API well number
API well number or API number is a "unique, permanent, numeric identifier" assigned to each well drilled for oil and gas in the United States [1]. The API number is one of many industry standards established by the American Petroleum Institute[2]
Well Names
Oil and gas wells have a name which normally consists of three parts: an operator name, a well number, and a lease name. All three parts of the name are subject to change, especially in the case of a producing well. When an oil or gas field is sold, the operator name will change. If a field is unitized for secondary production, the well number and lease name will change. Therefore, it is important that each well have a unique number that is something like the Social Security number used by citizens and residents of the United States.
- ^ American Petroleum Institute, 1979, The API well number and standard state and county numeric codes including offshore waters, Dallas, TX, American Petroleum Institute, API Bulletin D12A
- ^ http://api.org/