S. Depraz, IPIECA, and R. Feil, BP, and R. Gossen, Canadian Occidental, and J. Kearns, BHP, and J. Marvillet, Total, and P. Scupholme, BP, and S. Sonnenberg, Mobil, and N. Szydlowski, Chevron, and B. Tramier, Elf, and G. Ungerleider, Exxon The oil and gas industry has been operating in some of the world's most sensitive environments for more than 100 years. These range from deserts, man groves, wetlands, coral reefs, tropical rain forests and frozen tundra to heavily populated urban environments. Although the industry's environmental record has not been perfect, it has been a pioneer in developing and using new technologies and in implementing management systems to minimize the impact of its operations. The industry's continuous efforts to improve have intensified in recent years, reflecting heightened public awareness and interest regarding the way that industry manages its interface with the environment, local communities and the public at large. Its efforts also reflect a rapidly involving policy framework including international initiatives such as the UN Convention on Biodiversity. Developed by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) in partnership with the Oil Industry International Exploration and Production Forum E&P Forum), this publication has three key objectives:To demonstrate that minimal impact operations are achievable in a diverse range of environmental and social settings;To actively encourage good practices, high standards and continuous improvement; andTo provide a basis for discussion with groups outside the industry with a view to promoting ongoing improvement of industry environmental performance. The publication uses a series of case studies to describe some of the oil industry's experience of operating responsibly in sensitive environments. It includes 'best practice' examples across the full range of oil industry activities. Some cases relate to operations near conservation sites of global importance; others describe sites that are of special value to local people. The list of case studies available as of April 1997 is given in table 1. A key theme that runs throughout the case studies is the need to balance environmental impacts with economic benefits - benefits not only to the oil company, but also to the countries and communities in which it operates. In achieving this balance, different technologies and management systems may be appropriate for different sets of circumstances. Eight key management features which the oil industry uses to work towards this balance have been identified and are illustrated in the case studies. They are outlined in the following paragraphs.

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