American Petroleum Institute

They're the marketing arm for public relations in the oil industry in America. You could say that they grease the wheels among their 400+ corporate members, regulators, all kinds of other government people, consumers, environmental lobbies, and other potential road bumps in the petroleum-consuming long ride down Route 66 across America.

As an example, think about what they did to keep the BP oil spill from forcing regulation of the industry in 10,000 forms. They are the face-weaponry of the drillers.