footprint and input costs.

Our Impacts

Our potential impacts occur in the manufacture, transport and operation of our drilling rigs and other oilfield services equipment, as well as in the manufacture of customized crude oil and natural gas production equipment carried out by our subsidiary, Opsco Energy Industries Ltd. (Opsco).

While on a well site, the environmental responsibility generally falls on the operating oil company. Ensign is typically one of many subcontractors on such sites.

Ensign’s crews are trained in well control that meets and often exceeds the well-control equipment requirements and practices required by regulation or the industry.

Our Performance

We are proud to report that there have not been any serious environmental incidents in the Company’s history.

Reducing Engine Emissions

For several years, Ensign has pursued a program of replacing older, less-efficient engines used on our equipment with newer engines. The engines we now purchase represent the latest technology for achieving fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Wherever possible, we select engines that consume less fuel for a given power output level.

We are committed to purchasing new engines that meet the current North American emissions standards and meet or exceed the emissions standards in various host countries.

Increasing Drilling Eficiency

For our new drilling rigs, such as our proprietary Automated Drill Rig (ADR®) , which we design and assemble ourselves, we use more complex and flexible designs. This results in a smaller drilling rig that accomplishes more work.

These more compact drilling rigs move and rig up in a fraction of the time of older designs.

Our newer rigs also incorporate drilling systems that reduce the overall time and energy needed to drill and complete a well.

A smaller rig design means that we use less construction material on our new rigs, which reduces the emissions and CO2 produced by the manufacturing process.

Whenever practical, we use low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and lead-free paints to reduce emissions and minimize pollutants.

We are also focused on reducing our impact on the physical environments in which we operate. The layout and smaller size of our new drilling rigs means our customers’ wellsites require a smaller footprint, resulting in less impact on the terrain and vegetation.

Ensign also constructs its equipment and trains its people to conduct directional drilling and multi-bore wells, which significantly decrease surface impacts by reducing the number of wellsites.

Most of our drilling operations incorporate closed drilling fluid systems that reduce and, in some cases, eliminate site preparation and clean up.

In addition, Opsco’s production testing equipment is designed to recycle production testing emissions back into the production line and reduce or eliminate the flaring of hydrocarbons.

Ensign also works with its customers to experiment with the use of alternative fuels. In several drilling projects in the United States we are using natural gas or LNG sourced from the field to power our equipment. We believe that this type of initiative reduces harmful emissions from the overall operation, especially when one factors in the added benefit of a reduction in fossil fuel emissions resulting from not having to transport fuel to the rig site.

Our global drilling rig fleet includes a number of “electric” drilling rigs that allow the “pooling of demand”, which means dedicated engines are no longer required and engines can be shut down when power demand declines.

While the industry as a whole still operates a large number of older style mechanical drilling rigs, most newly built drilling rig designs incorporate technology that allows for the more efficient generation and delivery of power at the rig site, which results in lower fuel consumption and, consequently, lower emissions.

Recycling

Recycling is another priority for us. We practice recycling in all of our locations, and wherever possible, our shops recycle oils and scrap steel.

Work in Evironmentally Sensitive Areas

Ensign occasionally works in environmentally sensitive areas. In such instances, we work closely with our customer to ensure that any potential negative impacts of the planned operation are minimized or eliminated where possible. As a subcontractor to the oil companies, we fall under their overall plans and reporting.

We train our crews to follow good environmental and waste management practices and this is monitored on an ongoing basis by senior supervisors and safety staff.

Diesel Fuel

Ensign’s shops and yards have various quantities of diesel fuel stored in equipment tanks. We monitor and check these sites on an ongoing basis and equipment is strategically located with environmental and safety concerns in mind.

Water Usage and Handling Waste

Water supply and quality issues typically are the responsibility of the operating oil company. However, Ensign manages waste to ensure that any products in use during the drilling or servicing of a well are monitored and any spills are addressed quickly and contained on site.