Program areas at API
Advocacy - api speaks for the oil and natural gas industry before congress, the executive branch of government, state legislatures, and the media. It negotiates with regulatory agencies, represents the industry in legal proceedings, participates in coalitions, and works in partnership with other associations to achieve its members' public policy goals.
Standards - for more than 100 years, api has led the development of Petroleum, natural gas and petrochemical equipment and operating standards. These represent the industry's collective wisdom on everything from drill bits to environmental protection and embrace proven, sound engineering and operating practices and safe, interchangeable equipment and materials. Api maintains over 800 standards and recommended practices. Many have been incorporated into state and federal regulations and they are also the most widely cited standards by the international regulatory community.
Research and statistics - api conducts or sponsors research ranging from economic analyses to toxicological testing. Api collects, maintains, and publishes statistics and data on all aspects of u.s. industry operations, including supply and demand for various products, imports and exports, drilling activities and costs, and well completions. This data provides timely indicators of industry trends. Api's weekly statistical bulletin is the most recognized publication, widely reported by the media.
Certification - each day, the oil and natural gas industry depends on equipment to produce, refine, and distribute its products. The equipment used is some of the most technologically advanced available in the search for oil and gas and allows the industry to operate in an environmentally safe manner. Designed for manufacturers of production, drilling, and refinery equipment, the api monogram program verifies that manufacturers are operating in compliance with industry standards. Api also provides quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management systems certification through its api quality registrar program. Api also certifies inspectors of industry equipment through its individual certification programs. Api offers a witnessing program to observe critical material and equipment testing and verification. Api training offers oil and gas professionals comprehensive elearning and instructor-led training courses on api standards and other important industry topics. Api's worksafe program is a service station contractor safety qualification program that identifies personnel who have received training for and passed standardized exams covering the latest service station industry safety practices. Api also operates a certification program for motor oils that meet api's published performance standards for both gasoline and diesel engines.
Events and training - api organizes seminars, workshops, conferences, and symposia on issues vital to the industry's livelihood. It provides training materials that help professionals in the oil and gas business meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Safety - the center for offshore safety is an industry sponsored program that was established to provide tools, peer learning opportunities, good practices and support for companies operating on the u.s. Outer continental shelf. Api's system programs safety assessments, including the process safety site assessment program (pssap) and the pipeline safety management system (sms) assessment program, provide for independent assessment by credible, third-party safety experts of a refinery's (pssap) or an operator's (pipeline sms) safety management systems based upon api's standards and recommended practices. Through api's energy excellence program, api's member companies commit to enhance the integrity of operations across the industry by applying standards, implementing workforce training programs, and participating in performance initiatives.