USA: API Launches Hydraulic Fracturing Workshops

API Launches Hydraulic Fracturing Workshops

API yesterday began the first in a series of hydraulic fracturing workshops scheduled this year in regions where shale energy is being developed. The workshops continue the conversation started during API’s inaugural hydraulic fracturing workshop last fall in Pittsburgh.  

Hydraulic fracturing is critical to our nation’s energy and economic future,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard.The U.S. has the second-largest known reserves of natural gas in the world, and the oil and natural gas industry is leading the way in safely developing these resources in a way that is creating jobs, providing greatly needed government revenues, and increasing our energy security.”

Shale industry activity supports more than 600,000 jobs and nearly 70 percent of American domestic natural gas development is due to the latest technologies applied by hydraulic fracturing. These contributions to American job grown and the economy are matched by the oil and natural gas industry’s work on standards providing environmentally sound practices for domestic onshore oil and gas production operations, including reclamation guidelines and good neighbor policies.

The Pittsburgh conference drew nearly 300 energy industry professionals from around the country and featured sessions on API’s HF standards and guidance documents, as well as a panel discussion with regulators from four states. Workshops are planned in: Little Rock, Ark.; Raleigh, N.C.; Annapolis, Md.; Trenton, N.J.; Charleston, W.Va.; Columbus, Ohio; Lansing, Mich.; Albany, N.Y.; Fort Worth, Texas; Oklahoma City; San Antonio; Denver; Bismarck, N.D.; Billings, Mont.; and Cheyenne, Wyo.

These workshops emphasize the importance of our standards and certification program, demonstrate how states are successfully regulating hydraulic fracturing, and examine where we can improve,” Gerard said. “These are serious issues and the industry is committed to moving forward with responsible development of our nation’s energy from shale.”

API is recognized worldwide as the authority on oil and natural gas standards and recommended practices.  It has developed over 600 standards that promote reliability and safety covering all segments of the oil and natural gas industry. The program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute – the same organization that accredits programs at U.S. national laboratories – and the API program undergoes regular independent audits to ensure compliance with ANSI rules.

API represents more than 490 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America’s energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

[mappress]
LNG World News Staff, February 1, 2012