API (American Petroleum Institute)

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is a trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. The group represents more than 400 corporate members, including giants such as BP and Exxon Mobil, as well as smaller companies, and has offices in about 20 states. Besides serving as an advocate in legislative, regulatory, and media arenas, the API compiles data on industry operations. The organization's members come from several segments of the petroleum industry, including upstream (exploration and production), downstream (refining and marketing), pipeline operations, marine transportation, and oil field service. The API was founded in 1919.