Weekly Feature Link: API

www.api.org

American Petroleum Institute

 This week's feature link is the American Petroleum Institute. API is a national leader in the natural gas industry. They have more than 600 corporate accounts from major oil companies to smaller independent companies. Recent work has given them world recognition in the oil and gas industry.  

Their clear and concise mission statement is demonstrated often with their weekly briefs and informative press releases. They have a loud presence in Congress and the Executive Branch, state government and media outlets. Here is their ABOUT API link for more information. 

The American Petroleum Institute has 10 Environmental Principles that they meet when conducting business and public education. API has done extensive research in environmental safety domains like air quality, water quality, climate control and recycling. 

Another area of interest on the API website is their Event Calendar and Training page. API-University provides many continuing education courses for oil and gas professionals to have a better understanding of key principles. The opportunity for networking and meeting sponsors/exhibitors and even the possibility of presenting opens many doors for new businesses to branch out into the oil and gas industry. 

In the Publications, Standards and Statistics page you can find articles that API has published and new standards. The average cost of a gas pump, countries that the US imports oil from and how much, tax information and more are in this area of their website as well.

The News and Media page is the page that we like the best. It has relevant and up to date articles about API in the news, Washington, DC and other pipelines going in. There are many great resources and articles about the Keystone Pipeline, new developments and Liquefied Natural Gas and more gas safety articles. 

Here is a great article on a poll conducted by Harris Poll for API's "What America is Thinking On Energy Issues". More than 70% of SC residents support offshore drilling because it will strengthen America's energy security, help lower energy costs for consumers, provide more jobs for SC residents (280,000 jobs), and benefit both state and federal budgets. 

We hope you find the American Petroleum Institute's website informative and helpful while we help you understand the oil and gas industry better. Their information on statistics, local polls, estimated revenue and concern for the environment makes this a page a useful tool for the possible development off of our Atlantic Coast. 

SCOGA is an association made from community members who invest their time and money into the association to develop committees that educate the public on natural resources like oil and gas and what happens in the state of South Carolina. If you are interested in becoming a member or donating to SCOGA, please, email us! scoga@scoga.us

Weekly Feature Link: BOEM

www.boem.gov

"The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is an organization that promotes energy independence, environmental protection and economic development through responsible, science based management of offshore conventional and renewable energy and marine mineral resources. 

Key functions of BOEM include:

• The Office of Strategic Resources, which is responsible for the development of the Five Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Natural Gas Leasing Program, oversees assessments of the oil, gas and other mineral resource potential of the OCS, inventories oil and gas reserves and develops production projections, and conducts economic evaluations that ensure the receipt of fair market value by U.S. taxpayers for OCS leases.

• BOEM handles the actual Oil and Gas Lease Sales, along with Marine Minerals negotiated agreements and official maps and GIS data.

• BOEM is responsible for offshore Renewable Energy Programs.The Renewable Energy Program grants leases, easements, and rights-of-way for orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible renewable energy development activities.

• BOEM’s Office of Environmental Programs conducts environmental reviews, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses and compliance documents for each major stage of energy development planning. These analyses inform the bureau’s decisions on the Five Year Program, and conventional and renewable energy leasing and development activities. Additionally, BOEM’s scientists conduct and oversee environmental studies to inform policy decisions relating to the management of energy and marine mineral resources on the OCS.

• BOEM is supported by three regional offices in New Orleans, Louisiana; Camarillo, California; and Anchorage, Alaska. The regional offices manage oil and gas resource evaluations, environmental studies and assessments, leasing activities including the review of Exploration Plans and Development Operations and Coordination Documents, fair market value determinations, and geological and geophysical permitting." -  From the "About" page on BOEM.gov

SCOGA members should be interested in BOEM because they are informative tool, a think tank, filled with resources on who, what, when, how and where oil can be found and used efficiently!
Check out their: 
 "NEWSROOM" updates on new legislature coming through DC on offshore oil sites. 
"Frequently Asked Questions" for information on the operating committees, legislature, and jargon.
"Oil and Gas Energy Programs" to find how and where this will impact citizens of the US and more specifically, where we can find oil in the south east. Under this page you can also see how to lease, where there are moratoria, and resource evaluations.
"Environmental-Stewardship" to look into how BOEM and you can help keep the environment safe 

Atlantic Coastal Seismic Conference

The ATLANTIC COASTAL SEISMIC CONFERENCE  was held January 28, 2015 at the Congressional offices for Energy Development in Washington D.C.  The principal sponsors of the meeting are Congressmen  Jeff Duncan (SC),  Richard Hudson (NC) and Scott Riegel (Virginia).  The purpose of the Conference was to Kickoff support for the Legislative approval to begin Seismic studies for developmental drilling on the Atlantic Seaboard.  There has been a 30 year moratorium, that would be lifted to, to allow new information to be gathered for exploration and drilling of new strategic reserves.

Attached are pictures of the Congressmen who organized the Conference,

and Justin Sutton, Director of South Carolina Oil and Gas Association, invited guest.