Environmental monitoring

KPO implements a number of environmental programmes, which cover all areas of the production activities. Among the core programmes, there is a Production Environmental Control (PEC) Programme developed in line with the RoQ Environmental Code requirements to meet the following objectives:

• obtaining reliable data about the Company’s emissions and impact of production operations on the environment;
• minimizing the impact on the environment and human health;
• rapid and proactive response to emergencies;
• communication to stakeholders (local communities, state regulatory bodies, Parent companies) about the environmental activities of KPO and risks for human health.

As part of the PEC Programme, KPO monitors environmental emissions such as air emissions, wastewater discharge, waste treatment and disposal, and the quality of environmental components such as air, surface and ground water, and soil. The PEC monitoring of the quality of soils, surface and ground water demonstrated that concentrations of target substances in 2020 were on a par with those observed in previous years. There were no evidences that the Karachaganak Field operations may have impacted any of environment’s components.

KPO monitors air quality by ways of collecting and testing the samples – the job is performed by an accredited laboratory as well as 18 stationary automatic EMSs. Air quality is assessed based on sanitary and hygienic limits, i.e. maximum permissible concentrations (MPC). To identify the level of air pollution, the recorded concentrations of monitored components are compared against the maximum permissible concentrations and quantified in fractions.

In 2020, as part of the PEC Programme over 100,000 samples were collected, 117,000 laboratory analyses and 28,000 measurements were completed.

KPO pays particular attention to protection of air quality across the Karachaganak Field, at the Sanitary Protection Zone boundaries and the settlements adjacent to the Field.

Air monitoring by automatic Environmental Monitoring Stations 

18 stationary automatic EMSs are installed within the Karachaganak Field and along the perimeter of the SPZ (EMSs 001 – 018) and integrated into a single automatic environmental monitoring system.

Since the new sanitary protection zone (SPZ) was established and became effective from 01.01.2018, a project to relocate EMSs onto the new SPZ boundary was launched. As of end 2020, 12 EMSs are located along the SPZ boundary: 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014, 016, 017, and 018. Two EMSs 005 and 015 are to be relocated in 2021.

Annual average concentrations of the monitored components at the boundary of the Karachaganak Field SPZ recorded by the EMSs in 2020 are shown in table 25. The column ‘Actual annual average concentration’ shows the minimum and maximum average concentrations of the monitored air components recorded by each EMS

Tab. 25. The annual average concentrations of the monitored air components recorded by EMS in 2020

* Criteria of air quality at the SPZ boundary is MPC one-time.

⁸MPC one-time is a maximum permissible one-time concentration of a chemical substance (in mg/m³ ) in the ambient air of settlements. This concentration shall not cause a reflex response in human bodies (delay of a breath, irritation of eyes, upper respiratory tract, etc.) in case of 20-30 min of inhalation.

All the EMSs take measurement of the four main pollutants (H₂S, SO₂, NO₂, CO) on a continuous basis, i.e. 24/7. According to the data received from the EMSs in 2020, the actual daily, monthly, quarterly and annual average concentrations of the monitored components did not exceed the average daily MPC; however, on July 17, 2020, EMS 18 recorded MPC one-time exceedances measured within a short period of 20 minutes.

It should be noted that no connection has been found between the exceedances shown in table 26 and KPO field operations. The review of the KPO field operations and the meteorological parameters at the time of the MPC one-time exceedances suggest that all production facilities were in normal operation, with no flaring events, no equipment failures and emergencies recorded.

Tab. 26. One-time MPC exceedances recorded by EMS’s in 2020

Based on weather conditions, ESE and SE winds were recorded whereby KPO field operations could not have affected the atmospheric air in the area of EMS-18. Direct H₂S sources across KPO facilities were not identified. Major grass fires in Uspenovka rural district, Berezovka, Tungush and adjacent areas had caused the carbon monoxide (CO) exceedances. No gas odour complaints from the local communities adjacent to the Karachaganak Field were raised on the date the MPC exceedances were recorded. In line with the RoQ Environmental Code (article 130, clause 1, subclause 6), KPO sent a notification to the WQO Environmental Department with respect to the fact of the exceedances recorded on EMS-18.

Air quality data from all 18 KPO automatic EMSs are transmitted online to the West Qazaqstan Oblast Environmental Department via the Ecomonitor portal.

Atmospheric air monitoring in the villages adjacent to the Karachaganak Field

There are stationary air monitoring posts in six settlements located around the field: Zharsuat, Zhanatalap, Dimitrovo, Karachaganak, Priuralnoye, Uspenovka, and in Aksai. Air sampling is carried out four (4) times a day at 1, 7, 13 and 19 hours according to the State Standard by the permanent personnel of the contracted laboratory, who reside in the villages. Approximately 52,000 air samples were collected and analysed at the stationary posts in 2020.

Air samples are delivered to the laboratory in Aksai where they get chemically tested for the content of five main components in accordance with the State Standard and Ruling Documents: hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and methylmercaptan (СH₃SH). In addition, every 10 days the air is monitored for concentration of volatile organic components: benzene (C₆H₆), toluene (C₇H), xylene (C₈H₁₀).

Monthly results of air monitoring are published in local print media and distributed to the villages for posting on the information boards. If any gas odour complaint is raised by someone the community, an unscheduled air sampling is performed at stationary posts.

In 2020, No MPC exceedances was recorded for the daily average concentrations of the monitored air components in the villages.

In 2020, seven complaints with respect to gas odour were raised by the village communities adjacent to the Karachaganak Field. Unscheduled air sampling was carried out in the villages with results of the analyses showing that contents of the monitored components did not exceed the MPC’s. Each complaint from an initiator with respect to gas odour has been addressed.

Annual average concentrations of the monitored air components in the seven villages in 2020 are shown in table 27. The column ‘Actual annual average concentration’ shows the minimum and maximum values of annual average concentrations of the controlled air components.