Reid Porter | 202.682.8114 | porterr@api.org

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2011 – American Petroleum Institute Upstream Director Erik Milito today urged the U.S. Department of Energy to rely upon the robust best practices already in place for natural gas and hydraulic fracturing activities. He also recommended including greater industry representation on the subcommittee established by the secretary to review the practice of hydraulic fracturing.

"The American oil and natural gas industry is committed to safe and clean energy production and has a ninety year history of developing industry standards and best practices," said Erik Milito. "API completed a series of industry guidance documents specific to hydraulic fracturing in February. These documents provide the blueprint for the environmentally sound development of natural gas through the publication of our five-document series. The series is publically available, and has been shared with the Department of Energy."

API extended an invitation to Secretary Steven Chu, asking the U.S. Department of Energy to meet with the industry to review existing and recently developed industry guidance documents specific to hydraulic fracturing.

In a letter to Secretary Chu, API’s President and CEO Jack Gerard addresses concerns with the subcommittee recently appointed by the Secretary. While the "list of individuals selected for the subcommittee is impressive," the group would benefit from the experts directly engaged in current exploration and production operations.

While Secretary Chu has called upon his subcommittee to help develop the blueprint for a secure energy future, API highlighted the fact that it already exists.  "The blueprint given through these best practices shows that the oil and natural gas industry is leading the way for robust standards and best practices," Milito said. "Regions like the Marcellus Shale, Barnett shale and the Fayetteville shale depend on the most recent technological advancements combining horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. To ensure a productive dialogue, the subcommittee must be sufficiently represented by individuals currently using this technology.

"API and its members have offered our assistance to the Department of Energy and the subcommittee to review the existing blueprint for the environmentally sound development of natural gas."

Information on existing guidance documents for hydraulic fracturing operations and for developing natural resources in a safe and environmentally responsible manner can be found at www.api.org/policy/exploration/hydraulicfracturing/

API represents more than 470 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 $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.