COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 324110

Petroleum Refineries

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

78companies1882–2001founding years68still active10no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedExxon Mobil Corporation
1882
FoundedNippon Oil Corporation
1893
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedIdemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
1911
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCompañia Española de Petróleos S.A. (Cepsa)
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedIpiranga S.A.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedTonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedENI S.p.A.
1953
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedIndian Oil Corporation Ltd.
1964
FoundedGiant Industries, Inc.
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedSaudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
1976
FoundedSuncor Energy Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedUnión Fenosa, S.A.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd.
1986
FoundedRepsol-YPF S.A.
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.
FoundedOAO LUKOIL
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft)
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedPennzoil-Quaker State Company
1998
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

Exxon Mobil Corporation →
Active · founded 1882
Exxon Mobil Corporation is the second largest integrated oil company in the world, trailing only BP p.l.c.
Exxon Mobil Corporation →
Active · founded 1882
Exxon Mobil Corporation is the second largest integrated oil company in the world, trailing only BP p.l.c.
BHP Billiton →
Active · founded 1885 · Australia
BHP Billiton was formed through the 2001 merger of Australia's mining and oil giant BHP and U.K.-based mining group…
BHP Billiton →
Active · founded 1885 · Australia
BHP Billiton was formed through the 2001 merger of Australia's mining and oil giant BHP and U.K.-based mining group…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
Nippon Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1893 · Japan
Nippon Oil Corporation is Japan's largest importer and distributor of petroleum products, controlling about 25 percent…
ChevronTexaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
1970s:Company is rocked by the OPEC oil embargo and the nationalization of a number of Caltex holdings.
ChevronTexaco Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
1970s:Company is rocked by the OPEC oil embargo and the nationalization of a number of Caltex holdings.
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1911 · Japan
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest oil refiner, is named after its founder, Sazou Idemitsu.
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1911 · Japan
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest oil refiner, is named after its founder, Sazou Idemitsu.
Occidental Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an oil and gas and chemicals company, conducts its business through two major…
Occidental Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an oil and gas and chemicals company, conducts its business through two major…
Compañia Española de Petróleos S.A. (Cepsa) →
Active · founded 1929 · Spain
Compañia Española de Petróleos S.A.
Compañia Española de Petróleos S.A. (Cepsa) →
Active · founded 1929 · Spain
Compañia Española de Petróleos S.A.
Farmland Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Operating out of Kansas City, Missouri, Farmland Industries, Inc.
Farmland Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Operating out of Kansas City, Missouri, Farmland Industries, Inc.
Ipiranga S.A. →
Active · founded 1933 · Brazil
One of Brazil's largest privately held companies, Ipiranga S.A.
Ipiranga S.A. →
Active · founded 1933 · Brazil
One of Brazil's largest privately held companies, Ipiranga S.A.
Husky Energy Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1938 · Canada
Husky Energy Inc.
Husky Energy Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1938 · Canada
Husky Energy Inc.
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1939 · Japan
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1939 · Japan
TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
c.
Pertamina →
Active · founded 1945 · Indonesia
Pertamina operates as a state-owned company that controls the oil and natural gas industry in Indonesia.
Pertamina →
Active · founded 1945 · Indonesia
Pertamina operates as a state-owned company that controls the oil and natural gas industry in Indonesia.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Murphy Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Murphy Oil Corporation is one of the smallest of the U.S.-based integrated oil companies.
Murphy Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1950
Murphy Oil Corporation is one of the smallest of the U.S.-based integrated oil companies.
ENI S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1953 · Italy
ENI S.p.A., the former Italian state-owned Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, is one of the world's top ten oil and natural…
ENI S.p.A. →
Active · founded 1953 · Italy
ENI S.p.A., the former Italian state-owned Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, is one of the world's top ten oil and natural…
Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1956 · Egypt
The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) operates as a state-owned concern overseeing the petroleum industry…
Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1956 · Egypt
The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) operates as a state-owned concern overseeing the petroleum industry…
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · India
The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964 · India
The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
Tesoro Petroleum Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1964
Tesoro Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company principally involved in refining, distributing, and…
Tesoro Petroleum Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1964
Tesoro Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company principally involved in refining, distributing, and…
Giant Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Early 1980s:Competition from the oil majors forces Acridge to close all his stations in the Phoenix metro area and to…
Giant Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1969
Early 1980s:Competition from the oil majors forces Acridge to close all his stations in the Phoenix metro area and to…
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) →
Active · founded 1974 · Malaysia
Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, operates as a state-owned entity controlling Malaysia's oil and gas resources.
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) →
Active · founded 1974 · Malaysia
Petroliam Nasional Bhd, or Petronas, operates as a state-owned entity controlling Malaysia's oil and gas resources.
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) →
Active · founded 1976 · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, or SABIC, is one of the world's leading petrochemicals companies.
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) →
Active · founded 1976 · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, or SABIC, is one of the world's leading petrochemicals companies.
PTT Public Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1978 · Thailand
PTT Public Company Ltd., formerly the state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand before its privatization and public…
PTT Public Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1978 · Thailand
PTT Public Company Ltd., formerly the state-owned Petroleum Authority of Thailand before its privatization and public…
Suncor Energy Inc. →
Active · founded 1979 · Canada
Suncor Energy Inc.
Suncor Energy Inc. →
Active · founded 1979 · Canada
Suncor Energy Inc.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1980 · Kuwait
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) operates as a state-owned integrated oil and gas concern.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1980 · Kuwait
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) operates as a state-owned integrated oil and gas concern.
Valero Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Valero Energy Corporation is the leading independent oil refiner in the United States.
Valero Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1980
Valero Energy Corporation is the leading independent oil refiner in the United States.
Unión Fenosa, S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1982 · Spain
Unión Fenosa, S.A.
Unión Fenosa, S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1982 · Spain
Unión Fenosa, S.A.
Lyondell Chemical Company →
Active · founded 1985
Lyondell Chemical Company is one of the largest U.S.-based chemical manufacturers.
Lyondell Chemical Company →
Active · founded 1985
Lyondell Chemical Company is one of the largest U.S.-based chemical manufacturers.
Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd. →
Active · founded 1986 · Canada
Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd.
Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd. →
Active · founded 1986 · Canada
Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd.
Petron Corporation →
Active · founded 1987 · Philippines
Petron Corporation is the Philippines' leading refiner, marketer, and distributor of petroleum-based products.
Petron Corporation →
Active · founded 1987 · Philippines
Petron Corporation is the Philippines' leading refiner, marketer, and distributor of petroleum-based products.
Repsol-YPF S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1987 · Spain
Repsol-YPF S.A.
Repsol-YPF S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1987 · Spain
Repsol-YPF S.A.
Repsol-YPF S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1987 · Spain
Repsol-YPF S.A.
Repsol-YPF S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1987 · Spain
Repsol-YPF S.A.
OAO LUKOIL →
Active · founded 1991 · Russia
OAO LUKOIL is one of Russia's most successful efforts at capitalism following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
OAO LUKOIL →
Active · founded 1991 · Russia
OAO LUKOIL is one of Russia's most successful efforts at capitalism following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
OAO NK YUKOS →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
OAO NK YUKOS is the second largest of Russia's integrated oil companies, with an estimated 11.8 billion barrels of oil…
OAO NK YUKOS →
Active · founded 1993 · Russia
OAO NK YUKOS is the second largest of Russia's integrated oil companies, with an estimated 11.8 billion barrels of oil…
OAO Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft) →
Active · founded 1995 · Russia
Moscow-based OAO Siberian Oil Company, known as Sibneft, is one of Russia's top vertically integrated oil concerns.
OAO Siberian Oil Company (Sibneft) →
Active · founded 1995 · Russia
Moscow-based OAO Siberian Oil Company, known as Sibneft, is one of Russia's top vertically integrated oil concerns.
CHS Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
CHS Inc.
CHS Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
CHS Inc.
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company →
Active · founded 1998
The Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company formed in 1998, through…
Pennzoil-Quaker State Company →
Active · founded 1998
The Pennzoil-Quaker State Company is a leading worldwide automotive consumer products company formed in 1998, through…
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
ConocoPhillips →
Active · founded 2001
ConocoPhillips is the third largest U.S.
ConocoPhillips →
Active · founded 2001
ConocoPhillips is the third largest U.S.
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