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.
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.
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.
In 1970s, Superior Oil was involved in the oil shale industry developing the Superior multimineral process.
In March 1984, Superior Oil was acquired by Mobil Corporation (now part of ExxonMobil) for US$ 5.7 billion. At that time the company was the nation's largest independent oil producer.
Famous quotes containing the words superior, oil and/or company:
“The man who takes the liberty to live is superior to all the laws, by virtue of his relation to the lawmaker.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist—the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one’s vinegar.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
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—Joan Didion (b. 1934)