Helmerich & Payne outlines progress on emissions reduction, safety, and responsible operations in its 2025 sustainability update.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (NYSE: HP), a leading global drilling solutions provider, has released its fiscal 2025 Sustainability Report, outlining the company’s environmental, safety, governance, and workforce initiatives for the year ended September 30, 2025. The report highlights measurable progress toward long-term emissions reduction goals, continued investments in safety and operational excellence, and expanded transparency across its global operations.
Strengthening a Long-Term Sustainability Strategy
The fiscal 2025 report reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to integrating sustainability into every aspect of its business. From emissions reductions and safety improvements to workforce development and governance standards, the company emphasized a holistic approach rooted in what it calls “The H&P Way” — a corporate philosophy built on integrity, innovation, and a commitment to care for people, communities, and the environment.
Chief Executive Officer John Lindsay noted that the report marks another step forward in the company’s sustainability journey. He emphasized that progress across environmental performance, safety culture, and social initiatives demonstrates how the organization is aligning its operational goals with long-term environmental and stakeholder expectations.
Lindsay stated that the company continues to evolve as “The Global Drilling Solutions Company,” focusing on responsible operations while delivering high levels of productivity and reliability for customers around the world.
Trey Adams, who is scheduled to assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2026, reinforced the company’s commitment to sustainability as a core business priority. He highlighted the importance of strengthening an already established safety culture, enhancing environmental stewardship, and promoting a sense of belonging across the organization as it continues to align its global workforce and operations.
According to Adams, the company’s sustainability strategy is closely tied to its ability to deliver long-term value to customers, shareholders, and the communities in which it operates.
Measurable Progress in Emissions Reduction
One of the most notable achievements detailed in the report is the company’s continued progress toward its long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets.
Within its North America Solutions segment, the company reported a roughly 13 percent reduction in rig engine GHG emissions intensity per distance drilled since 2022. This metric reflects the company’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and operational performance across its fleet.
Even more significantly, the company has achieved more than a 33 percent reduction in emissions intensity compared with its 2018 baseline. This milestone demonstrates progress toward the company’s 2030 target, which focuses on lowering emissions intensity through improved technologies, operational efficiencies, and energy management practices.
These results reflect several strategic initiatives, including:
- Deployment of more efficient rig engines and equipment
- Optimization of drilling processes to reduce energy consumption
- Adoption of advanced automation technologies
- Enhanced monitoring and reporting systems
By focusing on emissions intensity rather than absolute emissions, the company aligns its sustainability metrics with operational performance, ensuring that improvements are tied directly to efficiency gains in drilling operations.
Integration Following the KCAD Acquisition
The fiscal 2025 report also marks the first time the company has published consolidated environmental, energy, and safety data following the acquisition of KCAD in January 2025.
The integration of KCAD’s operations into the company’s sustainability reporting framework represents a significant step toward unified performance measurement across the combined organization. By consolidating these metrics, the company aims to provide stakeholders with a more comprehensive view of its global environmental and safety performance.
This move also reflects the company’s broader effort to standardize processes and reporting practices across its international operations, ensuring consistency in how sustainability goals are tracked and achieved.
Safety and Environmental Goals
Safety remains a central focus of the company’s sustainability strategy. During fiscal 2025, the company successfully completed its Environmental and Safety Actively C.A.R.E. goals, a structured program designed to enhance workplace safety, environmental protection, and operational discipline.
The company has already established new Environmental and Safety Actively C.A.R.E. goals for fiscal 2026, signaling an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
These initiatives typically focus on:
- Reducing incident and injury rates
- Improving environmental performance at drilling sites
- Enhancing employee training and engagement
- Strengthening safety culture across all operational levels
By maintaining a proactive approach to safety and environmental performance, the company seeks to minimize operational risks while protecting its workforce and surrounding communities.
Aligning With Global Sustainability Frameworks
Another key aspect of the fiscal 2025 Sustainability Report is the company’s continued alignment with leading global sustainability disclosure standards.
The company reported that its disclosures are aligned with:
- Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)
- Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Aligning with these frameworks allows the company to present consistent, comparable, and transparent sustainability data to investors, customers, and other stakeholders.
These frameworks are widely recognized across global markets and are often used by investors to assess corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. By adhering to these standards, the company aims to improve accountability, transparency, and comparability in its sustainability reporting.
Strong Governance and ESG Ratings
The company also received favorable assessments from leading ESG rating agencies.
It was awarded an ISS Governance Score of 1, the best possible rating under that system, reflecting strong corporate governance practices. Additionally, it received a Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating of 19.8, which indicates a relatively low level of unmanaged ESG risk compared with industry peers.
These ratings suggest that the company’s governance structures, risk management practices, and sustainability initiatives are being recognized positively by external evaluators.
Workforce and Culture Initiatives
Beyond environmental and governance performance, the fiscal 2025 Sustainability Report highlights the company’s continued investment in its workforce and organizational culture.
The company emphasized:
- Strengthening its culture of belonging and inclusion
- Enhancing employee training and development programs
- Promoting leadership accountability in safety and sustainability
- Supporting communities where it operates
Leadership noted that sustainability is not limited to environmental metrics, but also includes social responsibility, workforce engagement, and community impact.
By focusing on these areas, the company aims to build a more resilient organization that can attract, develop, and retain talent while maintaining high operational standards.
Technology and Innovation as Sustainability Drivers
A central theme throughout the report is the role of technology in achieving sustainability goals.
The company continues to invest in:
- Advanced drilling automation systems
- Directional drilling technologies
- Survey management solutions
- Data-driven operational optimization
These technologies help improve drilling precision, reduce downtime, and lower energy consumption. In turn, they contribute to lower emissions intensity and improved overall operational efficiency.
Automation and digitalization also enhance safety by reducing the need for manual intervention in high-risk environments, further supporting the company’s safety objectives.
Global Operations and Fleet Overview
Founded in 1920, the company has grown into a major provider of high-performance drilling rigs and technology solutions for conventional and unconventional energy plays worldwide.
As of February 4, 2026, its fleet includes:
- 203 land rigs in the United States
- 131 international land rigs
- 4 offshore platform rigs
- Approximately 31 offshore labor contracts
Through its subsidiaries, the company designs, fabricates, and operates drilling rigs while also developing advanced automation and directional drilling technologies.
Its global footprint allows the company to serve a wide range of customers across different geographies and energy markets, while also applying consistent sustainability practices across its operations.
