COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 1382

Oil and Gas Exploration Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1880–1981founding years16still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedImperial Oil LimitedFoundedImperial Oil Limited
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedDeutsche BP AktiengesellschaftFoundedDeutsche BP Aktiengesellschaft
1904
FoundedLefrak Organization Inc.FoundedLefrak Organization Inc.
1905
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHelmerich & Payne, Inc.FoundedHelmerich & Payne, Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedBroughton Foods Co.FoundedBroughton Foods Co.FoundedWestern Atlas Inc.FoundedWestern Atlas Inc.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedOryx Energy CompanyFoundedOryx Energy Company
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedAlberta Energy Company Ltd.FoundedAlberta Energy Company Ltd.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
FoundedFletcher Challenge Ltd.FoundedFletcher Challenge Ltd.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1989
EnvironmentThe Exxon Valdez spill reshapes energy and shipping rules.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
EnvironmentThe Deepwater Horizon spill triggers sweeping energy rules.
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
Imperial Oil Limited →
Active · founded 1880 · Canada
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest producer of crude oil and a leading producer of natural gas.
Deutsche BP Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1904 · Germany
Deutsche BP Aktiengesellschaft is one of the top suppliers of petroleum products in the competitively fragmented German…
Deutsche BP Aktiengesellschaft →
Active · founded 1904 · Germany
Deutsche BP Aktiengesellschaft is one of the top suppliers of petroleum products in the competitively fragmented German…
Lefrak Organization Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Lefrak Organization Inc.
Lefrak Organization Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Lefrak Organization Inc.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
Helmerich & Payne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.
Broughton Foods Co. →
Active · founded 1933
Broughton Foods Co.
Broughton Foods Co. →
Active · founded 1933
Broughton Foods Co.
Western Atlas Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Providing oil field and factory automation services around the globe, Western Atlas Inc.
Western Atlas Inc. →
Active · founded 1933
Providing oil field and factory automation services around the globe, Western Atlas Inc.
Oryx Energy Company →
Active · founded 1971
Oryx Energy Company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the world's largest independent oil and natural gas…
Oryx Energy Company →
Active · founded 1971
Oryx Energy Company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the world's largest independent oil and natural gas…
Alberta Energy Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973 · Canada
Alberta Energy Company Ltd.
Alberta Energy Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973 · Canada
Alberta Energy Company Ltd.
Fletcher Challenge Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1981 · New Zealand
Fletcher Challenge Ltd., New Zealand's largest group of companies, specializes in transforming resources into…
Fletcher Challenge Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1981 · New Zealand
Fletcher Challenge Ltd., New Zealand's largest group of companies, specializes in transforming resources into…
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