COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 213111

Drilling Oil and Gas Wells

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

44companies1870–2001founding years42still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedAtlantic Richfield Company
1870
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedSmith International, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedGlobalSantaFe Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedNational Iranian Oil Company
1951
FoundedParker Drilling Company
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedAnadarko Petroleum Corporation
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSonatrach
1963
FoundedLoews Corporation
1969
FoundedNational Oil Corporation
1970
FoundedNigerian National Petroleum CorporationFoundedTom Brown, Inc.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedStatoil ASA
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedPTT Public Company Ltd.FoundedPatterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedMOL Rt
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO Tatneft
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedWeatherford International, Inc.
1998
FoundedE.On AG
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
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

Atlantic Richfield Company →
Active · founded 1870
Atlantic Richfield Company, better known as ARCO, is the seventh-largest U.S.
Atlantic Richfield Company →
Active · founded 1870
Atlantic Richfield Company, better known as ARCO, is the seventh-largest U.S.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
GlobalSantaFe Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
GlobalSantaFe Corporation (GSF) is the world's second largest offshore drilling contractor.
GlobalSantaFe Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
GlobalSantaFe Corporation (GSF) is the world's second largest offshore drilling contractor.
National Iranian Oil Company →
Active · founded 1951 · Iran
The second largest producer of oil among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) companies in 2003,…
National Iranian Oil Company →
Active · founded 1951 · Iran
The second largest producer of oil among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) companies in 2003,…
Parker Drilling Company →
Active · founded 1954
Parker Drilling Company is a leading provider of contract drilling and drilling-related services--including land,…
Parker Drilling Company →
Active · founded 1954
Parker Drilling Company is a leading provider of contract drilling and drilling-related services--including land,…
Schlumberger Limited →
Active · founded 1956
As oil is explored for and developed all around the world, so is Schlumberger Limited providing a range of oilfield…
Schlumberger Limited →
Active · founded 1956
As oil is explored for and developed all around the world, so is Schlumberger Limited providing a range of oilfield…
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1959
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is the largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the…
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1959
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation is the largest independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the…
Sonatrach →
Active · founded 1963 · Algeria
Sonatrach, formerly Entreprise Nationale Sonatrach, is the Algerian state-owned oil and gas company.
Sonatrach →
Active · founded 1963 · Algeria
Sonatrach, formerly Entreprise Nationale Sonatrach, is the Algerian state-owned oil and gas company.
Loews Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Loews Corporation is a holding company with diversified interests in insurance, tobacco, offshore drilling, hotels, and…
Loews Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Loews Corporation is a holding company with diversified interests in insurance, tobacco, offshore drilling, hotels, and…
National Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1970 · Libya
The National Oil Corporation of Libya (NOC) is a state-owned company that controls Libya's oil and gas production.
National Oil Corporation →
Active · founded 1970 · Libya
The National Oil Corporation of Libya (NOC) is a state-owned company that controls Libya's oil and gas production.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company →
Active · founded 1971 · United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is one of the ten largest oil companies in the world.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company →
Active · founded 1971 · United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is one of the ten largest oil companies in the world.
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1971 · Nigeria
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the holding company that oversees the Nigerian state's interests…
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation →
Active · founded 1971 · Nigeria
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the holding company that oversees the Nigerian state's interests…
Tom Brown, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Tom Brown, Inc., is one of the leading independent oil and gas firms in the United States.
Tom Brown, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
Tom Brown, Inc., is one of the leading independent oil and gas firms in the United States.
Statoil ASA →
Active · founded 1972 · Norway
Formerly known as Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap AS, Statoil ASA is Norway's oil and gas powerhouse.
Statoil ASA →
Active · founded 1972 · Norway
Formerly known as Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap AS, Statoil ASA is Norway's oil and gas powerhouse.
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…
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Operating out of Snyder, Texas, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Operating out of Snyder, Texas, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
MOL Rt →
Active · founded 1992 · Hungary
Hungary's largest company, MOL Rt (formerly MOL Magyar Olaj- es Gazipari Rt) is also the leading integrated oil company…
MOL Rt →
Active · founded 1992 · Hungary
Hungary's largest company, MOL Rt (formerly MOL Magyar Olaj- es Gazipari Rt) is also the leading integrated oil company…
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
Weatherford International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
1940s:Weatherford Spring Company is founded in Weatherford, Texas.
Weatherford International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1998
1940s:Weatherford Spring Company is founded in Weatherford, Texas.
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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