API provides expanded online access to its safety standards

WASHINGTON, October 28, 2010—As part of its ongoing commitment to encourage transparency and safe performance in the oil and natural gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute made available to the public today over 160 key industry standards, including a broad range of safety standards. Many of the standards, including all safety standards, are now available on API’s website for free for public viewing.

“API’s industry standards represent our commitment to the highest level of safety in both operations and practices,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. “We are working constructively with the Interior Department, which has referenced many of our standards in its regulations. Because much of the nation’s energy is produced on public lands, we believe the public has a right to know what measures industry has in place to promote safety and improve its environmental stewardship.”

With the recent expansion, almost one-third of all API standards, including all standards that are safety-related or have been incorporated into federal regulation, are now available for viewing online. Some of the new standards available include: offshore drilling standards; hydraulic fracturing and well construction standards; petroleum measurement standards; process safety standards on refinery and chemical plant operations and equipment; and pipeline safety standards on welding and public awareness programs.

Standards are available for review. Hardcopies and printable versions will continue to be available for purchase. API standards are generally technical in nature and are designed principally for use by oil and natural gas companies and their contractors. Revenue from the sale of standards supports API’s standards program, which operates on a non-profit basis. API will continue to sell standards to oil and natural gas companies and other interested parties.

API began its standards program in 1924 and has continuously updated and added to its standards and recommended practices. To view the available standards, visit this page on API’s website. Click here for more information about API’s standards program.

API represents more than 400 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America’s energy, supports more than 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.5 percent of the U.S. economy, and, since 2000, has invested nearly $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.