Standard Oil's World History

Prior to 1911, Standard Oil's operations outside of the USA were controlled by Standard Oil Company of New York or Vacuum Oil Company. Actual ownership of Socony's overseas interests rested with Standard Oil of New Jersey for accounting purposes. After the breakup, Vacuum Oil kept its overseas companies. Standard Oil of New Jersey found itself having to manage Socony's former properties. Jersey Standard rose to the challenge and is still the primary user of the Standard name outside of the USA. Esso is still considered to mean Standard Oil and is in common use thoughout the world. Indiana Standard (Amoco, American, Stanolind, Pan-Am), Standard Oil of New York (Socony,Vacuum, Mobil); California Standard (Chevron, Calso, Socal, Caltex); and Ohio Standard (Sohio) all have had operations outside of the US since then, but the resulting organizations used names other than Standard.

Company	Years	Operations	Details
ExxonMobil Africa (was Esso Africa)	1965-now	administration	Umbrella company created as part of 1965 reorganization. Successor to Esso Mediterranean and Stanvac's Africa operations.
Esso Standard Algeria S.A.	1946-1962	marketing	Nationalized
Esso Standard Oil (Antilles) S.A.	1953-1985	refining	First organized as Lago Oil in 1924; Refinery built by Indiana Standard in 1929; Served Guianas and Lesser Antilles; now part of Esso Caribbean.
California-Arabia Standard Oil Company (CASOC)	1933-1936	production	First operated in Saudi Arabia, Texaco purchased 50% interest in 1936; Became Caltex.
Esso Petrolera Argentina S.R.I. (was Standard Oil Company, S.A, Argentina)	1922-now	exploration, production, refining, marketing	Incorporated Esso, Productora de Petroleo, S.A. & Esso, Refinadora de Petroleo S.A.
Esso Austria GmbH (was Esso Standard (Austria) A.G.)	1946-now	marketing	First Austrian company existed 1921-1928 before being sold to Socony; Standard Oil returned to Austria after the renaming of "Oil Trading Company" in 1936. In 1938 DAPG assumed control of Austrian operations. In 1946, Standard returned to limited operations in the non-Soviet sectors of Austria, operating three service stations and war-surplus tankers. In 1949 Esso service stations returned; In 1955 the occupation troops left and Esso expanded to the formerly Soviet sector.
Esso Australia is now part of ExxonMobil Australia (was Esso Standard Oil Australia Pty Ltd.)	1962-now	explorartion, production, marketing	was part of Stanvac (1933-1962)
Standard Oil Company (Bahama)	1946-1959	exploration
ExxonMobil Benelux (was Esso Benelux)	1891-now	marketing, refining	First organized as American Petroleum Company in 1891; In 1920 The Netherlands left APC; in 1929 the Esso brand was introduced to Benelux; in 1937 the company became Standard American Petroleum Company. S.A.; in 1950, Esso Standard (Belgium); Controls Esso Belguim, Esso Luxembourg; merged with Esso Nederlands 1985 & renamed Esso Benelux; 1999 renamed ExxonMobil Benelux
Esso Bermuda Ltd.	19xx-now	marketing	Coral Petroleum, Ltd.
Standard Oil of Bolivia	1921-1942	production	Nationalized by Bolivia in 1937, Company dissolved in 1942
Esso Brasileira de Petroleo S.A. (Esso Brazil) (was Standard Oil of Brazil)	1912-now	production, marketing	First organized as Empreza Industrial de Petroleo in Kentucky, USA in 1896
Chevron Canada Ltd. (was Standard Oil of British Columbia)	1935-now	marketing, production, refining	S.O. of California (Chevron) owned since 1911 breakup; Has extended marketing to Alberta
Standard Oil (Canal Zone) Company	194x-1979	marketing
Esso Standard Oil (Caribbean) S.A. (EssoSA)	1959-1966	marketing	Incorporated in the Bahamas; Served Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Greater Antillies
Esso Standard Oil (Central America) S.A.	194x-1966	marketing, transportation	Operated out of Panama
Esso Chad	2000-now	exploration, production	Now part of ExxonMobil Africa
Esso Chile (was Esso Standard Oil Company (Chile) S.A.C.)	1934-now	marketing	Founded as West Indian Oil Company, Chile, S.A.
Esso China Ltd.	199x-now	marketing
Esso Columbiana, Ltd. (Esso Columbia)	1951-now	production, marketing	First founded as Tropical Oil Company in 1916
(Esso) Standard Oil of Cuba	1926-1960	marketing, refining	Nationalized
Esso spol.s.r.o. (Esso Czech Republic)	199x-now	marketing
Esso Denmark (Dansk Esso Aktieselskab)	1952-1985	refining, marketing	1962: purchased Dansk Veedol; Sold to Statoil in 1985
Esso Standard Eastern. Inc.	1959-xxxx	administration, marketing	Stanvac's successor, minus Socony-Mobil assets; Had assets in Asia and Africa
Esso Ecuador	19xx-now	marketing
Esso Europe	1966-now	administration
Esso Egypt	1902-now	marketing
Esso Finland (was O/Y Nobel - Standard A/B)	1920-now	marketing	Started as Finska Aktiebolaget Nobel-Standard.
Esso France (was Standard Francaise des Petrolas S.A.)	1920-now	marketing, refining	Started as Compagnie Standard Franco-Americaine
Standard Oil Company of Galicia, Ltd	1890's	none	Briefly existed in France with no connection to the SO Trust except wishful thinking.
Esso Deutschland GmbH (Esso Germany) (was Esso Aktiengesellschaft)	1890-now	marketing, refining, production	Founded as Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum-Gesellschaft or DAPG. Jersey Standard attempted to sell its shares in DAPG in 1917, but had to repurchase them starting in 1921; Renamed in the 1930's with Jersey's reimaging to Esso. Not under Esso control 1938-1945; Reborn as Esso AG after the war.
Esso Standard (Hellas) Commercial & Industrial Company, A.E. (Esso Greece)	1965-1984	marketing, refining	Commonly called Esso Pappas for the businessman who led the concern; Bought by Eko
Esso Standard Oil S.A. Ltd (Esso Guatemala)	19xx-now	marketing
Esso Iberia	1966-now	administration
Esso Inter-America	1966-now	administration	Controls South America; Central America and the Caribbean
Esso Ireland Ltd. (was Irish-American Oil Company)	1922-now	marketing	Broke away from Anglo-American Oil Co. after Irish independence, became Esso IAOC in 1935, name changed to modern usage 1985
Esso Hungaria Kft. (Esso Hungary)	199x-now	marketing
Esso Italy (was Esso Standard Italiana S.p.A.)	1927-now	marketing	Was Societa Petrolifera Italiana per Azioni till 1950; then Standard Italo Americana Petroli briefly then changed to an Esso Standard in 1950.
Esso Iran	1954-1979	production
Esso Japan (was Esso Standard Sekiyu K.K.)	1964-now	marketing	Was half of Stanvac Japan
Esso Kenya	1962-199x		Sold to Mobil Oil
Esso Korea	1962-now	marketing	Was part of Stanvac
Esso Standard Libya	1956-1970	production	Sold to Libyan government
Standard Oil Company (Malta)	@1947	marketing
Esso Mauritius, Ltd	1962-now	marketing
Esso Mediterraean	1959-1965	administration, marketing
Esso Middle East (was Esso Standard (Near East))	1948-now	administration	Used to include Esso Egypt
Esso Motor Hotels (a.k.a. Esso Motor Lodge)	1963-1972	lodging	Attempt by Esso Europe to diversify. Operated in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Tunisia, UK and Italy
Esso Nederlands (was Standard Amerikannsche Petroleum Compagne N.V.)	1920-1985	marketing, refining	Esso bought a majority stake and changed name to Standard American Petroleum Company, N.V. in 1938; merged into Esso Benelux in 1985
Esso Norge S.A. (Esso Norway) A/S Norsk Esso	1919-now	marketing, production, refining	Founded as Vestlanske Petroleumscompangni A/S in 1890; Standard Oil (NJ) relations forged 1919; Introduced Tiger gas brand 1920's; Norsk Esso name adopted 1940's; added production in 1960's and 1970's
Esso Standard Okinawa, Ltd	1969-????	refining
Esso Paraguay	19xx-now	marketing	Original Esso Paraguay existesd 1932-1935
Standard Oil Company of Peru	1926-1968	production, marketing	Nationalized
Esso Poland (Esso Polen)	1991-now	marketing	Controlled by Esso Deutchland
Standard-Nobel w Polsce (Standard-Nobel Co. in Poland)	1925-1937	marketing, refining, exploration	First organized as Nobel Brothers Oil Ind. Co. in Poland (Polonobel) in 1919; merged with Olej Skalny in 1925; Sold to Socony-Vacuum 1937
Esso Portugal	1955-1963	limited marketing	Unable to come to terms with government; dissolved
Esso Standard Oil Company (Puerto Rico)	19xx-now	marketing	Was part of West Indies Oil Company; Also served Virgin Islands
Esso Singapore is now ExxonMobil Singapore	1962-now	marketing	first under Vacuum Oil in 1893; merged into Stanvac 1933; dormant division of Stanvac - 1942-1945; refining added in the 1960's
Esso Sirte	1959-1970	production	Operated in Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (Libya)
Esso Slovakia (Esso Slowakei)	19xx-now	marketing
Esso Standard Espanola (Esso Spain)	1965-1975	marketing, refining
Esso Suriname	19xx-now	marketing
Esso Sweden	194x-1985	marketing	Was Svenska Petroleum A/B Standard
Esso Schweiz GmbH (Esso Switzerland)	1894-now	marketing	First formed as a joint venture of DAPG and SAIP (Esso's German and Italian affiliates); in 1920 Jersey Standard took control; renamed Esso Standard (Switzerland) in 1949; renamed to Esso (Switzerland) in 1973; made a limited company (GmbH) in 2000; Standard Petroleum Company (Glarus)
Esso Tanzania	1981-1993	production, marketing	Sold to Gapco 1993
Esso Thailand	19xx-now	marketing, production, refining
Standard Oil Company of Trinidad	1928-19xx	production
Esso Standard Tunisie S.A.	19xx-xxxx	marketing
Esso Turkey	19xx-now	marketing
Esso Uganda	19xx-1995	marketing	Sold to Gapco 1995
ExxonMobil UK (Esso UK)	1885-now	marketing, production, refining	Orignated as Vacuum Oil operations in Liverpool, became Anglo-American Oil Company in 1888; separated from Standard Oil in 1911; merged with Jersey Standard in 1931; introduced Esso brand 1934; became Esso Petroleum Company in 1951; changed to modern usage 1999
Esso Standard Oil Company (Uruguay), S.A.	1934-19xx	marketing	Founded as West Indian Oil Company, Uruguay, S.A.
Standard Oil Company of Venezuela	1921-1943	production	Sold to Creole Petroleum Corporation (another Standard affiliate)
Standard Oil Of Yugoslavia (S.H.S. Amerikansko Petroleumsko, D.D.)	1921-1927	marketing	Sold to Socony in 1927
Standard Oil & Refining Company, Ltd.	1920-????	holding	English patent holding company. Dormant from 1925 on.
Standard-Vacuum Oil Company (Stanvac)	1933-1962	marketing, transportation, production, refining	Joint venture between Jersey Standard (Esso) and Socony-Vacuum (Mobil) - Began in Australia as a joint venture between Atlantic Refining and Union Oil in 1927, operated in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Far East Port Stanvac remains to this day near Adelaide, South Australia

If you have more information on the companies listed above, or corrections on the data presented, please e-mail me.

Page first posted to the web January 3, 2005
Page last updated Thursday, February 15, 2007

LEGAL NOTE: The use of oil company logos and names on this website is meant to educate, illustrate and clarify, and is not meant as a challenge to the copyrights of the companies represented on this site, their predecessors, or their successors. Research and commentary © 2004 R.V. Droz.

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Standard Oil Around the World