Celebrating 50 years of IOGP
This year marks an important milestone for IOGP. On 7 August, 1974, the E&P Forum, now known as IOGP, was established with a vision to provide a unified voice for the oil and gas industry, improve safety standards, and promote environmental stewardship.
The founding members included many of today’s major industry players like BP, Shell, ENI, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and TotalEnergies, who recognized the need for a proactive organization that could navigate industry challenges, including those associated withe safely developing oil and gas in ever harsher environments such as the northern North Sea. Their vision was to foster cooperation, develop industry standards, and ensure a safe, efficient, and sustainable future for our industry.
Since then and over the past five decades, IOGP’s journey has expanded to encompass engineering operations and environmental stewardship, as well as contributing significant technical material to support the energy transition. Today, with over 90 members, IOGP remains a unique forum for sharing knowledge and advancing the upstream industry towards a more sustainable future.
Our impact has been significant across numerous focus areas:
Safety Leadership
The start of our tracking and reporting of members’ safety data was a game-changer for our history. Open and transparent reporting, particularly on safety, is essential to learn and improve with the data used to determine action areas and work plans. We have seen a 90% reduction in the Fatal Accident Rate since we started reporting in the 1980s. Our ambition in IOGP is to eliminate all fatalities.
Initiatives like the Life-Saving Rules, first introduced in 2008, and Land Transport Guidelines published since 2005, have significantly enhanced safety practices across the industry.
Environmental Stewardship
IOGP has played a crucial role in promoting environmental responsibility within the industry. Initiatives such as the Global Industry Response Group (GIRG), formed to coordinate industry improvements Post-Macondo, and various Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) have addressed key environmental concerns, including methane emission reduction, flare management, and carbon capture and storage.
Energy Transition
IOGP has been pivotal in supporting the energy transition. Our own published material and compilation of industry best practices in the Energy Transition Integrated Framework includes important contributions in methane emission and flaring reduction, energy efficiency, electrification and CCUS are examples of our commitment to a low-carbon future. We continue to collaborate with leading experts and organizations to accelerate the implementation of low-carbon technologies and practices, most recently in support of signatories to the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC).
Knowledge Sharing and Standard Setting
IOGP has published over 1,200 reports and guidance documents that support industry professionals in implementing best practices. Last year alone, our guidance documents were downloaded over 109,000 times, reflecting their widespread use and impact. Standardization efforts like JIP33 for oilfield equipment specifications have streamlined operations and improved efficiency across the sector.
Advocacy
Our strong technical foundations provide us with a voice which is recognised amongst policy makers across the globe, and particularly in Brussels where since 1992 our team have worked with EU legislators to ensure that the energy Europe needs can be delivered in the safest and most sustainable manner whilst also meeting our climate goals.
Looking to the Future:
Our important work helps ensure that the oil and gas produced today, for as long as it’s needed, is produced in the safest, most environmentally responsible, sustainable, and efficient way. The role of IOGP is more crucial than ever as we navigate the complexities of the modern energy landscape.
Our commitment to ensuring a safer, more efficient, and sustainable energy future remains steadfast.
Testimonials
Key milestones
1974
1974
Founded as E&P Forum in London
Founding Members are: Agip, Amoco, ELF Aquitaine, BP, Burmah, Exxon, Gulf, Mobil, NOGEPA, Shell, Total
5 Subcommittees established: Offshore Pipelines, IMCO Activities, Weather Forecasting, Civil Liability, Offshore Structures
1975
1975
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) granted IOGP consultative status.
Established links with the OECD – indicative of future role in highlighting importance of oil & gas in world economy.
1976
1976
1st recorded report relating to oil spills published
1985
1985
European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) launched
1986
1986
1st Safety performance indicators data published.
The Association began tackling the issue of standards. The idea was to create global standards used locally worldwide.
1988
1988
Began working with ISO on industry-wide engineering standards
1992
1992
Opened the European Region office in Brussels
1993
1993
Granted official observer status at OSPAR
1995
1995
Coordinated the Offshore Decommissioning Communications Project, aiming to promote scientific principles and sound technology as the basis for future decommissioning work
1997
1997
Produce first set of principles regarding the social impact of upstream operations on local communities.
Published Report 254 – Environmental management in the upstream oil and gas industry
1999
1999
Became the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP)
2001
2001
1st Environmental performance indicators data published
2002
2002
Published World Summit in Sustainable Development, in partnership with Ipieca
2005
2005
Geomatics Committee formed.
Published Report 362 – Catalogue of international standards used in the petroleum and natural gas industries
2006
2006
JIP22 – Sound and Marine Life launched
2007
2007
Security Committee formed
2008
2008
Published first set of Life-Saving Rules
2010
2010
Launched Global Industry Response Group (GIRG)
2011
2011
WEC Committee formed.
Published the first guidance note on the use of the Seabed Survey Data Model.
2012
2012
1st Safety performance indicators - Process safety events published.
1st Health performance indicators data published.
Published Report 459 – Life-Saving Rules.
Published Report 485 – Standards and guidelines for well integrity and well control.
Communications Committee formed.
2014
2014
Rebranded as IOGP.
Subsea Committee formed.
2016
2016
Established Engineering Leadership Council and initiated JIP33.
1st Safety performance indicators – Motor vehicle crash data published.
2017
2017
1st Safety performance indicators – Aviation accidents data published.
Published Reports 584 & 585 - Overview of International Offshore Decommissioning Regulations – Volume 1 (Facilities) & Volume 2 (Wells Plugging & Abandonment).
2019
2019
Opened the Americas Region office in Houston.
Published Report 626 - Managing fatigue in the workplace.
2021
2021
Carbon Capture, Transportation and Storage Committee, and Low Carbon Operational Efficiency Committee formed under the newly formed Energy Transition Directorate
2023
2023
IOGP Summit in Indonesia (Asia-Pacific Region), hosted by Pertamina
2024
2024
IOGP Summit in Dubai (Middle East-Africa Region), hosted by Dragon Oil.
Americas Committee formed.
Over 1,200 publications published to date.
