Methodology
Methodology for Definition of the Sustainability Directives
The guiding conceptual framework highlighted the critical themes for the sustainability of Petrobras’ oil and gas production in the Amazon region with respect to the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability.
The identification of the critical themes associated with the global reduction of environmental impacts was based on the principles of ecoefficiency and the prevention of impacts on biodiversity
The activities involving installations and transport were also dealt with as critical themes, since the enhancement of the environmental development of these activities is fundamental in order that the objectives of the Director Plan may be achieved, in view of the fact that these activities underpin all the others. In addition to this, the technological solutions developed for the activities involving installations and transport in Urucu can be transferred – in partnership with the research institutions – to the Amazon communities, making alternative solutions available to society that can improve the lifestyle conditions in a manner compatible with forest conservation.
The theme of risk and contingency management deals with the prevention of accidents and readiness to tackle emergency situations involving trained and organized human resources. It also involves specific material resources and procedures to minimize detrimental effects to the health of the workforce, the communities, the environment and humankind’s heritage
The themes of cultural heritage, workforce and external public seek to delineate actions relating to the socio-cultural interface of oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Amazon region.
Lastly, the theme of communication covers the institutional drive required for the directives established above to be incorporated as an inherent value in all oil and gas exploration and production operations in the Amazon region
Considering the dimensions corresponding to sustainability, the critical themes identified are:
Environmental dimension: energy and atmosphere, water resources, residues and materials, biodiversity, recuperation of impacted areas, installations, transport and risk and contingency management.
Social dimension: cultural heritage, workforce, external public and communication.
Having defined the critical objectives and themes, a set of directives with differing degrees of scope and scale was established
Macro-directives: broad ranging directives applicable to all of the themes identified that govern the remaining directives;
General directives: directives associated predominantly with one theme, but which have connections with several other themes;
Specific directives: specific guidelines for a given theme, the importance of which made them worthy of mention.
Figure 2 illustrates the organization of the directives at their different levels:
Figure 2 – Schematic drawing of the organization of the directives