API's Organization

Click to enlarge

Governance
API is governed by a Board of Directors, which chooses API's officers.  The board carries out API's mission by designating segment committees, resource committees, and strategic committees.  API members participate in any committees where they have assets and interests.

Segment Committees
API has patterned our organization to reflect America’s oil and natural gas industry and ensure every member has a voice.  Our members are producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators and marine transporters.  They come from the largest oil companies to the smallest independents. 

The Upstream Committee is open to companies producing oil or natural gas in the United States  (vertically integrated companies may be members of more than one API segment).

• Focuses on upstream regulatory policy, legislative issues, and industry technical standards and recommended practices.
  
  
• Emphasizes efforts to ensure that operations are conducted in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

The Downstream Committee is open to companies that refine and market petroleum products in the United States   (vertically integrated companies may be members of more than one API segment).

• Provides guidance on the impact of legislative and regulatory proposals on downstream operations and provides scientific, economic, environmental, and risk analysis information on associated issues.
  
  
• Develops standards, practices and positions that allow industry to provide products to consumers in the most safe, efficient and environmentally responsible way.
  

The Marine Committee is open to companies engaged in or supporting the transportation by water of petroleum and petroleum products, including: owners/operators of vessels that carry crude oil and/or petroleum products, shipyards, members of the International Association of Classification Societies, marine terminal operators, maritime academies, and representatives of oil companies' marine transportation function.

• Focuses on the impact of federal, state and international regulations and legislation; industry standards and practices.
  
  
• Promotes safe, environmentally sound, and efficient marine transportation.

The Pipeline Committee is open to companies that own or operate crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied CO2 and other hazardous liquids pipelines in the United States.

• Focuses on federal legislative and regulatory activities that directly affect the operators of liquid petroleum pipelines.
• Provides a unique forum for the development of pipeline industry standards, sharing of technical and operational information, and conducting practical applied research programs.

The General Membership Committee addresses the needs of non-oil company members such as service companies, drilling contractors, and other suppliers to the oil and natural gas industry.  Members can provide services to any industry segment, including upstream, downstream, marine or pipeline. 

• Works closely with all other industry segments to promote the shared interests of the industry.
  
  
• Focuses on both domestic and international issues, particularly international trade issues, since many members in this segment supply products and services worldwide.

Resource Committees

The General Committee on Communications oversees API’s outreach to the media and other external audiences to ensure they have the facts and information to develop informed perspectives on energy and industry issues.  This includes media relations, external communications, materials and publications development, Internet-based communications, community engagement and other educational outreach. 

The General Committee on Economics and Statistics oversees API's Policy and Statistics Departments.  Committee members provide guidance to API staff in policy analysis and statistical preparation. The committee vets fundamental policy positions and provides guidance to other API departments.  

The General Committee on Federal Relations implements API policies and programs on industry issues before Congress and the executive branch, and coordinates the government relations efforts of API and its member companies.  The committee is composed of the heads of member company offices in Washington, DC, responsible for federal government relations.  

The General Committee on Finance focuses on internal and external issues related to auditing, accounting, insurance and risk management.  It formulates industry responses to regulatory and legislative initiatives and to developments in industry finance areas.  The committee, composed of oil industry chief financial officers, sponsors API's Finance and Accounting Program.

The General Committee on Health, Environment and Safety is responsible for identifying major health, environment and safety issues that could impact the industry and oversees those programs within API.  The committee also promotes sharing best practices and improving industry health, environmental and safety performance. 

The General Committee on Information Management and Technology oversees API’s interests in information technology; electronic business and telecommunications systems and management; cyber security; data privacy; and industry-level projects for evolving information systems.  This committee sponsors API's Information Technology Program.

The General Committee on Law ensures API’s legal affairs are handled properly and efficiently.  The committee is responsible for reviewing and approving any litigation with which API becomes involved and works closely with other committees to ensure consistency of legal positions on industry issues.  The committee is composed of member companies’ general counsels.

The General Committee on Marketing provides direction and oversight of industry responses to legislative and regulatory initiatives concerning the sale and distribution of oil and natural gas products, and oversees the development of industry standards that promote safe and environmentally responsible practices.  

The General Committee on Refining addresses legislative and regulatory issues impacting refining, including environmental regulations.  The committee is responsible for overseeing API's refining standards used throughout the industry to promote safe and environmentally sound practices.  

The General Committee on State Relations establishes industry policy for and ensures the proper management of state legislative and regulatory issues in the 33 states where API staffs state petroleum councils.  The committee coordinates with other API committees on policies and priorities at the state level.

The General Committee on Special Programs has jurisdiction over all non-dues programs, such as revenue-generating and cost recovery programs and special solicitations.  The committee provides financial oversight, works with API segment committees, and ensures that new opportunities meet API policy.  

The General Committee on Security is responsible for API’s positions on industry security-related issues and works closely with government agencies responsible for the nation’s security.  The committee develops guidelines, seminars, and advocacy and education efforts.  Committee members are the senior security managers at member companies.

The General Committee on Taxation formulates API tax policy and provides tax advice to the API president and board.  The committee determines the priority tax issues, both legislative and regulatory, and sets the overall agenda for the various tax subcommittees and the API Tax Department.  The committee is composed of senior taxation professionals at member companies.

Strategic Committees

The Climate Change Steering Committee addresses climate change issues affecting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry.  The committee oversees API’s Climate Challenge program, including participation in government voluntary GHG reduction programs, as well as development of the API Compendium methodology for estimating oil and gas industry greenhouse gas emissions.

Click here to apply for API membership.