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The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the main U.S trade association
Industry trade group

An industry trade group, also known as a trade association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry....
 for the oil and natural gas industry, representing about 400 corporations involved in production
Extraction of petroleum

The extraction of petroleum is the process by which usable petroleum is extracted and removed from the earth....
, refinement
Oil refinery

An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas....
, distribution
Pipeline transport

Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a Pipe . Most commonly, liquid and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air have also been used....
, and many other aspects of the industry. The association’s chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy
Advocacy

Advocacy is the pursuit of influencing outcomes — including public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions — that directly affect people?s current lives....
 and negotiation
Negotiation

Negotiation is a dialogue intended to Dispute resolution, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or Collective bargaining, or to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests....
 with governmental, legal, and regulatory agencies; research
Research

Research is defined as human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter. The primary purpose for applied research is discovery , interpretation , and the development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the universe....
 into economic, toxicological, and environmental effects; establishment and certification of industry standards; and education outreach
Education outreach

Education outreach is a variation of Cause marketing and/or Strategic Philanthropy and other focused Public Affairs activities that are specific to education....
.






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The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the main U.S trade association
Industry trade group

An industry trade group, also known as a trade association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry....
 for the oil and natural gas industry, representing about 400 corporations involved in production
Extraction of petroleum

The extraction of petroleum is the process by which usable petroleum is extracted and removed from the earth....
, refinement
Oil refinery

An oil refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas....
, distribution
Pipeline transport

Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a Pipe . Most commonly, liquid and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air have also been used....
, and many other aspects of the industry. The association’s chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy
Advocacy

Advocacy is the pursuit of influencing outcomes — including public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions — that directly affect people?s current lives....
 and negotiation
Negotiation

Negotiation is a dialogue intended to Dispute resolution, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or Collective bargaining, or to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests....
 with governmental, legal, and regulatory agencies; research
Research

Research is defined as human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation of matter. The primary purpose for applied research is discovery , interpretation , and the development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the universe....
 into economic, toxicological, and environmental effects; establishment and certification of industry standards; and education outreach
Education outreach

Education outreach is a variation of Cause marketing and/or Strategic Philanthropy and other focused Public Affairs activities that are specific to education....
. API both funds and conducts research related to many aspects of the petroleum industry.

Standards and Certification

API distributes more than 200,000 copies of its publications each year. The publications, technical standards, and electronic and online products are designed to help users improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of their operations, comply with legislative and regulatory requirements, and safeguard health, ensure safety, and protect the environment. Each publication is overseen by a committee of leading industry professionals. API's publications are developed by member company engineers and other professionals.

For example, API 610 is the specification for centrifugal pumps, API 682 governs mechanical seals, and API 677 is the standard for gear units. API also defines the industry standard for the energy conservation of motor oil. API SM is the latest specification to which motor oils intended for spark-ignited engines should adhere since 2004. It supersedes API SL. Different specifications exist for compression-ignited
Diesel engine

A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the diesel cycle . Diesel engines have the highest thermal efficiency compared to any internal combustion or external combustion engine....
 engines.

API provides vessel codes and standards for the design and fabrication of pressure vessels that help safeguard the lives of people and environments all over the world.

API also defines and drafts standards for measurement for manufactured products such as:
  • Precision Thread Gages
  • Plain Plug and Ring Gages
  • Thread Measuring Systems
  • Metrology and Industrial Supplies
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Custom Gages
  • Precision Machining and Grinding
  • ISO 17025 Registered Calibration


API has entered petroleum industry nomenclature in a number of areas:
  • API gravity
    API gravity

    The American Petroleum Institute gravity, or API gravity, is a measure of how heavy or light a petroleum liquid is compared to water. If its API gravity is greater than 10, it is lighter and floats on water; if less than 10, it is heavier and sinks....
    , a measure of the density of petroleum.
  • API number, a unique number applied to each petroleum exploration or production well drilled in the United States.
  • API unit, a standard measure of gamma radiation
    Formation evaluation gamma ray

    The formation evaluation gamma ray log is a record of the variation with depth of the natural radioactivity of earth materials in a wellbore. Measurement of natural emission of gamma rays in oil and gas wells are useful because shales and sandstones typically have different gamma ray levels....
     measured in a borehole.


Education outreach

In addition to training industry workers and conducting seminars, workshops, and conferences on public policy, API develops and distributes materials and curricula for schoolchildren and educators. The association also maintains a website, .

In the second half of 2008, as the US presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008

The United States presidential election of 2008 was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. It was the 56th consecutive wikt:quadrennial United States United States presidential election....
 neared, API began airing a series of television ads encouraging people to visit their new website, . API does not use their own name in the ads but does call themselves "The People of America's Oil and Natural Gas Industry."

External links