Superior Oil Company

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Superior Oil Company (1921–1984) was an independent American oil company that is now part of ExxonMobil. Superior Oil was founded in 1921 in Coalinga, California by William Myron Keck, also founder of the W. M. Keck Foundation.[1][2]

Superior Oil began as a drilling contracting firm and grew into other oil services including exploration and production of oil and natural gas. In 1938, the company constructed the first offshore oil platform off the Gulf Coast of Louisiana in cooperation with Pure Oil, another independent producer.[1][3]

From the company's founding in 1921 until 1963, Superior Oil was led by its founder, W. M. Keck. From 1963 until 1981, it was led by Keck's son, Howard B. Keck.[4]

In March 1984, Superior Oil was acquired by Mobil Corporation (now part of ExxonMobil) for 5.7 billion U.S. dollars.[5] At the time the company was the nation's largest independent oil producer.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Biography of William Myron Keck. W. M. Keck Foundation.
  2. ^ 2000 Annual Report p. 2. W. M. Keck Foundation.
  3. ^ History of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Southern Louisiana p. 9. Minerals Management Service, United States Department of the Interior (July 2004). “In 1937 and 1938, Pure Oil and Superior Oil together built a large wooden platform about a mile offshore in approximately 14 feet of water. This Creole field became the first producing property in the Gulf.”
  4. ^ Howard B. Keck. 20th Century American Leaders Database. Harvard Business School (2004).
  5. ^ Performance Profiles of Major Energy Producers 1998 p. 39, note 27. Energy Information Administration, United States Department of Energy (January 2000). “Finally, in March 1984, Mobil acquired Superior Oil for $5.7 billion in an intra-FRS company transaction.”
  6. ^ 2003 Annual Report p. 9. W. M. Keck Foundation. “In time, Superior became the largest independent oil producing company in North America.”
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