Center for offshore safety

In March 2011 the board of directors of the American Petroleum Institute approved the creation of the Center for Offshore Safety to address industry safety and environmental performance. This action follows recommendations made by the Presidential Oil Spill Commission investigations in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon / Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred in 2010. Some industry analysts question whether the center, which will be headquartered in Houston and is funded by API and its oil and gas industry members, can remain independently objective.

On March 7, 2012, the Center named Charlie Williams as Executive Director. Williams joins the Center after 40 years with Shell, where he most recently held the title Chief Scientist Well Engineering and Production Technology.