American

Petroleum
Institute
API-USEA-USAID Webinar
September 2020
OVERVIEW OF
API
STANDARDS
API Members
600+ companies involved in all aspects of the global natural gas and oil industry

Integrated

Upstream Midstream Downstream Service & Supply

API’s Global Industry Services Division
Mission: Provide world-class services that enable the oil and natural gas industry to operate
efficiently, safely, reliably, profitably, and sustainably

• 100+ Employees • 200 Training Programs • 56,000 Personnel Certifications in 128 Countries

• 145 Auditors • 700+ Publications • 5,000 Company Certifications in 80+ Countries

• 200+ Events • 50,000+ Licensed Products

API Standards
Setting Standards Since 1924 to promote safety,
environmental protection, reliability and sustainability
through proven engineering practices.

API’s standards:
Cover all industry segments
• Upstream (Exploration & Production)
• Downstream (Refining & Marketing)
• Midstream (Pipeline, Rail & Truck transportation, and Petroleum
Measurement)

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards

developing organization

API now publishes +700 standards

Over 650 citations in U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

API API is accredited by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Standards
Program ANSI Accreditation requires:
✓ Openness, Balance, Consensus and
Due Process
Accreditation ✓ Approved and Published Procedures
✓ Requirement for Standards Updates
✓ Regular Program Audits
API Standards Development Process
Transparent, impartial, and consensus-based process

Driven by research, data and science-based decisions

Committees made up of thousands of volunteers from industry,

academia, government, and NGO’s

Collaborate with other standards bodies to avoid duplication; connect

globally

Incorporate new proven engineering practices, updated

periodically
API Standards Development Process
API Standards Committees
API standards are developed by subcommittees and task groups
comprised of industry experts from around the world.

Participants from oil and gas companies, manufacturers and consultants,

government agencies and academia that have expertise in the standards
topic.

Opportunities for all stakeholders to comment on draft standards

through transparent public balloting process.
API Standards and Transparency
API Standards Plan is displayed online in
real time
• Standards are shown in three phases:
• Pre-Ballot Phase
• Ballot Phase
• In-Editing

IBR Reading Room

• Free, read-only access to incorporated by reference standards
700+ Standards
API standards and 3,800 Citations
recommended practices are in state regulations

incorporated by reference into

650 Citations
both federal and state oil and
by U.S. federal government
gas regulations and they are organizations: U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.
the most widely-cited EPA, FTC, BSEE, OSHA, and PHMSA
petroleum industry standards 780+ International References
by international regulators. by Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia,
Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam,
and others.
International Usage & Deployment
Utilization of Standards

Reference in Incorporated Incorporated Agency

technical and/or and/or discretion -
manuals referenced in referenced in mandatory
national regulations or voluntary
standards based on
policy
objectives
CASE STUDIES:
API STANDARDS
USED IN
PRACTICE
U.S. Standards Use
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)
All Federal agencies and departments shall use technical standards that are
developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies

Federal agencies and departments shall consult with voluntary, private sector,
consensus standards bodies and shall, when such participation is in the public
interest…participate with such bodies in the development of technical
standards.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119 developed as guidance

to all agencies and departments
USG Use of Voluntary Standards
Regulation that incorporates standard by reference
• An agency may adopt a voluntary standard (without changes) by
incorporating the standard in a regulation by listing (or referencing) the
standard by title.
• Approach eliminates the cost to the regulator of creating a new standard

Regulation based on existing standard

• A regulator reviews an existing standard and if necessary, makes changes to
match its goal
• A regulator conducts a rulemaking process to solicit public opinion and
stakeholder input
Case Study: BSEE & RP 75
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
• Incorporates API RP 75 v. 3 in whole –

“You must develop, implement, and maintain a safety and environmental management system
(SEMS) program. Your SEMS program must address the elements described in §250.1902, American
Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental
Management Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities (API RP 75) (as incorporated by
reference in §250.198), and other requirements as identified in this subpart.”

SEMS (API RP 75 v.3) is mandatory for all operators in Outer

Continental Shelf (within U.S. jurisdiction) to have SEMS, 3rd party
audits every 3 years.
Case Study: API RP 1173, Pipeline Safety
Management System Development involved gas transmission
and hazard liquid pipeline companies,
PHMSA, industry groups and the public
July 10, 2012
NTSB recommendation on Marshall, MI December 2012 – Initial team meeting
(Incident was on NTSB’s Ten Most Wanted list)
API facilitates the safety management system July 2015 – Pipeline SMS published
standard development specific to the pipeline
industry (similar in scope to your RP 750, May 2015 – Implementation Team began
Management of Process Hazards)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

July 25 July 1
Pipeline SMS development
Marshall, MI Yellowstone River, MT
GOAL:
September 9
Provide a framework tool to
San Bruno, CA move the needle on pipeline safety
High-profile accidents drove
development

After the U.S. NTSB recommended the industry develop guidance for safety management systems for energy pipeline
operations, API partnered with PHMSA and state regulators to develop RP 1173.
Case Study: PHMSA and RP 1173
✓ Developed with participation from
regulators
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA)
• U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
✓ Voluntary implementation; not incorporated
by reference into U.S. regulation
• PHMSA strongly promotes implementation of RP
1173 by all pipeline operators
• In some cases, PHMSA has required operators to
implement RP 1173 as an enforcement action
following an incident
Case Study: Indonesia and API Standard 521
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) – regulation requires O&G companies to
“guarantee the effective standard and quality…as well as apply good technical forms”

ESDM Use of Standards in Oil API Standard 521, Pressure-

and Gas Business Activities – Relieving and Depressuring
Indonesian Standards Body Systems
(BSN) • Used in LNG Facilities
• Mandatory and voluntary standards • Referenced in ESDM, Use of Standards in
(+100 for O&G, 4 mandatory) O&G Business Activities
• When BSN mandatory standards not • Work Procedure Guidelines – Operation
applicable, 140 API standards and Maintenance of Petroleum Storage
permitted for use Tanks
Case Study: Brazil and API Standard 620
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) – leads standards
development activities; referenced in Brazilian O&G regulations

ABNT maintains over 400 API Standard 620, Design and

standards related to O&G Construction of Large, Welded,
sector Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
• ABNT NBR 17505-2:2015, Storage
• 19 ABNT standards make 50 of Flammable and Combustible
normative references to API Liquids Part 2: Tank and Recipient
standards Storage
• ABNT NBR 17505-7:2015, Storage
of flammable and combustible
liquids Part 7: Fire protection for
parks with stationary storage tanks
Global Standards in the Energy Sector
Use of global standards helps facilitate trade and business across economies

Reliance on standards developed by the private sector help minimize

unnecessary regulatory burdens, economic inefficiencies, and creation of TBT’s

Use of international standards in policies can help spur economic growth while
advancing environmental, health, safety, and sustainability performance

Facilitate use of products and materials that are interoperable, improving

industry infrastructure and efficiency
Questions?
API Contact Information
David Miller
Director, Standards
[email protected]

Alexa Burr
Director, System Programs
[email protected]