Pursuant to the Geological and Mining Law, PGNiG is required to properly abandon worked-out extraction pits, eliminate the danger and repair any damage caused by mineral extraction, and restore the land to its original condition. The plugging of wells and pits prevents leakage of crude oil and natural gas to the surface and to water courses. Furthermore, if gas wells remain unplugged, there is a risk that escaping gas could accumulate, posing a fire hazard. In 2015, a total of 51 wells and 41 extraction pits were abandoned.
In 2015, PGNiG TERMIKA S.A. (the Siekierki, Żerań and Pruszków CHP plants and the Kawęczyn and Wola heating plants), the PGNiG Branches in Odolanów (gas compressor station, boiler house and process gas heaters) and in Zielona Góra (LMG oil and gas production facility, Wierzchowice underground gas storage facility, boiler house and oil and gas production facility in Dębno), and the Mogilno and Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facilities were covered by the carbon dioxide emission trading scheme (ETS). In 2015, CO2 emissions from these installations reached 5,560.5 thousand tonnes, and in 2014 – 5,788.8 thousand tonnes. After reconciling its CO2 emissions with emission rights held, and after redeeming the allowances allocated for 2014, a deficit of 2,152.8 thousand tonnes of CO2 free emission units was identified. The deficit was covered with reserve allowances accumulated in the accounts of the Group’s installations (unused free allocations from previous years) and with allowances purchased on the Intercontinental Exchange Futures Europe.
In the current trading period (2013-2020), the free allocation of CO2 emission allowances covers only a part of the actual emissions. The free allocations will be phased out, reaching zero in 2027.
Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law, PGNiG conducts evaluation and land reclamation work in areas which have become polluted in the course of its earlier operations (including those related to traditional gas production), with a view to restoring them to a condition prescribed by environmental quality standards. In 2015, following amendments to the Environmental Protection Law, land properties underwent another review to classify them as requiring reclamation, additional surveys or monitoring.
Drilling operations performed as part of exploration for and production of hydrocarbons affect the environment in the area where they are performed. Drilling operations cause a temporary change in the character of the land, increased emissions of gases and exhaust fumes, higher noise intensity and generation of waste.
To protect land surface, drilling equipment is installed on tightly insulated ground, and any waste generated in connection with borehole drilling or human presence on the drilling site is collected in tightly-sealed vessels and transferred to authorised waste management operators. Diesel oil tanks are stored in special containers. Emissions of gases and exhaust fumes into the atmosphere are limited by maintaining the drilling rig engines in excellent operating condition and using quality fuel to run the engines. Noise intensity is reduced by using new-generation machinery and equipment. Special devices are used to minimise the volume of drilling waste, for instance through drilling mud recycling. On the other hand, the volume of waste generated in connection with the operation of the units (drilling equipment) is limited through the use of modern long-life engine, gear and lubricating oils.
In 2015, as part of the effort to limit the environmental impact of its drilling operations, Exalo Drilling S.A. incurred capital expenditure of approximately PLN 1.3m.
One of the stages in the construction of the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility consists in washing out (leaching) salt from halite deposits. The process creates brine, which is transported to the Puck Bay (Mechelinki region) through a pipeline equipped with diffusers releasing the brine 2,300 metres from the coastline at a rate of (average flow rate) Qav hour = 300 cm/h and Qav day = 7,200 cm/d, and with a salt concentration of 250 kg/cm. The leaching of caverns at the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility began in September 2010 and is scheduled for completion by 2021.
Land and sea monitoring activities are carried out in the vicinity of the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility to assess the project’s environmental impact. These activities are conducted as part of two programmes: the environmental monitoring programme (of May 2009) and the basic and emergency control programme for the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility (of April 2014). The programmes cover the monitoring of underground and surface water, soil, vertical earth surface movements, the condition and operation of the brine discharge installation at the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility, and the impact of the discharged brine on waters of the Puck Bay. The storage facility’s tightness is also monitored by measuring soil air at selected locations. The surveys and observations conducted so far indicate that the operations of the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility do not have a negative impact on the environment. The monitoring activities are conducted by two independent bodies: the Maritime Institute of Gdańsk and the Institute of Hydroengineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences of Gdańsk, as well as by personnel of the Kosakowo underground gas storage cavern facility.
In 2015, PGNiG TERMIKA emitted 5,404 thousand tonnes of CO2 accounted for under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The lower volume of emissions compared with previous years (ca. 6m tonnes) was caused by a drop in production attributable to weather conditions.
In 2015, PGNiG TERMIKA plants emitted:
In 2015, the amount of biomass co-combusted or combusted at PGNiG TERMIKA was 9,393 tonnes (Żerań CHP plant) and 6,409 tonnes (Siekierki CHP plant), respectively. Thanks to the use of biomass as a fuel, CO2 emissions were reduced by 14,420 tonnes in 2015.
