The oil and gas sector is subject to a greater variety of explosive atmosphere risks than any other. The potential for an explosive atmosphere exists in exploration activities and production wells, crude oil and petroleum product transportation, refinery operations, downstream derivative chemical companies and bulk petroleum product storage and distribution.

The CompEx scheme was originally conceived and developed to meet the requirements of this sector, as a means of protecting the safety of both employees and high value capital assets. In more recent years, CompEx has expanded both internationally within the oil and gas sector, and now encompasses an extremely wide range of industries in which explosive atmosphere risks are found. Within the energy sector, CompEx training qualifications remain central to the assurance of competence and safe operations.