CNOOC is committed to maintaining rigorous standards for health, safety and environment (HSE) care, based on its HSE philosophy of safety first and focus on prevention. It is part of CNOOC's rooted core values that employees are the ultimate valuable resource to the company, and it works toward achieving balance between energy generation and environmental protection, through continuous improvement in HSE management.

CNOOC fully implemented HSE management in its projects, including newly launched projects, and project renovations and expansions.

To execute improvement in HSE management, CNOOC Limited completed documentation of HSE standards, training, implementation and audit. It also completed reviews of HSE management for Shenzhen and Zhanjiang branches. In addition, CNOOC's subsidiaries completed integration of HSE management, renovation, training, execution and certification application.

To improve the comprehensive quality of employees and enhance their awareness of HSE management, CNOOC organized seminars on safety rescue, environmental protection laws and regulations, risk analysis, SOS rescue, incident investigation and statistics. It held training courses for a total of 9,466 employees.

Technological advance is one of the principal approaches for HSE management. CNOOC developed a Tracking System for Oil Spill in Bohai Bay , completed Research on Statistics of Offshore Oil and Gas Field Greenhouse Gas Emissions. CNOOC Limited Shenzhen Branch conducted Research on Waste Drainage Oil Strip, and compiled a Collection of Incident Cases in Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Transportation in China and Overseas.

To strengthen HSE information management, CNOOC has begun to publish Health, Safety and Environment Report since 2002. CNOOC Limited reports quarterly incidents and lost-time incidents to investors and American Petroleum Institute (API). As well, it has published Excellent Operation Practice, a guidebook for HSE management, and kept delivering to its subsidiaries the latest data released by the authoritative international agencies such as OGP and SPE.

Emergency response is an inalienable HSE focus for offshore operation. CNOOC headquarters and its subsidiaries reorganized their emergency response plan, in accordance with best practices. It updates its emergency card every quarter and exchanges information with domestic and foreign emergency service institutes and oil companies periodically, to build up an internationalized resource library for emergency responses. In addition, it has established Bohai Environmental Protection Service Company, to facilitate its efforts in this regard.

CNOOC reinforced HSE management in 2006 and the focus was to optimize HSE management system, improve staff health, preserve environment as well as enhance training on HSE. Measures were taken to arouse consciousness to safety, implement environment preservation, improve risk management and enhance staff quality to safeguard smooth operation.

Offshore Environmental Protection

CNOOC pays much attention to offshore environmental protection and strictly carries out the State Environmental Protection laws. It implements a complete set of offshore oil E&P environmental protection regulations to coordinate development between oil exploration and offshore ecological protection.

In order to meet the strict requirements on environmental protection required by UN Environmental Protection and Development Conference, CNOOC revised and issued a series of management regulations including Environmental Protection for Offshore Oil Industry, and ordinances for drilling teams, platforms and vessels. It has adopted a responsibility allocation system for environmental protection and has targetted pollution prevention.

In order to prevent new pollens generating, CNOOC insists on three particular principles, that is, pollution prevention and the production of offshore oil/gas operation should be designed, operated and put into production at the one time. When the overall oil/gas field development scheme was made, CNOOC prepared an environmental impact report, which was reviewed and accepted by the State Environment Department. It forecast the possible impact of oil/gas field exploration. Advanced technologies of pollution prevention have been employed to reduce the impact of exploration activities to the lowest possible levels. At present, each oil/gas field which goes into operation is fitted out with supervision equipment for oil-bearing sewage processing that meet the State's discharge standards. All operators in oil/gas fields, equipped with recoverable equipment, have their emergency plans to prevent and control any major illegal discharge accidents.

In 2006, CNOOC speeded up the implementation of the government's Advice on Strengthening Environmental Protection on Offshore Oil Exploration and Development and Regulations on Environmental Protection Management of Marine Projects. The regulations set the five-year plan and annual plan for reduction of marine pollutants in major waters. CNOOC also put the records of HSE management into annual performance review. The Company also continued to promote clean production concept. It took measures at every stage of the production to check and monitor environment impact to take quick and corresponding actions if problems occur.

Management system of safe operation

Offshore oil operation is conducted in all types of weather; therefore, CNOOC attaches importance to the safety of operating staff and offshore facilities. Since its incorporation, CNOOC has consistently implemented a policy of ensuring safe work practice, putting prevention first. CNOOC has established sound safety management, strengthened compensation legalities and has placed great emphasis on safety training and education...

A good example of CNOOC's safety approach was reflected in 1999 when China experienced several natural disasters including a typhoon and sea ice in coastal waters. CNOOC implemented efficient measures to ensure safe operation of its exploration activities in these unfavorable circumstances. This applied to all members of staff as well as all offshore oil and gas infrastructure.

In early 2006, CNOOC issued the Regulations on Health, Safety and Environment Management for Contractors. The regulations enhance and optimize supervision of contractor's practices on health, safety and environment. The regulations will lower the risk of accidents and immensely reduce the possibility of accidents to the least.

CNOOC pays great attention to the safety and health of its staff

One day in the evening, a member of staff at CNOOC administrative office was cycling and collided with someone and had one of his teeth broken. Usually, people would think they have encountered bad luck when something like this happens. However, this time, this staff member was compensated by the insurance company, because CNOOC had purchased personal accident insurance for him.

CNOOC has always regarded that people are essential, and it takes this ideal as its business philosophy. CNOOC gives much attention to management and training for occupational health. The Company strengthened supervision and monitoring of occupational safety and promotion of healthy living styles of the employees. In 2006, CNOOC undertook occupational disease assessment and on-site occupational disease-causing factors monitoring in over 10 construction projects. The company continued to construct the electronic database of the health of employees and organized various occupational safety-training programs. The hospitals owned by the company are gradually changing their functions to provide more medical and consultant services.

It has developed a comprehensive insurance system, so as to ease concerns of employees. The company offers full insurance coverage to all employees including retirement, unemployment, medicare, injury and birth giving.