Energy Tomorrow Blog
The Holistic Approach to Rail Safety
regulation energy safety infrastructure crude oil

Mark Green
Posted November 3, 2014
About a month ago, API President and CEO Jack Gerard stressed the importance of taking a comprehensive approach to develop new federal rules to govern the shipment of crude oil by rail – the soundest way to improve the North American rail network’s already strong 99.998 percent success rate:
“API supports a rule that ultimately improves the safety of rail transportation in North America through a holistic approach while allowing for the continued growth of the energy renaissance that has created and supported millions of jobs across the U.S. and Canada.”
The goal is realizing actual safety improvement. Industry is highly motivated in the quest for safety. Hess Corporation’s Lee Johnson, rail logistics advisor:
“My view has always been that I think the oil industry is maniacally focused on safety because of the consequences of failure in anything. … Everybody is very safety conscious, safety trained and well-equipped.”
With those stakes, developing the best safety rules possible is the objective. Industry believes improving safety is a multi-faceted endeavor – requiring enhanced prevention, mitigation and response measures – and it should be science-based.
Doing the Math on Our Energy Choices
energy safety fossil fuel economic benefits renewables

Mark Green
Posted June 17, 2014
API Standards – For Safe, Responsible Development
safety standards energy safety regulation

Mark Green
Posted April 1, 2013
API is out with two new oil and natural gas industry standards on well design and drilling operations:
- Deepwater well design and construction
- Protocol for verification and validation of high-pressure, high-temperature equipment
Both represent advancements toward making oil and natural gas extraction safer – for people and the environment. David Miller, API director of standards:
“Every industry standard we develop shares the goal of safely and responsibly producing more of the energy America needs. These new guidelines will help the industry to continue operating safely in deeper, higher pressure, and higher temperature environments. As changing technologies provide better opportunities to develop the energy that fuels America, industry standards must adapt as well.”
Fracking Safety: Already On It
economic security energy iq epa fracking ground water hydraulic fracturing hydrofracking texas water quality eagle ford shale energy growth energy safety fracking safety

Mark Green
Posted July 1, 2011
API Comments on DOI's Proposed Ocean Energy Safety Institute
boemre boemre deepwater drilling domestic energy energy policy interior department offshore drilling offshore energy technology ocean energy safety institute offshore energy development

Jane Van Ryan
Posted December 1, 2010