Bridging Operations and Environmental Goals
Thoughts on creating joint value for operations and sustainability.
For years, our team at Arolytics has been meeting with the environmental and regulatory teams within oil and gas companies. This is where our products and solutions originally were the most relevant, and where the 'decision makers' were found. Over the past year, we've seen a shift- tons of additional engagement with Operations teams, to the point where many decisions are being made jointly and collaboratively.
Across industries, a common tension persists: operations teams focus on production up time, efficiency, and cost control, while environmental teams prioritize emissions reduction and regulatory compliance. These objectives often feel at odds—one chasing output, the other advocating for reductions. Yet, this perceived conflict masks an opportunity: aligned strategies can drive wins on both fronts.
Emissions Management as an Efficiency Driver
At Arolytics, our mission is to help oil and gas companies strategically abate their emissions for improved business performance.
Managing emissions effectively is not simply about meeting environmental targets; it’s about operational excellence. Unaccounted leaks, equipment malfunctions, and inefficient processes all lead to excess emissions - lost product and higher cost. Methane, for example, is a core commodity in oil and gas operations; every molecule vented or leaked could be revenue lost.
Consider the link:
- Leak detection reduces unplanned downtime and equipment failures.
- Accurate emissions data informs smarter maintenance schedules.
- Reducing flaring and venting often cuts fuel costs and improves safety.
When environmental teams and operations collaborate, emissions management becomes an efficiency multiplier, not a cost center.
Dual Wins: Case Studies
Across our client base, we’ve seen how companies achieve dual wins—improved environmental performance and operational KPIs:
Case Study 1: Early Detection of High-Risk Emission Events
Supplementing the value gained by independent 3rd party emission measurements, operational data, such as SCADA data, can support the early detection of probable emission events such as unlit flares, or tank thief hatches that require maintenance.
Case Study 2: Prioritize Emissions Field Response - avoid alarm fatigue
Operators can optimize their maintenance and field responses to emission events by linking operational data (ie. SCADA) with independent emissions measurement data. By prioritizing response to emission events, a reduction of methane intensity and maintenance costs is possible, ensuring focus on the highest-risk sites.
Alignment Strategies
The challenge isn’t intention—it’s integration. Departments often operate under conflicting KPIs. How do you bridge this?
- Operations: maximize throughput, minimize OpEx
- Environment: minimize emissions, ensure compliance
Three practical steps:
- Create Shared Metrics: Combine cost and carbon. For instance, calculate cost per ton of CO₂e reduced or revenue recovered from emissions mitigation.
- Integrate Data Systems: Centralize operational and environmental data for a unified view. When teams see the same dashboard, they make decisions that support both objectives. Arolytics' AroViz software is actively supporting clients in this area.
- Incentivize Cross-Functional Wins: Reward joint targets, such as “reduce emissions intensity without reducing production.”
The Arolytics Advantage
With our emissions intelligence platform AroViz, Arolytics helps companies analyze, and act on emissions data in ways that improve operational performance. We make collaboration between operations and environment teams not just feasible—but transformative.
Want to learn how your organization can integrate operations and environmental goals? Book a demo with Arolytics today or email info@arolytics.com.