How API's Shale Gas Standards and Best Practices Support Sustainable Shale Gas Development

Abstract

Founded in 1919, the American Petroleum Institute (API) has a long history in the development of industry standards, starting with the first standards published in 1925 on drilling thread specifications to ensure safety in the production of oil and natural gas. Continuing on for nearly 90 years, API has led the development of petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas equipment and operating standards. These standards represent the industry's collective wisdom on subjects ranging from drill bits to environmental protection. They embrace proven, sound engineering and operating practices and safe, interchangeable equipment and materials. API maintains more than 650 standards, many of which have been incorporated into state and federal regulations. API standards are also the most widely referenced oil industry standards cited by the international regulatory community. API ensures the technical relevance of its standards by maintaining its status as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developing organization. As an accredited body, API's standards program undergoes regular program audits to ensure it meets ANSI's Essential Requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process. API has also been the leader in the development of standards supporting sustainable shale gas development. API published its first of five specific shale gas standards in 2009 on well integrity and, subsequently, developed standards on water resource management, environmental practices, and well cementing technology. This presentation will focus on the status of updates to these standards as well as a new standard on Community Engagement being developed to ensure well operators, drilling and well servicing companies and the communities in where the shale gas is being developed fully understand the important aspects of operations taking place in and around their neighborhoods, towns, and cities.