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To celebrate International Women's Day, we’re taking the opportunity to highlight some of the talented women at Elemental Energies who make a difference every day. We’re proud that women represent 29.3% of our workforce, a statistic that reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team strengthens our company and drives our success.
We're excited to feature Helene Folkvord, Environmental Advisor, as part of our ‘meet the team’ series. Helene joined us in 2023 and has already made a significant impact with her expertise in environmental management and sustainability in well operations.
Read on to learn more about Helene’s career journey, her role at Elemental Energies, and her insights into the future of environmental advisory in the energy sector.
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I’ve always had an interest in chemistry, and from a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career. I decided to move to Denmark for my higher education to study for a degree as a Laboratory Technician. After achieving my degree, I spent two years working in material testing, where I became even more curious about the chemistry behind materials and their behavior when exposed to different environments. This curiosity led me to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering, followed by a master’s degree in the same field.
Throughout my studies, there was a strong focus on sustainability and how to optimize chemical processes to reduce emissions and environmental impact. One course that really stood out to me was “Platform Chemicals”, which focused on the source and origin of all chemicals, from inorganic minerals and organic substances to complex polymers. My biggest takeaway from this course was the realization that almost all chemicals can be traced back to just seven platform chemicals, all derived from natural gas and crude oil. This sparked my interest in petroleum chemistry and helped me understand how heavily dependent we are on the energy sector.
After completing my education and spending nine years abroad, I came across a job opening for an Environmental Advisor — a role I didn’t even know existed! Given my background in chemistry and sustainability, I thought, why not be part of the movement to make the industry greener? It felt like the perfect fit.
I started my role as Environmental Advisor in 2023. From day one, I’ve been exposed to a wide range of projects with varying challenges, making it an excellent place to kick off my career and expand my knowledge.
One thing that really surprised me was how thoroughly environmental impact is accounted for in well operations. Everything is monitored, measured, and controlled — and I was impressed to see the proactive steps taken to minimize environmental impact.
What excites me most about working at the intersection of environmental management and well operations is the opportunity to bring two traditionally separate worlds together. Historically, well operations have focused primarily on extracting resources as efficiently as possible, while environmental management is about protecting ecosystems and minimizing harm. The overlap between these two disciplines allows us to reduce environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency, creating a more sustainable future for the industry.
It’s a role that combines problem-solving, innovation, and the potential to create positive change — and that’s what excites me most.
The focus on sustainability and environmental impact has accelerated significantly over the past few years — and I expect it to grow even faster in the next decade.
Regulations around emissions, water usage, waste management, and biodiversity protection will continue to tighten. Governments and international organizations are pushing harder for emissions reductions and sustainability standards, which means operators will need to prioritize ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance. This shift will fundamentally change how well operations are planned and executed.
I also think that technology and digitalization will play a massive role. Real-time data monitoring, environmental performance tracking, and predictive analytics will allow us to identify and mitigate potential environmental risks much faster. This will lead to more sustainable, data-driven decision-making during operations.
That said, one of the biggest challenges will be balancing profitability and sustainability. Introducing cleaner technologies, emissions reduction strategies, and alternative energy sources may come with high upfront costs, and there is always a risk of pushback when costs impact profitability. However, long-term sustainability and regulatory compliance will ultimately drive operators to embrace these changes.
It’s exciting and interesting to be part of this transformation, and I believe Environmental Advisors will play a critical role in helping the industry reduce environmental impact while remaining commercially viable.
The biggest game-changer for well operations is technology. Investing in real-time monitoring, data collection, and predictive analytics can significantly improve operational performance while simultaneously reducing environmental impact. With live data, operators can monitor emissions, energy consumption, and environmental performance in real-time, allowing them to make quick, data-driven decisions to optimize operations.
But it’s not just about technology — cross-team collaboration is key. Ensuring that drilling, HSE, marine, logistics, and compliance teams work closely together can significantly improve operational efficiency while reducing environmental risks. It’s also important that companies embed sustainability into their company culture, rather than treating it as a standalone initiative. When sustainability becomes a core value, teams are far more likely to find innovative solutions that balance profitability and environmental impact.
The future of well operations will require companies to think differently, challenge traditional methods, and proactively embrace sustainable practices. By doing so, they can ensure long-term success while contributing to a more sustainable energy future.
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At Elemental Energies, we’re proud to have talented individuals like Helene who are passionate about driving sustainable practices in well operations. As we continue to focus on reducing environmental impact and supporting the energy transition, it’s clear that Environmental Advisors play a critical role in helping us achieve these goals.
Stay tuned for more ‘meet the team’ features as we celebrate the incredible people who make a difference every day at Elemental Energies.
