Our history
The birth of Arabian oil
The origin of Aramco is also the story of the U.S.’s role in developing one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations.
In 1933, Standard Oil of California (now Chevron) won a concession to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia. It created the California Arabian Standard Oil Company (CASOC) to manage this. Wildcatters from the company went to work in the eastern desert and struck commercial quantities of oil in the seventh well they explored, the aptly named ‘Prosperity Well,’ in 1938.
The 1940s and 1950s were a time of rapid expansion and record-breaking oil production milestones. Renamed the Arabian American Oil Company, or Aramco, in 1944,
the company opened the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, the world’s longest, in 1950, cutting the time and cost of exporting oil to Europe.
By now, Aramco was based in New York and owned by four shareholder companies. SOCAL had been joined by the Texas Oil Company (now Texaco), the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (later Exxon), and Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now Mobil).
In 1952, following the discovery of vast reserves in Safaniyah, still the world’s largest oil field, Aramco moved its headquarters from New York to Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. The New York office was kept busy, however, recruiting drillers and engineers for Aramco’s rapidly expanding operations in Saudi Arabia, and establishing a central purchasing department.
During the 1970s, the Saudi government began a gradual buyout of Aramco’s assets, securing 100 percent interest in 1980. The company was renamed the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and set in motion its transformation from an oil-producing and exporting company to an integrated petroleum enterprise.
Refining in the U.S.
But the company’s American origins remained important. Aramco’s first international downstream joint venture was with Texaco in the U.S., which formed Star Enterprises in 1989. This evolved to become Motiva and in 2017, led to Aramco becoming the sole owner of North America’s largest crude oil refinery, at Port Arthur, Texas.
Aramco Americas through the years.
Aramco Americas
In 1974, Aramco created the Aramco Services Company, moving from New York to Houston to support its logistics, procurement, and professional recruitment needs.
Today, Aramco Americas is the service provider for our parent company in Saudi Arabia, implementing business activities from technical services to engineering, procurement, and supply-chain management throughout the Americas.
From 2013, we became part of Aramco’s award-winning global research network with the establishment of state-of-the-art research centers in three key innovation hubs: Houston, Boston, and Detroit.
We also manage the North America activities of Aramco Ventures, Aramco’s corporate venturing arm, which invests in technology start-ups and innovative businesses and energy transition solutions that align with Aramco’s business strategy and vision.
Our Aramco family in the Americas grew in 2023, with Aramco Trading Americas becoming the sole supplier and off-taker for Motiva Enterprises, Aramco’s refining, chemicals, and distribution business in the U.S. The acquisition of Valvoline’s global products business in 2023 also accelerated Aramco’s international lubricants growth strategy.
Most recently, in 2024, we welcomed Chile’s diversified fuels and lubricants retailer Esmax, which represents Aramco’s first downstream retail investment in South America.
Aramco celebrates half a century of living and working in Houston.
Celebrating 50 years in Houston
Aramco Americas plays a dynamic role in the U.S. in the areas of research, venture capital, refining, engineering, procurement, and supply chain, as well as training and education. We contribute to the U.S. market through technology and innovation, supplier relationships, employment, and corporate citizenship activities.
In 2024, we are celebrating half a century of living and working in Houston, with a packed year of activities, community, and corporate outreach to express our deep love and appreciation for the city we are proud to call home.
History of Saudi Aramco
Our story is one of creativity and perseverance in equal measure. We’ve overcome challenges, advanced knowledge in our industry and far beyond, and helped usher in an age of abundant energy and transformative technology.