American Petroleum Institute Standards and Other Initiatives in Support of the Energy Transition

As the worldwide energy supply continues to diversify to meet growing demands and address climate goals, operators and other stakeholders in the natural gas and petroleum industry are pivoting to address these dual needs. This will require development, adoption, and deployment of innovative technologies in support of both traditional energy and emerging forms of lower-carbon energy. A foundational aspect of meeting these needs is the industry's use of standardization, and that, too, should be applied to implementation of these new technologies. The advancement of innovative technologies is foundational to American Petroleum Institute's (API) Climate Action Framework (CAF) initiative to accelerate technology to reduce emissions while meeting growing energy needs. While API has several initiatives well underway in the form of funded research to help meet this challenge, API has also moved quickly to address emerging needs in the form of standards and other initiatives. These include the publications of: API Technical Report 1533, Lubricants Life Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting – Methodology and Best Practice, First Edition, May 2023; API Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emergency Response Tactical Guidance Document: Guidelines for Preparedness and Initial Response to a Pipeline Release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), August 2023, created with the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association (LEPA) and developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals; and The development with the Offshore Operators Committee of API Recommended Practice 75W, Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Wind Operations and Assets, with the first edition anticipated mid-2024. Of particular interest is that both the CO2 emergency response document and Recommended Practice 75W have involved working with both traditional and nontraditional partnering organizations, which could lead to broader acceptance and use. Likewise, it is especially important in implementing these technologies and operations to engage non-traditional stakeholders to ensure robust consensus. API is leading the way on this critical issue as well with its Industry in Action: Focus on Environmental Justice report, published June 2023. This approach is embodied in API's CAF text that "Meeting this challenge requires new approaches, new partners, new policies and continuous innovation."