Enabling circularity

We align with evolving consumer expectations and regulatory trends, working to position our organization as a responsible steward of resources.

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Sustainability

Circularity is about efficient resource management in a holistic way

Our circular practices aim to minimize waste, maximize the lifespan of products, and prioritize the efficient use of resources throughout the entire lifecycle. By embracing circularity, SLB contributes to reducing environmental footprint, conserving valuable resources, and mitigating the negative impacts associated with traditional linear production and consumption models.

At SLB, we have designed our circularity approach in a holistic transformation across several functions in the organization, including Supply Chain, Technology Development & Delivery, and Technology Lifecycle Management.

Two SLB employees in blue coveralls working to fix machinery

Nature

Maintain equipment and prolong life

Our TLM function focuses on efficiently moving assets through the maintenance process while ensuring that they are serviced to full operational readiness. To trigger these maintenance events, TLM is moving from traditional time-based maintenance—which can result in excessive transportation and servicing of assets—to condition-based maintenance, which optimizes maintenance schedules based on the operating environment and measurable criteria. This process is being further enhanced through new digital capabilities with intelligent health analyzers that advise on tool health and maintenance needs. By optimizing maintenance programs, we can reduce the number of assets required and the resources consumed to maintain them.

In addition to optimizing asset maintenance, the TLM function has a framework and structure to maximize asset life. Our maintenance and operations teams work collaboratively with the technology sustaining engineering teams to identify asset and component life limiters and continually implement maintenance program and design changes to extend useful life.

Reduce

Design or redesign an asset, product, or process to consume less and be resource efficient.

The expanded adoption of digital-based maintenance tasks such as tool system health analyzers, sensor-based non-destructive inspection, and machine learning visual inspection have extended equipment life, reduced transportation-related emissions, increased the use of recycled material, and avoided CO₂e emissions.

Additionally, hardware upgrades for performance and reliability, sensor calibrations, and vessel recertifications have reduced transportation-related emissions.

Reuse

Use or redistribute an asset or product for its original intended purpose or functionality.

By scaling up asset salvage and component re-use programs, digitizing the capture of re-usable equipment inventory, and re-designing procurement workflows, we are improving asset and slow moving inventory re-distribution, re-injecting materials into product lifecycles, and avoiding CO₂e emissions.

Refurbish

When it is no longer possible to maintain, reuse, or remanufacture our assets or products, we work with various vendors to identify economically viable recycling opportunities.

At our Houston Technology Center, for example, drill bits that have reached their end of life are recycled. Most drill bits are made of tungsten carbide matrix material that can be pulverized, decontaminated, and resintered to make new bits. Up to 30% of the consumed matrix powder can come from recycled materials, and this has enabled us to reclaim between 150–300 metric tons of scrap drill bits per year.

Repurpose

Recycle

In the UAE, our learning center in Abu Dhabi finished its second waste minimization campaign, which measures food waste from the cafeteria and challenges the multinational groups of instructors and students to do their part. Since 2018, the campaign in the cafeteria has reduced average food waste per meal by 51%.

Yannick

Reducing food waste consumption in Abu Dhabi

An SLB operator inspecting equipment used in operations, focusing on optimizing reliability, sustainability, and performance

Technology Lifecycle Management (TLM) Circularity Network

This function oversees the acquisition, maintenance, and enrichment of technology and equipment used in operations, focusing on optimizing reliability, sustainability, and performance to meet the evolving needs of our customers. The "5R” framework serves as a starting point to monitor and track improvements in our collective efforts, making circularity not only paramount for sustainability but also for our business impact. Aligning sustainability gains with profitability provides a greater incentive for innovation and expansion. Additionally, we’ve pursued innovation in sustainability challenges by leveraging data insights, machine learning, and video analytics, enhancing efficiency by reducing waste and enabling data-driven decisions for a more significant impact.