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Essential Energy. Responsibly Produced.
How PureWest is serving our communities through environmental stewardship.
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"Our fundamental purpose, which revolves around advancing modern life through the responsible production of essential energy resources, serves as the very foundation of our company and guides our operational and strategic decisions. As we continue our journey, we are thrilled to provide updates on the progress we've made and the milestones we've achieved in our pursuit of our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives. Our unwavering commitment to environmental excellence remains a key element of our success. It is grounded in our long-standing tradition of resilience, a strategic focus on sustainability, and a steadfast commitment to prioritize safety and responsibility in our operations."
- Christopher Valdez, CEO
Case Study
Overall Environmental Management Using GIS
Our GIS team continues to work on numerous initiatives to improve the environmental management of our operations, including across areas such as spill prevention and biodiversity. We have outlined some of our initiatives below:
GIS DATA STORE
Build and maintain corporate data repository for all PureWest GIS data. This repository houses notable datasets including lease road infrastructure, pad attributes (reclamation status, Trustwell score, etc.), and well data exported by PureWest’s Geology Department. This centralized resource helps us make informed decisions and drive environmental improvements across our operations.
MAP CREATION
These maps serve as visual aids to understand the geographical layout of our operations, providing insights into areas such as biodiversity conservation and spill prevention. Through advanced GIS technology, we're able to craft maps that not only showcase the current status of our sites but also help us drive future actions. Below are a few examples of our mapping initiatives:
- Asset maps
- Regulatory maps
- Route maps for operations
- Pad-level map of the entire field for Ops / Regulatory / Emergency response
- Web map application development for pad planning and Emergency response
- Develop framework and map content for the PureWest ESG StoryMap
LEVERAGE LIDAR DATA
for various purposes including elevation modeling, cuttings planning, etc.
Risk Management
Our risk management policies and procedures are outlined and easily accessible in PureWest’s Environmental Handbook and Safety Handbook. Additionally, we incorporated several risk management practices into our day-to-day operations which are reviewed annually by employees. We also require all employees to complete the following trainings:
- Monthly safety training
- Annual Emergency Action Plan (EAP) training
- Annual air awareness training
- Onboarding environmental and safety training
- Annual ozone training
- Annual environmental and safety training
Trustwell™ Certification Process
Securing the rigorous TrustWell™ certification permitted PureWest to launch a first-of-its-kind responsible energy solution for our customers, Scope 1 and 2 carbon-neutral, certified natural gas. This fuel solution empowers companies and organizations in their energy transition goals. One of our first partners was Pierce Transit, which uses the fuel to power Washington State public transportation. Additionally, PureWest became the first Rockies-based operator to receive the Freshwater Friendly Attribute, as part of Project Canary’s TrustWell™ RSG certification.
TrustWell™ Responsible Gas is natural gas which has been produced from a natural gas well which has gone through the TrustWell™ evaluation and verification process and has a current TrustWell™ rating. This attribute and other associated attributes of the gas, called Verified Attributes, enable gas purchasers to know and claim things about how the natural Definition gas they are purchasing was produced with respect to the environment and responsibility.
Spill Prevention: Secondary Containment
Externally, PureWest has coordinated responses with other operators, regulatory agencies, and local responders to ensure any spill is contained quickly and with minimal damage to the environment. In the event of an accidental release, PureWest staff responds promptly to activate the clean-up and remediation process. Our team members conduct daily walk-throughs of every facility as well as more detailed, thorough inspections periodically of all equipment designed to prevent and contain accidental releases.
Our Environmental Handbook requires that all employees complete an annual training course on spill prevention, response, reporting, containment, and countermeasure protocols. To supplement this mandatory training, we also use a centralized spill response trailer on an annual basis to train for high-risk scenarios, such as boom deployment. We have an Incident Command System structure as part of our Emergency Response One Plan. Through this structure, we test and train our team with regular drills, mock simulations, and deployment of field equipment. Finally, we also conduct a ‘no notice’ emergency response drill for all levels of management at least annually to test for readiness and preparedness.
FAA-Certified Drone Program: We continue to leverage our FAA-certified drone program which collects real-time, aerial imagery that helps us track and analyze potential accidental releases. Should the drone detect a spill, it deploys the appropriate cleanup and containment measures to minimize impact to the environment.
Secondary containment structures provide a second enclosure of the container to minimize the consequences of a failure if the primary containment system fails. Secondary containment structures help block or trap leaks and spills to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the hazardous substance.
2022-2023 SPOTLIGHT
PureWest’s Data-Driven Approach
As part of our commitment to environmental stewardship and continuously improving emissions performance, we have made significant progress on our emissions and operational data management processes.
PureWest continues to participate in the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 initiative:
- OGMP Emission Data Requirements: PureWest leverages Validere’s Carbon Hub SaaS platform to collect and manage emissions and operational data, aligning with our Project Canary TrustWell certification and fieldwide stationary monitoring strategy.
- Materiality Assessment: In 2023, PureWest developed an OGMP 2.0 Implementation Plan, involving a materiality assessment. We’re now exploring emission reduction strategies for identified sources based on the assessment.
- Bottom-up Quantified Emissions Improvements: In 2023, PureWest expanded Project Canary CEM deployment to monitor 50% of production volumes and collaborated with Greenfield Environmental to assess equipment leak emissions to enhance OGMP 2.0 reporting.
- Top-down Quantified Emissions Improvements: We collect top-down, basin-level emissions estimates to enhance the accuracy of comparisons and we have evaluated two industry-leading aerial emission measurement companies in 2023: Scientific Aviation and Bridger Photonics.
Stationary OGI Camera Pilots:
- PureWest conducted pilot studies of three Stationary OGI camera technologies to gain operational efficiency, improved continuous emission detection coverage, and quicker reaction time for emission events. Currently, we are evaluating three stationary OGI companies, including CleanConnect, Kuva, and Andium.
Water Management & Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices (BMP's)
PureWest participated in a comprehensive groundwater study, and it formed a foundation for ongoing annual groundwater monitoring. The study also resulted in 110 best management practices to ensure the continued protection of groundwater. PureWest uses 100% recycled water in its completions, and freshwater withdrawals have been reduced year over year in at least the last five years.
To protect water resources, all our operations are guided by an all-inclusive set of Best Management Practices, which were developed by operators and enforced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In partnership with the BLM, Wyoming DEQ, EPA, State Engineers Office, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and other operators, PureWest also developed a Groundwater Pollution Prevention, Monitoring, and Response Action Plan to operate in line with the highest environmental standards.
This section outlines PureWest's commitment to these BMP's during its production of natural gas.
Climate Risk Management
The identification and assessment of climate-related risks and opportunities are integral parts of PureWest’s comprehensive strategy for addressing environmental challenges and ensuring sustainable growth. Climate risk is a business risk - as a natural gas company, we have a critical role to play in the energy transition and managing the impacts of climate change.
Risk Oversight and Governance
Our commitment to effectively manage climate risks extends from the highest levels of leadership to all employees. We actively engage with our field staff and management on a monthly basis, holding collaborative discussions that serve as a platform for scrutinizing our operations and ongoing projects. Our primary goal is to identify opportunities to enhance performance and comply ensure full compliance with climate-related regulations and standards.
Furthermore, our commitment to climate risk management is deeply embedded in our corporate culture. Our Board of Managers is routinely briefed on the latest developments and challenges related to climate risks. This ongoing engagement ensures that our leadership is not only aware of these critical concerns but also actively involved in crafting and implementing strategies to mitigate them.
Climate Risk Management & Strategy
Climate risk poses the most significant impact to PureWest’s operations and objectives. Our capacity to generate enduring value relies on effectively mitigating climate change-related risks. For example, natural gas, our area of expertise, plays a crucial role in the transition to cleaner energy sources.
At PureWest, we have identified the following key risks:
- Climate change regulations may lead to higher costs and taxes.
- Negative public perception regarding our role in climate change can impact operations.
- Environmentalist pressure may harm reputation and permitting.
- Growing renewable energy may reduce natural gas demand.
- Natural disasters can disrupt operations and result in substantial costs.
- Political uncertainty and declining industry support pose risks.
We aim to mitigate the potential impacts of these risks by taking a proactive approach to risk management and seamlessly incorporating climate risk management into both our business strategy and the responsibilities of our employees. While we have initiated efforts to address the risks, we consider most critical, we want to emphasize our commitment to conducting a formal scenario analysis to thoroughly assess the potential impacts of each risk. An ESG strategy serves as an extension of our risk management program, and as such, many of the mitigation techniques are addressed extensively in this report. We have outlined a few below:
- Incorporating a liquid gathering system to reduce field tanks and spill risks.
- Constantly oversee spills, with goal of minimizing their overall quantities and impact.
- Using multi-casing design with three cemented rings through water-bearing zones in wells.
- Enhancing field education to reduce human errors through improved training methods.
- Utilizing drones for complete, rapid response and 100% cleanup in unforeseen spills.
- Establishing organization-wide sustainability objectives, including the goal of attaining platinum Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG) ratings for over half of our wells.
Our climate related Metrics and Targets can be found in our data tables and throughout the report and appendix.
Social
PureWest prioritizes the health and safety of our workforce, fostering meaningful relationships with our employees, and making a positive impact in the communities in which we live and operate. As we strive toward holistic operational excellence, we continue to care for the wellbeing, inclusion, and success of our workforce and our surrounding communities.
Hart Energy Award
PureWest was honored by Hart Energy as a top ESG producer in the Private E&P Companies category in 2021 and in 2023. As the top natural gas producer in Wyoming, PureWest takes seriously its leadership role when it comes to environmental stewardship, safe and sustainable operations, serving our communities, and prioritizing our people as well as stakeholder value creation.
“PureWest holds itself to a high standard, and it’s an honor to be recognized for our team’s hard work focused on sustainable value creation for all of our stakeholders,” said Kelly Bott, PureWest’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs. “We’re deeply dedicated to making progress toward our goals of achieving ever-higher ESG performance because we know it matters to our customers, our employees and our communities. Thank you to Hart Energy for this recognition, and congratulations to the team at PureWest, who helped us achieve this accomplishment.”
To determine recipients of Hart Energy’s ESG awards, the company worked with Clear Rating, LLC (Clear Rating), a valuation advisory, securities rating agency and ESG analytics firm. Clear Rating provided assessments of nominees using its proprietary evaluation framework, and Hart Energy’s expert panel used the Clear Rating assessments to determine recipients of its inaugural Energy ESG “Top Performer” Awards.
“Energy companies don’t often get credit for their work in these areas,” said Len Vermillion, Hart Energy’s Editorial Director. “We created these awards to spark much deserved recognition. Measuring ESG progress is a complex endeavor, so we were thrilled to partner with Clear Rating, whose expertise helped ensure high standards for the awards.”
Health and Safety
The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority at PureWest. Our commitment to safety is woven throughout all levels and functions of our business and is fundamental to the way we operate both in our offices and field sites. Our strong history of safety success can largely be attributed to the robust health and safety training, policies, protocols and resources we provide our workforce.
We hold monthly safety meeting sessions for our entire team. During these sessions, we discuss safety best practices, identify improvement areas, and review learning opportunities from past incidents. Additionally, employees participate in mandatory annual safety training and emergency safety drills. These drills involve field staff, management, emergency responders, and external safety agencies, and cover mock scenarios including well control events and spills. PureWest also offers educational sessions addressing the risks and appropriate responses to surface and ground water pollution from hypothetical spill events. Overall, these safety offerings ensure that our workforce is well-equipped with hands-on exposure and experience to simulated incidents that could potentially occur on-site. Other health and safety drills we conduct include:
- Operator skills assessments and hearing tests for field operators
- Driving safety and motor vehicle operating preparedness
- Drug and alcohol awareness
- Electrical safety and arc flash awareness
- Ventilation & Hazard Classification Awareness
- CPR Training
- Fire Training
- OSHA compliance
- Gas monitoring
We update our Safety Handbook and Emergency Response Plan regularly to ensure the most updated protocols are reflected within these documents. These resources are effectively communicated to employees and are used during trainings and live responses to incidents.
PureWest continues to represent the oil and gas industry as a 19-year member of the Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Commission.
In 2022, our Total Incident Rate (TRIR) for employees and contractors was 0.77. We continued to have 0 motor vehicle incidents with more than 4.82 million miles driven by employees and contractors, up from over 2 million in 2021. The installation of our Liquid Gathering System has allowed us to avoid approximately 2 million truck loads since 2008, therefore reducing the miles traveled by employees and contractors and reducing our Scope 3 emissions.
HSE Programs and Training
To ensure the health and safety of our environment and employees, PureWest conducts mandatory employee trainings and external coordinated response programs. As outlined in our Environmental Handbook, all employees complete a mandatory training course on our spill prevention, response, reporting, containment, and countermeasure protocols on engagement and annually. We also use a centrally located spill response trailer for annual training, including boom deployment, for high-risk scenarios. Our Emergency Response One Plan includes the Incident Command System structure, which means we test and train our team with regular drills, mock simulations, and field deployment of equipment. At least once a year we conduct a no notice emergency response for all levels of management.
Community Engagement
PureWest remains dedicated to fostering impactful and authentic connections with the communities in which we live and operate. We strongly believe that being a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond business operations -- it’s about giving back and creating meaningful change where it matters most. We offer numerous channels for both our company and our employees to actively participate in making meaningful contributions to our community.
Social Giving Governance
We take our commitment to social giving seriously and in doing so, we established a governing body to drive transparent oversight and decision-making. Our employee-led Giving Committee is responsible for steering and managing our community support strategy and programs and social giving initiatives. To ensure diversity and efficiency in decisionmaking, each Giving Committee member is expected to serve a one-year term. Every December, the executive team undertakes the responsibility of appointing members to this Committee. This structure allows us to maintain an active and responsive approach to our charitable initiatives, while also enabling diverse perspectives in leadership roles. At all times, the Committee is comprised of a representative from the executive team along with four employees.
The Giving Committee convenes every January to select a chairperson among the four employees—a role responsible for overseeing various aspects of the Committee’s operations. These responsibilities include organizing meetings, tracking contributions, monitoring the Committee’s communications, routing proposals for corporate giving, managing employee matches, and addressing any other Committee-related issues.
Community Relations and Programs
Through our dedicated community relations programs, we actively engage with the local community in several impactful ways. PureWest has been involved in numerous community engagement programs for several years, showcasing our longstanding commitment to our communities:
See more information below on our community engagement programs:
Sustainable Investing
Energy Initiative
In 2022, we teamed up with Energy Outreach Colorado at Sanctuary Golf Course for the 20th Annual Golf Classic, contributing to their fundraising efforts. These proceeds directly benefited critical home energy programs for Colorado’s most vulnerable households. With our support, EOC raised a remarkable $271,330 from this event, surpassing last year’s total by $46,695.
Humanitarian Crisis and Food Security
Hunger Initiative
In 2022, PureWest’s Charitable Giving Committee continued to dedicate its efforts to addressing the issue of food security. Our primary focus was providing assistance to families who face challenges in various aspects of life. In addition to our charitable donations, throughout the year, we supported the Pinedale Food Basket, helping them organize and maintain their shelves to meet the diverse needs of their customers. Additionally, our commitment to the community remained steadfast as we continued to alleviate the burden of local school lunch debt in Sublette County.
Economic & Social Wellbeing Initiative
At PureWest, we are committed to supporting foundations dedicated to community wellbeing and home building, helping create safe and stable communities for a brighter future. In 2022, a team of PureWest employees volunteered for Habitat for Humanity to build a new home for a local family. We also organized several outdoor fundraisers to support various local nonprofits within the local areas.
Global Health
Health Initiative
Our company proudly contributes to the Craig Hospital Foundation, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital among others, demonstrating our commitment to social responsibility and community betterment. Additionally, in 2022, PureWest continued to support families impacted by a cancer diagnosis through Fishing for the Fight, which is a fund that provides assistance to the surrounding Pinedale, Wyoming community.
Education Initiative
PureWest is dedicated to supporting education by making regular contributions to foundations committed to empowering future generations. For several years, we have maintained our support for The Children’s Learning Center in Sublette County, while also contributing donations exceeding $12,000 to various other foundations.
Foundations We Support:
"PureWest continues to evolve into an increasingly diverse energy organization. We remain committed to addressing racial barriers by fostering community partnerships, advancing job opportunities, and nurturing inclusive talent and leadership development. We strongly believe that our commitment to diversity and inclusion enhances our innovation, enabling us to serve as a progressive and impactful leader in promoting social equality.”
Workforce Engagement
At PureWest, workforce engagement stands as a cornerstone within our corporate culture. Throughout 2022, we dedicated significant efforts to assess and enrich our employee programs. By tailoring initiatives to individual needs, we foster personal and professional growth. This approach cultivates trust and respect, supporting a collaborative atmosphere within our organization.
Talent Acquisition and Development
We place great value on a diverse spectrum of backgrounds, skillsets, and beliefs, particularly in the context of our talent recruitment and retention procedures. Our policy is to assess all eligible candidates for open roles and ensure equal opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of their race, gender, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status as per relevant laws.
Every employee, regardless of their employment status (salaried or hourly), is required to establish professional objectives that enable them to work towards their own goals and aspirations. Managers work with salaried employees to ensure that their goals support their long-term career development objectives. In terms of compensation, we regularly review employees’ progress to ensure their job title accurately reflects their responsibilities and skills. We also regularly conduct market surveys to ensure our salaries are in line with the market rate.
Our holistic approach ensures accountability, transparency, and growth for our employees.
Employee Benefits and Wellbeing
Our organization prioritizes a healthy work-life balance as part of our commitment to mental health and wellbeing. We accomplish this by actively investing in programs and resources that empower our workforce to mitigate stress, enhance mindfulness, boost productivity, and cultivate stronger career engagement. PureWest also continues to thrive in remote work, offering employees flexibility to balance work with life.
PureWest provides its employees with extensive benefits and an employee wellness package, encompassing leave and time-off benefits, with a strong focus on comprehensive health coverage. As a part of our employee appreciation program, we acknowledge each employee’s dedication to the company on an annual basis. Additionally, every five years, employees are offered the opportunity to select a gift card of their choice as a token of our gratitude.
Our Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) provides 24/7 confidential help for employees and household members at no cost. Furthermore, as part of our commitment to employee wellbeing, we provide free mental health counseling services. We provide employees access to a 24-hour helpline through Anthem to assist members on our plan in setting up an appointment with a behavioral health professional. Employees and their families can also easily access counseling sessions at local clinical practices, enhancing our comprehensive health plan benefits. Investing in the mental health of our employees and their families is central to our mission, nurturing a healthy and engaged workforce.
As we evolve our offerings, our dedication to an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace remains unwavering, ensuring a brighter future for all at PureWest. To do so, we prioritize tailoring our comprehensive rewards packages to the unique needs of every employee. For example, last year we expanded benefits to include additional religious and cultural holidays, alongside dedicated support for underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQ community. These priorities are meant to continue fostering the company’s inclusivity and equity, exemplifying our commitment to DE&I.
This commitment to equity is further reflected in our practices. PureWest conducts frequent pay equity analyses, updates job descriptions for new roles, and benchmarks salary data against peers. Our commitment to equity is evident in our hiring process, promotions, and ongoing compensation adjustments.
Employee Wellness Spotlight
In 2022, PureWest continued to build upon the work of our Wellness Committee by expanding its offerings in the realms of nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, and more.
One significant development in 2022 was the enhancement of our monthly wellness newsletters. These newsletters have grown to become an even more valuable resource for our employees, delivering comprehensive support, an employee recognition program, expert advice, delicious recipes, and essential helpline information.
Here is a snapshot of our monthly newsletter
Governance
PureWest is dedicated to operating with the highest levels of transparency, corporate ethics, and stakeholder engagement throughout our organization. Our commitment to responsible corporate governance and environmental and social stewardship is at the core of all that we do and is reflected in our long-term strategic business plan.
CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY GOVERNANCE
PureWest’s Board of Managers (“Board”) is responsible for the governance and oversight of the company. Each member of our Board of Managers boasts a unique range of skill sets, perspectives, and expertise to their roles at PureWest. The Board meets quarterly and integrates ESG issues into all meetings and relevant decision-making. Our Senior Vice President for ESG, Land and Regulatory, in conjunction with the executive team and Board of Managers, is responsible for the governance and oversight of PureWest’s ESG program. The executive team meets twice weekly to discuss departmental issues, including ESG. Additionally, there are weekly meetings between the executive team and Board Chair to discuss strategic initiatives related to sustainability.
To hold ourselves accountable and remain transparent with our employees and community, PureWest sends monthly newsletters to all employees and the community. The newsletter ensures that ESG and sustainability remain at the forefront of our day-to-day roles and responsibilities. Each year, PureWest reevaluates and adjusts the goals that are tied to our annual incentive plan. For the past several years, these goals have included safety, ESG, and standard economic performance components.
ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
At PureWest, we conduct business according to the highest ethical standards. Ethics and integrity are woven into all aspects of our business, from field operations to local community engagement and employee benefits. Our system of internal controls ensures the achievement of our business objectives while minimizing risk and negative impact on the environment and communities in which we work. PureWest strives to further enhance our reputation for transparency and integrity by consistently considering short- and long-term strategic planning through an ethical lens. All employees are required to review and sign the Code of Ethics policy. Additionally, new hires receive Code of Ethics training as part of their onboarding process. Violations of this Code may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal. Our comprehensive Code of Ethics and Business Conduct provides critical guidance to ensure integrity across our organization.
We are firmly committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations and maintain transparent and timely financial disclosures. In addition to being important to both our internal and external stakeholders, we are required to report audited and unaudited financials per our credit and LLC agreements.
Topics Covered Under Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
Leadership Responsibilities
Conflict of Interest, Confidential Information, and Other Matters Regulatory Compliance
Customer, Supplier, Competitor, and Employee Relations
Anti-Bribery and Money Laundering
Workplace Harassment
Insider Trading
Health and Safety
Ethics and Fair Dealing
Asset Protection and Use
WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY
The primary objective of our Whistleblower Policy is to provide a secure and supportive framework through which our employees can recognize and voice their concerns, all while being assured that there will be no repercussions or backlash for doing so. This policy underscores our commitment to cultivating an environment of transparency and accountability.
Within this policy, we have outlined the step-by-step procedure in the Employee Handbook for employees to identify and articulate their concerns. Additionally, a link to the confidential reporting hotline is available on the company’s intranet site. PureWest has contracted with a third party, Lighthouse, to handle complaints received through confidential hotline. In the event that a complaint is received, it is forwarded to the appropriate senior leadership department head for action. Our employees have the essential right to utilize these processes and trust that the company will respond promptly and effectively.
RISK MANAGEMENT
At PureWest, risk is mitigated through multiple strategies: