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The AOPL/API Pipeline Benchmarking Survey (PBS) is a unique tool for petroleum pipeline management to measure operational and economic performance of their respective companies (To see the current brochure, please click here.)

The benchmarking effort was initially spearheaded by ARCO during 1999. The survey is a joint project sponsored and supported by both the API and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. The first report came out in August of 2001. The survey is conducted once every two years, allowing companies to economize on resources. Data collected covers only U.S. and Canadian operations and separated into crude and refined products. The PBS is mainly an accounting survey: benchmarking expenses (dollars and staff) for operating and maintenance, as well as general and administrative work. Additional regression analysis is also available, but the primary effort is in aggregation of collected data.

The Goal is Simplicity
The PBS is a participant-driven survey, meaning that definitions, the survey form, and the process into which the survey is undertaken, is managed by representatives from companies that are interested in participating in the survey. Administration of the survey, including data collection and final report generation is handled by API statistical staff. Company representatives meet twice each year to work on definitions, possible variable addition or elimination, and the survey form itself. In the end, the result is a survey that contains typically no more than 100 inputs, making it fairly straightforward to complete. (Please click here to read more about the API approach to benchmarking).

In addition to a simple and straightforward form, the end results are also uncomplicated. What companies receive is "just the facts": Aggregate data, customizable charts and graphs, regression analysis. In order to keep costs down to the companies that participate, there are no fancy binders of data and no presentations to upper management. The companies that participate in the process determined that they are better able to interpret the data themselves.

A Valuable, but Participatory Effort
The results of the PBS have been judged very valuable by the companies that have participated. Collected data and results are confidential and available only to those companies that submit data to the survey. And contributing to the process -- including attending meetings to review the process -- increases the likelihood of successful and valuable survey results. If your company is interested in participating, please contact the API and consult additional information on this site, including future meetings and important dates. Finally, participation in the survey is not without cost, but because of its simplicity, the API has managed to keep the cost of conducting the survey at a minimum -- typically less than $4,000 per company. (To see the current fees, please click here.)

Latest News

Upcoming meetings:
October 2-3, 2007 at API headquarters for additional information, please go to the Meetings page.

December 1, 2006
The final minutes for the May 2-3, 2006 meeting in Tulsa and the draft minutes for the November 14-15,2006 meeting in Houston have been posted on the Documents page of this web site.

The schedule and list of participating companies for 2007 PBS have been posted on the Project Schedule page of this website.

March 18, 2005
Revised copies of the 2005 PBS Questionnaire and Definitions & Instructions have been posted on the Documents page of this web site.

February 1, 2005
The 2005 Pipeline Benchmarking Survey Questionnaire, Definitions & Instructions have been posted on the Documents page of this web site.

January 7, 2005
2005 Pipeline Benchmarking Survey (click here) to read about the upcoming PBS cycle
2005 Agreement and Commitment form has been posted.

November 18, 2004
The draft minutes for the October 20-21meeting in Houston have been posted.

October 12, 2004
The revised 2003 aggregate reports have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site

August 30, 2004
The next full meeting of the Joint API/AOPL Pipeline Benchmarking Survey will be held October 20-21, 2004 at ConocoPhillips, 600 N. Dairy Ashford St, Houston, TX 77079. Please click here to see a list of nearby hotels and a map.

August 6, 2004
The next full meeting of the Joint API/AOPL Pipeline Benchmarking Survey has been scheduled for October 20-21, 2004 (two half-days). The site for that meeting will be Houston, TX.

July 9, 2004
The minutes for the June 2-3 meeting in Houston have been posted.

May 26, 2004
The agenda for the June 2-3 meeting in Houston has been posted.

May 14, 2004
Cheryl Trench will charge $250 per operator for a customized version of her PBS presentation. API will handle the billing. Contact API is you are interested.

February 24, 2004
The Technical Working Group will hold a conference call Wednesday, March 31 at 2pm ET.

February 11, 2004
Participants in the 2003 Survey Cycle meet to review the survey, its process and results. The group agrees to conduct the next survey early in 2005.

January 20, 2004
An informal technical session will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2004. The purpose of this meeting will be for interested companies to discuss specific issues related to the survey, including definitions, metric calculations, and possible new metrics. The meeting is scheduled to run from 1pm to approximately 4pm.

January 12, 2004
The Technical Working Group has set February 11, 2004 as the date of their next meeting. The site for that meeting will be Washington, DC.

December 18, 2003
Supplemental regression models have been completed and posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site.

October 28, 2003
The FINAL REVISED 2003 peer reports have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site. The revised report includes metrics that had initially been excluded from the report. These metrics can be found within the report on supplemental pages (Total02Supp, Crude02Supp, and Ref02Supp).

October 22, 2003
The FINAL REVISED 2003 aggregate reports have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site. The revised report includes metrics that had initially been excluded from the report. These metrics can be found within the report on supplemental pages (Total02Supp, Crude02Supp, and Ref02Supp).

October 1, 2003
Several metrics have been identified that were not included in the final reports. A supplemental report will be prepared that will include these metrics. It is anticipated that this report will be available during the week of October 6-10.

October 1, 2003
The FINAL 2003 system reports have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site.

September 26, 2003
The FINAL 2003 peer company results have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site.

September 17, 2003
The FINAL 2003 aggregate company results have been posted. They are available on the Reports page of this web site.

Recent PBS Presentations
November 30, 2004
AOPL Winter Meeting[PowerPoint]

February 11, 2004
2003 Supplemental Analysis by Allegro Energy Consultants [Adobe Acrobat]
(Note: ONLY available to companies that participated in the 2003 survey)

September 26, 2002
AOPL Accounting Committee Meeting [PowerPoint]

May 22-24, 2002
AOPL Workshop [PowerPoint]

Please note that access to certain areas of this site are restricted to participants of the Pipeline Benchmarking Survey. Please do not share your login information with anyone outside of the group.