We comply with applicable laws and local requirements to minimize our impact on the environment.
Climate Change & Biodiversity
Reducing our footprint and protecting ecosystems for a sustainable future.
Biodiversity
Helix recognizes the importance of protecting species and their habitats in the areas where we operate and prioritizes the protection of these ecosystems by managing our environmental impact through our environmental stewardship.
Helix understands its role in providing products and services to marine environments and supporting a value chain from suppliers to subcontractors that may impact the biodiversity where we and they operate.
While we do not engage in (a) exploration activities, (b) site planning or drilling, or (c) choosing the location of platforms or wells we service, we understand there is still the potential for our operations to cause adverse impacts to the biodiversity surrounding the locations we operate.
Biodiversity issues may occur at a project level and are managed by the facility owner or operations (e.g., our customer) with our support.
While certain of our services may impact the biodiversity of the oceans where we operate, many of our services also promote the reclamation of the seabed producing a positive impact to the biodiversity of these areas.
Our Decommissioning services, including well plugging and abandonment, help to safeguard the oceans from leaks and spills. The Helix Alliance business also removes, salvages and recycles surface infrastructure assisting with returning the ocean and the seabed to its prior state. Helix Robotics' services assist with neutralizing World War II unexploded ordinances.
With respect to our operations, we strive to avoid negative impacts by implementing a variety of risk mitigation programs.
Complying with Applicable Laws and Regulations
+
Equipment Maintenance
+
We maintain our equipment in compliance with applicable regulations and engineering standards.
Employee Training
+
We provide training on compliance with local requirements and the proper procedures and protocols should an incident occur across our operations.
Incident Reporting and Learning
+
We mandate the reporting of environmental incidents, including leaks or spills that may impact the environment. We identify factors that contributed to environmental incidents and near-miss incidents to develop corrective and preventive action plans.
For more information on reporting and mitigation, see the Spill Prevention & Response section
Emergency Preparedness
+
Our QHSE teams conduct and participate in emergency response scenario drills with our broader teams and regulatory agencies to educate and improve processes.
Spill and Hazardous Prevention Plans
+
We ensure that these plans are managed across all our operations to prevent pollutants from entering the marine environment.
Contractor Compliance
+
We require our suppliers and vendors to comply with Helix’s Supplier and Vendor Expectations which include complying with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and protecting the environment and promoting sustainable business practices.
Energy Transition / Sustainability Strategy
Helix is committed to protecting the environments in which we operate while maintaining efficient operations.
Avieco Case Study
Helix built-for-purpose well intervention vessels are faster, more efficient and emit less CO2e than a drilling ship according to the avieco study.
Environmental & Energy Statement of Policy
Helix is committed to protecting the environments in which we operate while maintaining efficient operations.
Applying our management systems, we aim to protect and reduce our impact on the environment, reduce our energy consumption where possible, meet our clients’ needs all while delivering shareholder value. When planning our operations, including transit routes, we:
- Consider the biodiversity of our operating locations and of our route.
- Strive to use local crews helping to reduce our air travel and Scope 3 emissions.
- Have a plan in place for each vessel to prevent pollution and manage any incident to minimize its environmental impact.
- Helix’s Business Units maintain Environmental Aspects registers that document environmental risks posed by operations.
Fuel
Fuel efficiency is central to Helix’s operations and sustainability efforts. With a large fleet, fuel consumption is both a critical operational factor and the largest contributor to our Scope 1 emissions.
In 2024, our fuel use increased due to an increase in charter days across vessels and international mobilizations, including the transit of the Q7000 to Brazil from Australia and the transit of the Q4000 from the Gulf of America to Nigeria.
Fuel Efficiency & Emissions Tracking
+
With more than 40 vessels (including Helix Alliance managed vessels) across our fleets, the efficiency of our fuel usage is important to the function of our operations and our ability to minimize emissions.
Helix’s fuel burn is the largest contributor to its Scope 1 GHG Emissions and is tracked continuously to ensure accurate reporting and ways to increase operational efficiency. Fuel use will invariably fluctuate based on the number of days our vessels are working.
Strategies to Reduce Fuel Consumption
+
To minimize fuel usage, we evaluate engine operations and alternative power solutions, including:
• The safest and most efficient number of engines to run based on the services • Altering transit routes and speeds • Vessel hull cleaning to reduce friction in the water • Shore power and battery power.
Investing in Battery Power & Innovation
+
Certain chartered vessels are undergoing upgrades to install battery equipment including a completed installation on the Grand Canyon III in early 2024 with an initial capital outlay in 2023 of approximately $58,000 plus additional daily costs.
Offshore Assets & Onshore Vehicles Fuel 📊
+
Total Fuel Use by Helix Offshore Assets & Onshore Vehicles 📊
+
Mobile Fuel Use/Days Under Charter 📊
+
The Grand Canyon III was upgraded in early 2024 to install battery equipment with an initial capital outlay of approximately $58,000 plus additional daily costs.
Energy & Electricity
Helix monitors energy use across its global operations, with a focus on improving efficiency and increasing the share of renewable electricity.
We track our onshore energy usage globally, regionally and by business unit. Our onshore energy is comprised of both renewable and non-renewable sources, with renewable energy being derived mainly from wind electricity in the UK.
Total Electricity Usage 📊
+
Electricity Usage 📊
+
Water
Water use within Helix operations is minimal, with most needs met offshore through self-sustaining systems. Our vessels produce their own clean water from the ocean, recycle wastewater, and discharge only in compliance with strict international standards.
Self-Sustaining Offshore Water Systems
+
Helix’s operational footprint does not rely on a significant level of water consumption for operations, nor do we produce a measurable amount of wastewater as we recycle dirty water and sewage.
The majority of our operations occur offshore and our vessels contain Reverse Osmosis Water Making Plants (similar to desalination units) fit to produce clean water for everyday operations and thereby enabling a vessel to be fully sustainable, if necessary, with respect to their water needs when operating in deepwater.
Onboard Water Treatment & Discharge
+
To the extent water is needed in operations, water is withdrawn from the ocean and processed onboard via a water treatment system for domestic use.
This is managed through our Reverse Osmosis Water Making Plant wherein we are able to use ocean water cleaned through this system for the vessel’s needs.
After use, water is then treated and upon meeting national or international regulatory standards and permitting requirements, as applicable, discharged back to the ocean.
In order to comply with such regulations, we maintain a robust operational compliance program that we update regularly to meet or exceed applicable regulatory requirements.
Water Scarcity & Risk Management
+
Water withdrawal or scarcity does not impact our offshore operations as the water we use for our vessels comes directly from the ocean and not from any country with high or extremely high baseline water stress.
Onshore Water Use & Compliance
+
We have no onshore operations in any country with high or extremely high baseline water stress (as defined by ResourceWatch). Onshore operations utilize water from municipal utility districts for domestic use. The water metrics tracked in this report are onshore facility use and any water discharge is handled by local water authorities. We use a minimal amount of water in our operations.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans have been put in place at our onshore locations (where applicable) to comply with local regulations. Based on the locations of our onshore operations and the tools developed on many of our vessels, Helix’s operations are unlikely to have an impact on heightened water scarcity due to climate change and droughts.
Total Water Held (Year-end) 📊
+
Total Water Use 📊
+
Total Vessel Water Consumed 📊
+
Total Water Withdrawn 📊
+
Water Used in Operations
(Onshore and Offshore)
– 165,557 m3
Total Water Consumed
(On Vessels)
- 158,898 m3
Total Water Consumed
(Onshore Facilities)**
- 6,659 m3
**Onshore water provided by municipal utility
Spill Prevention & Response
Helix is committed to minimizing environmental spills by implementing control measurements across operations, acting proactively through periodic audits and inspections, and environmental spill prevention awareness.
Spill Prevention Plans
+
Each Helix vessel operates pursuant to a Vessel Response Plan, an Emergency Procedures Manual, and a Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan. The three plans work in tandem to delineate the appropriate response procedure in the event of any accidental spill. Helix conducts drills to train our crews to respond to any environmental incident and spill kits are readily available to immediately address any clean-up.
Compliance
+
Helix legacy vessels comply with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex III (Harmful Substances Pollution Prevention). Chemicals carried in packaged form, in solid form, or bulk are regulated by Part A of Safety of Life at Sea Chapter VII – Carriage of Dangerous Goods, which includes provisions for the classification, packing, marking, labeling and placarding, documentation and stowage of dangerous goods.
In 2024, Helix had no significant environmental controversies and no significant spills.
We define a “significant” environmental event as one resulting from Helix-operated activities with a severity rating of 3 and above (out of 5) as defined by Helix’s Risk Assessment Standards internal severity rating scale.
Helix Fast Response System (HFRS)
The Helix Fast Response System (HFRS) is a compilation of our Company’s unique assets, experience, preparedness, dedication to industry safety and past offshore spill response emergencies.
HFRS Assets
+
The HFRS combines services offered by both the Helix Producer I (HPI) and either the Q4000 or the Q5000 vessels, depending upon availability and location. Calling off working vessels is operationally preferable to a modular system that would take longer to deploy and may go untested for extended periods.
Using our proven methodologies from the Macondo oil spill to provide spill response capacity, the HFRS continues to be named as a well control resource in customers’ permit applications and is a powerful tool in the industry’s arsenal to help mitigate and remediate the environmental risks associated with offshore drilling and production operations in the Gulf of America.
Helix Producer I
+
The HPI is able to process oil and gas discharged from a well. At full production capacity, the HPI is capable of producing 55,000 BOPD and 95 MMSCFD of gas at 10,000 psi in water depths to 10,000 feet.
Q4000 and Q5000
+
The Q4000 and Q5000 are each able to deploy the cofferdam to contain a spill, burn off oil and gas from the well, and in past services, have recovered the blowout preventer.
Each vessel has been outfitted to accommodate a temporary process package that can handle 130,000 BOPD and 220 MMSCFPD at 10,000 psi in water depths to 10,000 feet.
Our Helix Fast Response System (HFRS) is the spill response system of record for 212 drilling permits issued in the Gulf of America since 2014.
Air
Helix tracks emissions of four of the seven main greenhouse gases identified by the Kyoto Protocol separately from its CO2e emissions. These include Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC).
HFCs are incorporated into Other Gases identified in the chart. We have determined the remaining three greenhouse gases identified by the Kyoto protocol - perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) - are not meaningfully released by our operations and therefore are not tracked.
Additionally, we are tracking Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and we are evaluating our capability to track Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Particulate Matter (PM), and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) emissions in the future.
Helix vessels are subject to annual surveys by vessel classification societies and regular inspection by flag and port state control inspectors.
Our services – properly plugging and abandoning wells— prevent future uncontrolled releases, including potential methane leakage in Gulf of America shelf.
Helix Legacy Air Emissions CO2 (mT) 📊
+
Helix Legacy Direct Emissions By Gas Other Gases (mT) 📊
+
Helix Alliance Air Emissions CO2 (mT) 📊
+
Helix Alliance Direct Emissions by Gas Other Gases (mT) 📊
+
Waste
We generate zero Total Hazardous Waste at our Corporate Headquarters in Houston and maintain a Hazardous Waste Disposal Program on all our vessels.
All of our facilities operate in accordance with local requirements for the proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste.
Approximately 97% of water onboard our legacy vessels is treated and returned to the sea. Any remaining water is sent to shore to be appropriately processed. To the extent able, Helix recycles materials used in operations and we actively look to substitute hazardous materials with non-hazardous materials throughout our operations. We utilize licensed third-party waste handlers for the collection, transportation, recovery and disposal of all waste.
Helix implements a Waste Management Standard globally outlining the key responsibilities and procedure for handling all types of waste.
Three of our owned legacy vessels have incinerators with the capability to incinerate waste. Incineration is used sparingly aboard these vessels and is subject to and in compliance with all applicable regulations.
Emissions Performance
Helix closely monitors greenhouse gas emissions to track progress against our reduction goals. Because Scope 1 emissions are directly linked to vessel utilization, overall totals fluctuate with fleet demand and size.
To provide meaningful insight, we measure not only total emissions but also emissions intensity, such as GHG Emissions Per Day Under Charter, which better reflects year-over-year efficiency improvements. Alliance fleet emissions are reported separately as we continue to integrate these vessels into our overall targets.
Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 Emissions are directly tied to Vessel Utilization. As utilization of our vessels and services increase, our total Scope 1 GHG Emissions increase despite our reduction measures. An increase in vessel fleet size also leads to a larger emissions profile.
Scope 2 Emissions
Emissions include indirect GHG Emissions from electricity purchased from a utility provider for our offices and onshore support facilities. Scope 2 GHG Emissions physically occur at the generation facility.
Scope 3 Emissions
This scope encompasses Helix’s indirect emissions, or emissions from sources not controlled by us. Scope 3 GHG Emissions are reported based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard.
Case Studies
Climate Change Risks and Opportunities
Helix recognizes that climate change presents both risks and opportunities that directly impact our business, operations, and long-term strategy.
Guided by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), we assess physical and transition risks, evaluate opportunities, and integrate these findings into enterprise risk management and strategic planning. We also monitor the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) for applicable best practices.
Through cross-functional collaboration and Board oversight, we are building resilience, reducing emissions, and positioning our company to create value in the evolving energy landscape.
Where to Next?
